Breastfeeding with Larger Breasts

the rugby hold....worked so much better while I was learning.

I really thought I was going to have major issues with breastfeeding (I'm currently a 12J - eek! ), but it's been so much easier than I thought! My biggest issue was worrying that I was going to suffocate the poor child....

My MW initally thought that we could solve the problem by feeding lying down, as that can make positioning easier, but I haven't HAD to use that position. I did find having one of those horseshoe shaped cushions really helped at the beginning (I think you can get them from TM - mine was borrowed), and now I just make sure we have lots of pillows/cushions to feed, as it is normally a two-handed job!

Another issue (possibly TMI!) may be how prominent the nipples are from the breast - obviously flat nipples are going to be much harder to feed from if there is lots of breast tissue in the baby's face!

I went to a breastfeeding class run at the hospital while I was pregnant, and was given heaps of helpful tips - including rolling a small towel/nappy and placing under the boob to help positioning (haven't had to do this though). Depending on where your friend lives, there may be a free class run somewhere? Defnitely La Leche League should be able to help.

The hardest thing for me has been figuring out how to feed in public, without having everything on show! It was quite good 'practising' at home, and asking DH if he could see anything poking out LOL!

The most important thing is getting the latch right(as per everyone else who BFs) - so getting her MW or a lactation consultant to watch the feeding is always a good idea.

If she wants more practical tips closer to the time, I'm happy to have you/her PM me. I just know how anxious I was about the whole thing, and I've been pleasantly surprised how well feeding has gone for us (except she won't take a bottle at all - so it's almost gone too well! )

I've given up trying to feed discreetly in public, it's just not possible! I make more of a spectacle of myself trying to hide it than I do if I just do what I have to do.

The biggest thing for me was that no one warned me before I had Maya that her head would be so much smaller than my breast (and thank God for that coz I have huge breasts!) which freaked me out a bit. I also have flattish nipples so needed a lot of help to get feeding established with Maya.

Feeding is definitely a two handed job here too, I have to use one hand to position her and the other to hold the breast tissue back from her face so she doesn't suffocate. Like Blondy I find a pillow really useful for positioning her correctly.

Oh and I remember being told when I was preg with Maya that you had to put the whole areola in baby's mouth, this isn't the case for me, there is always a small part of the areola showing around her mouth even when she is latched perfectly just coz of the size of it.

I'm a DD and I found using the rugby hold to be a god send. At first it was really difficult to get Keziah to latch because my nipples wouldn't do what they were told and I ended up with them cracked and even a nipple blister. I used Nipple Shields for about 8 weeks until the Bleb (blister) healed on the advice of a Lactation Consultant! I ended up Breast Feeding for 6 months, and I would of done longer had it not been for the fact that my darling daughter weaned herself and would pack a right sad until I gave her a bottle

Thanks for your help. Theres some really good advise in there! Last time she was sent home a couple of hours after giving birth (there were no spare beds ) So had very little establishing feeding, and not having the same issues I wasnt able to be of too much help.

I did the rugby hold untill J was about a month  and then it was easier to have him lying across my front. Both ways I am holding my boob from underneath, (never thought of using a flannel might give it a go). Still managed to get cracked and sore boobs but they have pretty much cleared up now.