I hate my boobs!!!

[golcarlilly]

Ok this is probably going to sound really lame but I am so worried about baring my breasts for the world and his dog to see (even my midwife or nurses in the hospital) because I really HATE my boobs!!

I have always had big ones (E cup) but have gone up to a G since getting pg and they are saggy and blue veined with stretch marks and I am dreading the thought of them being on display I know that it is possible to bf discreetly eventually but to begin with I just know that they are going to be seen and I am so embarrassed

On a brighter note my Medela Swing has arrived so I am all set!!

 

[Mervs Mum]

Hey it's funny because I've just got back from a walk to town and I was just thinking how much I love my cans!!

They dont look like they used to but hey ho I have a lot to thank them for!!!

Dont worry about the veiny thing - I think that settles after you have the baby anyway.

 

[Jemima]

I was a bit worried about this but I found that after giving birth (and I know this is a cliche) I really didn't care who looked at/poked/squeezed/cajoled my boobs at all. And A LOT of midwives were involved in our feeding for the first few days.

Plus, oce your milk comes in and regulates itself, they do go back to being much more aesthetically pleasing!

 

[golcarlilly]

I remember saying I didn't care who came and looked up my flue anymore when I had my DD but I DO remember hating the fact that the nurses just grabbed my boobs and shoved them in her mouth like they weren't even attached to me!! I think that is partly what put me off bf that time too! I know I am probs just being silly about it but I am so worried

 

[Mervs Mum]

You should put it in your birth plan. Are you going to Halifax or Hudds?? I had Hebe at the Birth Centre in Halifax and they stuck to my birth plan TO THE LETTER. They were absolutely brilliant. I said I didnt want my hubby down the business end and they discreetly made sure he wasnt and we moved between the pool and my room etc. When they examined me the didnt make a fuss they just gently guided OH to the top of the bed or pool and I dont think even he realised what they were doing. I gave birth on a stool (on my birth plan too) and they set it up in the bathroom so he could sit behind me on the toilet seat and support me. He got a great view of her being born - infact the same view as me!

Put something about being anxious about BFing and how you would like support but are contious about your breasts being handled by strangers.

 

[golcarlilly]

Thanks Mervsmum, I will deffo put it in my plan, hadn't thought of that! I am going to the delivery suite at Calderdale, last time was at Hudds Royal.

 

[Mervs Mum]

So upstairs at Hx, They are a bit more 'hands on' than the Birth Centre - I had my first up there and it's a different carry on entirely. So just make sure that you tell your OH how important your birth plan is. Make sure he knows what's on there. He will be the one making it happen more than you. Mine knew what bits were most important. I went through it in fine detail with him and I have to say HE was brilliant too.

You CAN be in control of your birth. I didnt feel to be when I had my first at all. I just got ordered around and told what to do - this time I was the one dishing out the orders and I have to say it made a massive difference. I'd give birth once a week if it were like having Hebe everytime.

 

[ryder]

If you dont want a bunch of people looking at and grabbing your boobs, you have the right to say no. There are ways for the nurses and bfing consultants to respect your dignity without acting like twats. I am very shy, but the nurses here do not touch you without asking and if you say no they help you by explaining or using other methods. They really didnt see much either, I always had a shirt on that I could easily access my boobs in, theres no way Id ever do the whole naked thing in front of people.

No one should make you feel uncomfortable.

Also, the blue veiny look will disapear very quickly.

 

[golcarlilly]

OOh I am scared now, are they really bossy there? I went to Halifax when I had my mc last year and they were all lovely. My DH used to work there sometimes (he was an ODP at Hudds Royal 3 years ago) and he won't take any crap from anyone!

 

[Sarahkka]

I have a love/hate thing going on with my boobs these days.
I love the feeling of breastfeeding, I love that they nourish my son, but I am heartily sick of these oversize udders that I sling around in a stupid, sagging nursing bra. I wore a proper underwire bra when I went out to dinner the other night and I felt like I had just lost 10 lbs. I felt lighter and less unwieldy.
I do not by any means begrudge my child the use of my boobs and I would not have given up breastfeeding for the world, but the state of my bosom is not my favourite part of being a mum. Ah, vanity. sigh.

