Breastfeeding Tips for Moms with Larger Breasts

If you are a mom with larger breasts, you may find that the idea of breastfeeding a baby a little bit stressful.

You may not be able to hold your baby the way that a mother with a smaller bust will be able to, but the truth is, most women usually come up with their own special ways of holding their little one that is perfect for the both of them.

Top Tips

If you have bigger breasts, you’ll find that simply by keeping a few tips in mind, you’ll be able to feed your infant quite comfortably.

Supportive Nursing Bras

The first thing that you should consider is that you should get a nursing bra that fits well. You’ll find that a good nursing brawill be supportive, and that this is quite important when you are looking feed your baby comfortably.

Don’t simply buy one that matches your pre-pregnancy size; you may have grown over the course of your pregnancy, and at the very least, an extender might be necessary. If at all possible, get fitted by a professional.

Since many larger sizes are not available at every store, so you may have to shop online.

For a list of great plus-size nursing bra choices…

Positioning

When it comes to holding the baby, you will want to work with what is called the “football hold.”

If you find that holding your baby in the traditional cradle hold is uncomfortable, tuck the infant underneath your arm, propped up on lots of pillows.

You’ll find that this is a great way to both support your infant and to make sure that your back doesn’t ache from holding a weird posture. You’ll also find that practicing with a doll or stuffed animal before the baby arrives is a good idea.

Latching On

There is a good chance that if you have larger breasts that the areola of your nipple is a bit larger as well. When your baby is latching on, make sure that he has a good portion of the areola in his mouth.

To make sure that he is getting the milk that he needs, the glands that are stored in this region of your breast need to be stimulated, so make sure that he is opening his mouth wide enough to do so.

Nursing in Public

This is more challenging for women with larger breasts, but it can be done. If you can manage the cradle hold well, then just cover up with a nursing cover or lift your shirt discreetly. Two-piece outfits (a top and a bottom) make nursing easier. Nursing tops with various types of hidden nursing openings are option available to make it even easier to be discreet.

If you use the football hold, use a very full diaper bag to support your baby (instead of a pillow) when breastfeeding.

No matter what size bra you wear, you’ll find that breastfeeding is, after a little initial fumbling, a fairly straightforward matter, so take the time to see what will make it go quite smoothly for you, but don’t hesitate to look support from your local Le Leche League or a lactation consultant if you feel you need one-on-one assistance.