Large breasts and breastfeeding positions

lalg28

Anyone with large breasts (I'm a DDD) have trouble with certain posituons? Like the only one that's comfortable for me is football. Any tips on working out new positions?

groovylocks

Yeah and the weird thing is, I was never big chested before. I started out on this adventure as a B cup. 

I stopped counting at DD. I've no idea what i'm at right now - I buy L and XL bras at walmart as i find those comfy and supportive. I have no idea how to take care of real boobs.  

I feel like she's pulling all the time if i don't hold both her head and my breast and keep everything steady. Which sucks because breastfeeding also produces a thirst that is beyond anything I've ever felt before. I actually bought a camelbak hydration pack so I could manage to nurse and drink at the same time. 

My lactation consultant (you bet your ass i needed one) worked out a hold that is suitable for us, where i lie her on her side and cram her up against me, then using my hand, muckle her onto my breast and hold her there for dear life, doing a C hold on my breast with the other hand. 

I dread the day she grows out of it. 

So i'm following this thread. I'm sorry I don't have any real advice and just a useless rant.

laurabwalker

I definetly have to hold my breast making the nipple and areola easier for her to nurse from with a good latch, and also hold her there, I do both cross cradle and football, side lying as well but I find it awkward to hold my breast in the right shape. So the key is holding the breast with any hold basically.
Edit: I know it's difficult and its not the most comfortable for sure. Also I always use my nursing pillow

LaceyH13

Football worked better for me at first, but then he got too long for it to be comfortable for me because he would push off the couch or chair with his feet and pull at my nipple. I do cradle now and have to tip him a certain way on my right side because his neck has torticollis when facing that way. I started out a full DD cup and have been too scared to get fitted recently

kksquared

I am a H cup

mhwood

I'm an HHH cup, I feel your pain.

I found that football works best for my left breastfeeding and cross cradle works best for my right .

Both positions require me to contort into awkward positions which make my arms and back ache. Now that she is larger, I'm finding it easier as she is more aggressive at the nipple.

Mizuiro007

Like @mhwood I find it gets much easier as baby gets bigger and stronger. DD will be two months Monday and lately does a pretty good job of rooting and latching on her own as long as I manage to get her in the general vicinity and hold her so she's comfortable. The only hold that doesn't work for her now is football (she's always hated it but it was a go to with DS).

One thing that can sometimes help is rolling up a small towel or burp cloth and tucking it under the breast for support (does double duty if lo is a dribbler). The other thing is if I'm not doing a side lying hold, I use a nursing pillow and/or draw my legs up for support so my arms aren't doing all the work. Sometimes reclining helps as well. Gravity kind of helps the breast fall back and not feel so much like baby is being smothered and I don't have to constantly hold my breast back from DD's nose.

dec15mum

I use my big C pillow and lie him on that and hold my breast so he can latch better.
Try lying down and hold them close to you while breastfeeding, I like doing that just before bed time

kksquared

kksquared said:

I am a H cup

Just realized my post didn't go through all the way

sarahjulypsu

I have large breast as well. If I use a boppy I only have to use one hand to support my breast.

keiragann

I have to do the cradle hold and do the c with my hand to get him to get a good latch. I feel like I smother him otherwise

soccsm13

I am spilling out of my DD bras and haven't bothered getting bigger ones yet. I'm much bigger than I was when I was bfing my first, which is so weird to me. Anyways, I have to use both hands to nurse DD because her head is so tiny and she doesn't have control at 1 month today. It's frustrating when DS wants me to help him with something but I need both hands. And then I have my mom (who is barely a b) tell me that she doesn't understand why I can't hold DD with one hand and make dinner at the same time. -_-

DandT2point0

@groovylocks, you are cracking me up!! I'm STILL laughing from your "I tell her lies about how gross it is" the other day! I've needed that boost lately and I appreciate your humor.

angelicac06

F cup here. Football is still my favorite. Due to my C section at the hospital we placed LO on a pillow in the same football position so I didn't have to hold him or worry about him being on my stomach. I still do it to this day during MOTN feedings and its perfect! No need to worry about holding my boob due to weight. I also so don't have a crazy let down because I can see this not working for that person. LO loves his pillow. Idk what I am going to do when he outgrows it!(he already is starting to) during the day hes on a boppy. I either hold my boob with one hand or like PP have said roll a burping cloth of somethibg undernear to hold it.

amye02

I'm an M cup (yes M) the only position that works for me is cross cradle and I always use my nursing pillow. One point of advice my LC gave was to sit on a more firm surface to ensure good posture which helps big breasted women. I use my glider (some women can nurse on their couch or bed)

TomekiaB

I'm with @groovylocks as a small chested girl before pregnancy I don't know what to do with these DD cups (I think), they're heavy!

The lactation clinic had holsters to help some of the women.

grkgdss00

I agree with others. Cross cradle and football work best for me (EE cup). Also a supportive breast feeding pillow - I use "my Brest friend" and it's amazing. It wraps around your back to offer back support. I also have to hold her head and my boob in position (C hold) since she's only 3w and hasn't gained head control. It's a pain but worth it. The real challenge was breastfeeding in public with a cover on this weekend... Hated it

theawc42

I as well used football at first it was most comfortable. Now that she's bigger cradle works best. I set her on a boppy now and have no problems. It helps me not slouch so much because it brings her higher and I really don't even have to hold her

laurabwalker

grkgdss00 said:

I agree with others. Cross cradle and football work best for me (EE cup). Also a supportive breast feeding pillow - I use "my Brest friend" and it's amazing. It wraps around your back to offer back support. I also have to hold her head and my boob in position (C hold) since she's only 3w and hasn't gained head control. It's a pain but worth it. The real challenge was breastfeeding in public with a cover on this weekend... Hated it

Ah I know. I also BF with a cover and it was terrible and I just wanted to go home

Mizuiro007

laurabwalker said:

grkgdss00 said:

I agree with others. Cross cradle and football work best for me (EE cup). Also a supportive breast feeding pillow - I use "my Brest friend" and it's amazing. It wraps around your back to offer back support. I also have to hold her head and my boob in position (C hold) since she's only 3w and hasn't gained head control. It's a pain but worth it. The real challenge was breastfeeding in public with a cover on this weekend... Hated it

Ah I know. I also BF with a cover and it was terrible and I just wanted to go home

I gave up fighting with a cover. I just dress in layers so I have a tank top underneath a looser t shirt. Pull one up and the other down and use baby to block the view. I find flannel receiving blankets to be useful as well. I can kind of drape it how I need and use it as a burp cloth as well.

cdv2015

I was an F before pregnancy and am wearing a G now. Our most comfortable position is lying on my side. If I position us both right (breast below her mouth) she gets a deep latch and I can be totally hands free. We rarely go anywhere, so it makes that position easier for us. If we decide to sit up, then we cradle. Sometimes I have to hold my breast back, it just depends on how cooperative LO is in getting latched. She is way too long legged for football hold.