 

[golcarlilly]

I tried some non-wired bras on the other day and was horrified, I am sorry to say I didn't buy one and am sticking with my underwires till I get my nursing ones in a few weeks

 

[Mervs Mum]

I did the same. You can get lovely underwire nursing bras too now.

It's not that they are bossy upstairs at Hx it's just that with it being the Dr's in charge there seems to be more intervention where downstairs they are there but they let you take the lead IYKWIM. They didnt make me wait till exactly 10cm to push. I got to 9 and they said just do what your body tells you - push, dont push it's all ok - and they didnt lay a finger on me. They just watched, waited and guided me when I asked and then they caught her when she came out!

My friend had her baby about 10 days ago upstairs and she stopped BFing at 3 days. The gave her some crap advice in there so just be aware that if you want to do it you can and not everything they say is gospel

 

[ryder]

Dont be scared... no one has a right to boss you around in any kind of health care facility. I hate hearing about you poor guys over in the UK.... The kind of treatment you guys get is pretty piss poor.

 

[golcarlilly]

I wonder if you get better treatment cos you have to pay for it? ( I am assuming you do in Canada?)

MM I will be aware of that then - god I thought they were supposed to be promoting BF not putting people off!!

 

[ryder]

We dont pay for health care here..Well in a way I guess we do through our taxes. I had a really good experience giving birth in regards to having things the way I wanted.

 

[golcarlilly]

Oh that is like us then, I thought you had to take out Health Insurance- sorry! Maybe our hospitals should take a leaf out of your books then!!

 

[ryder]

ya, sounds like your mv's and doctors need a lesson in bedside manner... We have recently allowed MW's into the hospitals and they are covered now, and even they are really pro-choice... They will let you have an epidural, they are supposed to be there to support women and their decisions, not force them into things.

I am going to be having a mw next time... I loved my labour nurse last time, but it would be nice to get a mw and have her my whole pregnancy and labour.

 

[Mervs Mum]

I think it's really hit and miss all over the UK. The consultant lead care seems to attrach a certain 'type' of MW. I was lucky that I was able to opt for MW only care and I think the ones who work on the Birth Centre are a certain 'type' too. Fortunately my type of MW were in the place I was having my baby.
They were bitches upstairs. I dont wanna worry you but dont be push around by them GL. My sister's best mate went into labour on Christmas morning about 4am. To cut a long story short, she got to the hospital (2nd baby BTW) and was examined and was only 1 cm. They told her she could stay if she wanted to which she did and within about an hour things were hotting up. Obviously with it not being her first she had an idea of what to expect. The refused to examine her again saying not long had passed and wouldnt listen to her that she thought something was happening. Eveytime she called them they would roll their eyes. They finally gave her some pethadine (she said they seemed to want her to just shut up) and left her. She told her hubby to get them back and she was gonna push. They reluctantly came back only to find her on all fours giving birth. She had her baby before the pethadine had even kicked in then spend hours out of it when she should have been enjoying her newborn.
They might be brilliant and hopefully they will be but if they arent tell your hubby to make sure they dont push you around.

 

[Sarahkka]

I did the same. You can get lovely underwire nursing bras too now.

It's not that they are bossy upstairs at Hx it's just that with it being the Dr's in charge there seems to be more intervention where downstairs they are there but they let you take the lead IYKWIM. They didnt make me wait till exactly 10cm to push. I got to 9 and they said just do what your body tells you - push, dont push it's all ok - and they didnt lay a finger on me. They just watched, waited and guided me when I asked and then they caught her when she came out!

My friend had her baby about 10 days ago upstairs and she stopped BFing at 3 days. The gave her some crap advice in there so just be aware that if you want to do it you can and not everything they say is gospel

?????!!!!
I thought the offical BF line was that underwires can cause blocked milk ducts and all kinds of problems with milk flow and production. That's certainly the offical line here.
If I've suffered through these hideous bras for no good reason, I will NOT be pleased!

 

[ryder]

see... that kind of story is just crazy IMO?!?!?!??! I dont know how people can operate healthcare that way.