Hi again. Thanks for the helpful advice so far with flat nipples and
shaping the breasts. One poster mentioned the possible connection between
large breasts and obesity. I have been wondering this myself since we have
many large breasted women deliver at our hospital. I too am trying not to
sound insensitive, but I care very much about these mothers and babies and
since it seems to be a common problem here I want to explore the issue in
hopes to better help these mothers to breastfeed.

I have a friend who fits women for post mastectomy breast prostheses and
she orders her stuff from a lady in Florida--who commented that we have
larger breasted women here. I live in a small town in Missouri and obesity
is definitely a concern here. Our district school nurse is very concerned
about the increase in childhood obesity in our local schools.  Of course,
just because a child is a *good* weight does not necessarily mean they are
healthier--but that is another story!  It just *seems* that more women have
larger breasts even those that are not necessarily obese.

I should clarify that I don't feel it is the large breasts themselves that
makes breastfeeding difficult.  I helped a mother who had very large
breasts, but they were sort of flattened and the nipple/areola were very
soft.  This baby had absolutely no trouble latching on and getting milk.  I
feel it is the large breasts that are rounded (like a balloon) with
short/flat nipples that make breastfeeding difficult.  Unfortunately it is
these more rounded, hard to shape breasts that we see more of at our
hospital.

I will use RPS and work on shaping the breast more. Sitting up straight is
a difficult one because the hospital beds are not good for that.  Also C-
section moms don't sit very well at first. The only chairs we have in the
rooms are the hard rocking chairs. Pillows on the chairs help, but moms
don't really like the rocking chairs.

Thanks for listening again.

Christine Lichte LLL leader, CBE, IBCLC 2003 candidate

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