Worried about not being able to breastfeed

[phrumkidost]

I am 35 weeks pregnant with my first and am beginning to worry about whether or not I will be able to breastfeed. I know it is pointless to worry as there is probably nothing I could do about it if it's not going to happen, but I thought I would seek some advice and wisdom, just in case. And I guess if it's not going to work I'd like to start thinking about how to deal with it now.

I've had "hormonal issues" most of my life. My periods were rarely regular, I didn't ovulate regularly, took awhile to conceive and I am convinced it only happened because I used acupuncture and herbs. My breasts have always been small. Before pregnancy I was a small 34B/36A. I was really excited when at 16 weeks I had moved into a 36C and then around 20 weeks I started leaking a bit of colostrum. However, since about 30 weeks my breasts seem to have gone back downhill, if that makes sense. They've shrunk back to more like a B cup and I haven't leaked any colostrum in well over a month. And I can't make any come out, like I could before.

Has anyone been here before? Is there any hope for me and my breasts?

 

[lynnikins]

of course there's hope the fact that you have leaked colustrum is a very positive sign ( not that it not happening means you cant bf incase anyone worries ) I barely leaked at all before ds1 was born id gone from a 36A pre pregnancy to a 38 B during pregnancy and post birth jumped to a 38DD when my milk came in, with hand expressing and feeding 3 hourly in the first week i ended up with an oversupply ( i had to feed to the clock as ds1 was in the NICU/SCBU and needed feeding at a minimum every 3 hrs they would give him my expressed milk via syringe if i wasnt there and id hand express when not with him.

 

[phrumkidost]

of course there's hope the fact that you have leaked colustrum is a very positive sign ( not that it not happening means you cant bf incase anyone worries ) I barely leaked at all before ds1 was born id gone from a 36A pre pregnancy to a 38 B during pregnancy and post birth jumped to a 38DD when my milk came in, with hand expressing and feeding 3 hourly in the first week i ended up with an oversupply ( i had to feed to the clock as ds1 was in the NICU/SCBU and needed feeding at a minimum every 3 hrs they would give him my expressed milk via syringe if i wasnt there and id hand express when not with him.

Wow! This is very encouraging to hear! A 38DD when your milk came in? I would be so thrilled to be so lucky. Thank you so much for the positive story, though I am sorry to hear your DS1 was in NICU.

 

[Dragonfly]

I think you can, A lot of womans confidence in their bodies are dented. I had this fear even second time around when my son wouldn't latch. Your milk dosnt come in for a few days after birth anyway. So your boobs will be like boulders soon after but not immediately. Just feed on demand that increases your supply.

 

[Dk1234]

My best advice is don't quit. Seek help with issues from educated people because almost all bfing issues can be resolved

 

[summer rain]

I also have hormonal imbalance issues, doctors thought it was PCOS but tests ruled it out. Although we never got to the bottom of it, it appears that it may be a problem of low progesterone on its own, as that is the only thing that fits all my symptoms. Although I have five kids I had a lot of problems when TTC, and have also suffered miscarriages. It has had no effect on my ability to BF if anything I have had more problems with oversupply.

Although I have always been a c cup or above even before kids, I have some experience of what you're concerned about. With my eldest I did experience quite a dramatic increase in size during the pregnancy but my boobs did decrease in size slightly at the end. With my two sons after him I not only experienced no size increase but I also experienced a size decrease towards the end I was worried but those two babies were my biggest gainers in the early days, often gaining 1lb a week! With my two youngest I didn't really leak any colostrum either during pregnancy or after and I experienced not much size increase during the pregnancy and had a decrease in the last few months, as well as the loss of other breast changes. I was so worried as I thought it meant I was losing the baby but thankfully it meant nothing at all. I always experienced a big size increase when my milk has come in and guesstimated this time that I'd be in a J cup and I was right xx

 

[Bunanie]

Another small boobie here I was abt 34a before baby and didn't notice much difference when pregnant either, I'm still only a b or c atm. Didnt leak any colostrum till very late. I have a feeling my hormones were irregular too as my period is never on time, but I just didn't bother to get it checked. Lol

I'm bf for 7 months now, it is possible!

Oh, when my milk came in, I looked in the mirror and I thought, geez, who needs plastic surgery

 

[sezzee]

My boobs didn't get any bigger during pregnancy, they stayed exactly the same size! I also never had anything leak out of them. I gave birth and suddenly became a 40dd with enough milk to supply the ward!

 

[JessPape]

Only 7% of the population TRUELY can not breastfeed. Its hard, and a lot of wrongful advice tends to be given making it harder. Build your support group, friends family. LC's, people you can if your have trouble. If you have breastfeeding support groups, I suggest going to some before you birth.

Remember the first 6 weeks, are hell week. The next 6 weeks, is about learning your baby learning your body and fixing/getting better at everything you both learned in the first 6 weeks. Its natural, but its a lot of work, a lot of demand. You may feel like a cow, like your not producing when baby wants to feed non stop, this is normal.

Your breast size has ZERO effect on the result of your nursing, so don't even stress about it.

 

[tinytabby]

Lots if good advice already here. I didn't produce any colostrum till after LO was born. My boobs went from a C to a G in a week! You don't know how it'll be till it happens. Just feed lots and take each day as it comes. Good luck!