Feeding with Larger Breasts
Large breasts work just fine for breastfeeding. The size of a woman's breasts, whether large or small, doesn't reflect their milk-making capacity, nor the ease of breastfeeding.
Women with large breasts may suddenly discover a new appreciation for their breasts when they realise they work perfectly well doing what they're designed to do, and that their new baby just loves them! Just like any new mum, positioning and attachment is the key, and if the large-breasted mum pays good attention to this, she'll be fine.
Here are some tips particularly for the large-breasted mum. Try them out and see what works for you:
Good positions for feeding include the cradle hold, the football hold and mother lying down to feed
Pillows can be useful to support the baby and the breast in the early days when mother and baby are learning to breastfeed. Many women find, however, that the advantage of having large breasts is that they don't need to use pillows. Larger breasts mean the baby is held lower during a feed, and part or all of the baby's weight can be supported by the mum's lap. You may need to experiment to see what suits you best
The baby's position while feeding is important. If baby is positioned well, her chin will be touching the breast while her nose is clear so that a finger won't be needed to enable baby to breathe
When feeding in public, position your pram in front of you for extra privacy
A rolled up cloth nappy under the breast may be helpful for mums whose breasts almost touch their laps when they sit down. The nappy is placed under the breast for support, lifting it high enough for the baby to latch on to the nipple. Supporting and lifting the breast also helps to keep the breast from covering the baby's nose, enabling baby to breathe and swallow properly
The C-hold can be useful for many mums. This hold means you can support the weight of your breast, lift the nipple slightly so you can see it better, and gently shape the breast to help your baby attach. The C-hold is where you place your palm against the breast, thumb above areola, fingers below. Your hand and fingers need to be right out of the way so that baby can attach to your breast. If you hold too close to the areola, baby may not be able to take enough breast into her mouth.
You can use the hand on the same side as the breast baby is feeding from, or try the hand on the side the baby is not feeding from. See which you find most comfortable. Rather than squeezing or pressing your breast, just gently shape it-if you are pressing too hard, blocked ducts can follow; To reduce this possibility you might like to shift your hand periodically during the feed.
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