Breastfeeding and the size of breasts

Do large boobs and prominent nipples make the best breasts for feeding? We take a look at some of the myths and worries surrounding successful breastfeeding and ask is it a matter of mind over matter?

• Is it the body that counts?
• ..Or is it all in the mind?

Is it the body that counts?

Does size matter? As manners dictate, size really doesn't matter! Some women who have smaller breasts worry that this will limit their chances of breastfeeding successfully. According to childcare expert and doctor, Benjamin Spock M.D., there is no physiological basis for this belief. "Doctors who have cared for nursing mothers agree that even women who have very small breasts before pregnancy can produce copious amounts of milk." This is all to do with hormonal changes in the body that stimulate the milk-producing glands and tissue and has nothing to do with the breasts' fat tissue, which affects the size of the breast before pregnancy.

Flat nipples As is the case with larger vs smaller breasts, nipples of all shapes and sizes can satisfy a hungry baby. If you have inverted nipples that do not become erect when stimulated, you might need a little extra help but it is still perfectly possible to breastfeed. To draw them out, place your forefingers at opposite sides of the areola then pull outwards.

Saggy breasts
If you live in horror of your chest looking deflated after months of breastfeeding, worry not. Breastfeeding doesn't seem to permanently affect the shape or appearance of your breasts. More likely to affect them are hereditary factors (which you can't do much about anyway!), age, ineffective or insufficient support, or excessive weight gain in pregnancy. If you want to keep your breasts as pert as possible, make sure you wear a good support bra during pregnancy, especially during the last three months, both day and night. Once your baby is born, switch to a good nursing bra to carry on giving them the support they need.

...Or is it all in the mind?

Since we have established that breastfeeding doesn't really depend on the size or shape of your breasts, what can stand in the way of women breastfeeding with confidence?

Some women feel very uncomfortable about the thought of breastfeeding for very understandable psychological reasons, as Benjamin Spock reveals. "A few women … feel deeply unhappy with the prospect of breastfeeding - it may seem too immodest or too animal-like." One particular cause for concern for new mums trying to establish a breastfeeding regime is the physical pleasure it can bring, and the previous association of their breasts with sexual activities. "Many nursing mothers say that the pleasurable sensations which they feel in their breasts and in their genital region while they are nursing are similar to the sensations they experience during sexual excitement," explains Spock. "Some women feel confused and guilty about the similarity in these sensations because they don't realise that they are entirely normal." What is important, he stresses, is for mums-to-be and new mums to talk about these feelings with their partners, midwife, GP, breastfeeding counsellor and health visitor. A frank discussion might be all it takes to relieve some of these concerns to give breastfeeding a fair trial.

Even though breastfeeding is supposed to be one of the most natural things in the world, it is scary and often overwhelming for a new mother, especially if she and the baby are having a few "teething" problems. One common issue new mums worry about is whether they are producing enough milk to satisfy their baby, since it's difficult to judge how much they are taking in. Often the lack of confidence can settle in once the mum returns home from hospital, especially when the supply often decreases for a day or two before her milk comes in. It's essential at this point, if you really want to continue breastfeeding, to make sure you get the help you need from family, friends, midwives and breastfeeding counsellors. With the right support in place breastfeeding can be a pleasure, not a pain.

• Buy a copy of Dr Spock's Baby and Child Care: The One Essential Parenting Book!
• It's National Breastfeeding week - check out these great features.
• Find out more about how to breastfeed in our breastfeeding section
• Having trouble breastfeeding? Use our problem solver
• Frequently asked questions about breastfeeding - see our experts' answers
• Discuss breastfeeding with other mums on our Feeding discussion board
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