A common distress among new mothers with small breasts is whether they would be able to breastfeed their baby. Some even have to say that with small breasts your child will not get enough breast milk as your body won’t make enough of it. This is far from the truth and will only add unnecessary anxiety to the mothers. Anyone with small breasts can breastfeed and provide a healthy supply of milk for their loving child. Let us inform you more on this matter and how you can also support a healthy milk supply no matter the breast size.
Benefits of breastfeeding
There is a plethora of benefits to breastfeeding for both the parent and the child. It provides:
Nutrition- breast milk provides the perfect balance of essential nutrients for your baby’s growth and development including fats, minerals, vitamins, and protein.
Immunity boost- breast milk contains antibodies and other immune-boosting factors that protect the baby from infections and illnesses.
Mother and child bonding- promotes a close physical and emotional bonding between the mother and her child.
Convenience- because it provides a ready-to-consume available source of nutrition for babies. You wouldn’t need to buy or prepare any formula for your baby’s diet.
Does size matter?
No, it doesn’t. Women with different shapes and sizes of breast cancer successfully breastfeed. The size of your breasts mainly depends on how much fat they contain, not the amount of milk-making tissue they hold. Those with larger breasts don’t need to have a greater number of alveoli, it just means they have more fat tissue in their breasts.
Mothers with small breasts can make enough breast milk but might not be able to hold as much milk compared to the women who have larger breasts. Small breasts can be theoretically understood as small containers in which there may not be much of a storage space or capacity than that of a large-breasted woman. This means you just might have to feed your child more often, especially as they grow because their hunger will grow as well. To make sure you produce more breast milk, you should feed your baby more often as breast milk production increases as per your child’s demand for it. Since newborns can only drink milk and rely on it for nutrition, it is wise to breastfeed on demand instead of following how many hours it has been since the baby was last fed or following a schedule.
If you can keep track of your baby’s wet diapers, it would be one of the easiest ways for you to understand if your baby is getting enough breast milk. If you are still confused and cannot understand the signs then be sure to take your child to the doctor or maintain the advised regular visits to the doctor who can monitor your baby’s growth. If your baby gains weight well over time, that’s a good sign that you’re making enough breast milk.
Changes in breast size
It is well known that the breast size before your pregnancy, during your pregnancy, and after your pregnancy will be different as they are in the changing process, your body goes through these changes to prepare you for lactation. Your breasts may grow during the two weeks after you have your baby because the breast milk production is adjusting to your baby’s demand which is when they may become larger, swollen, and brimming with breast milk. Just in case you notice that your breasts are not changing in shape or not showing any growth at all during pregnancy or the first week postpartum, this could be a sign of insufficient glandular tissue, which could mean a low milk supply. Even though these conditions are not very common, it is advised to keep an eye out for their growth. Don’t worry, though, because breastfeeding is still possible, although support and supplementation are usually required for your baby’s needs.
How to work around it
It is suggested to try the laid-back nursing position for you and your baby as you’re just learning together how to breastfeed. For small-breasted women, it is easier for your baby to latch onto as well, so you can try any other position that comforts you as well. Your baby may prefer one breast over the other which occurs for multiple reasons. You don’t have to be concerned about their choice just try your best to encourage the baby to nurse from both the breasts to give them the most milk possible during each feeding. Strengthening your diet with lactation-boosting foods and staying hydrated can help you increase your milk supply. If you have postpartum depression, which is very common among new mothers, it can affect you negatively, both mentally and when it comes to your milk production or breastfeeding outcomes. It’s vital to get as much rest as possible, so you need to communicate and ask your family, friends, and your partner to help you stay calm and stress-free.
The different strategies you can use besides this could be:
1. Nursing or pumping frequently. As frequent as pumping at least every two to three hours is recommended. Maintain nursing from both breasts in each feeding.
2. Help your baby to latch on easily and correctly so they can feed more comfortably and have their fill.
3. Use different breastfeeding holds, such as the V-hold, which may be more comfortable for you than the C-hold having a smaller bust. Keep your fingers away from the areola and this should help your child get the milk efficiently.
4. If you require further help or you feel nothing is working then you can try joining a breastfeeding support group for advice and knowledge. There are lactation consultants as well to help you with any concerns you have.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding requires a lot of patience and persistence, support from the family and people around you. This challenging state requires you to work with your baby and seek help when needed. You can also find books about successfully breastfeeding for mothers and how to go through this stage without breaking down about some failures. Consistent practice and addressing any issues early on can lead to a more rewarding experience.
