Why Your Boob Size Doesn’t Affect Your Ability To Breastfeed
anjala farahath .
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Does size really matter? Well, if you’re talking about the size of your bosoms and its proportional capacity to breastfeed, then the answer is NO! Whether you are a size A or HH doesn’t determine the volume of your breast milk. Because it’s not always about the size. In fact, it is science. Here’s what Science says about breast milk production:
What Are Breasts Made Of?
Your breasts may look like simple masses of fat, but they are anything but just that. In addition to fatty tissue, the mammary glands are made of glandular tissue and connective tissue. However, the fatty tissue is the prime decider of the shape, size, and the cushioning of the breasts against injuries. Nonetheless, the size and the shape of the breasts do not dictate the ability to produce milk. It’s what inside it that matters!
The internal structure of each breast is layered with lobes of glands. This is where the real (boob) job happens— the milk production. Tiny hollow sacks, called the alveoli, get to work and make the milk that you need to breastfeed. From these tiny fellows, the milk is carried over to the tip of your breast, the nipple, in tubular pipe-like structures called ducts.
If that took you back to your high school biology classes, we apologize. All we are saying is the size of your boobs doesn’t determine the ability and capability to produce breast milk. Women with small breasts have the same efficiency as the generously endowed women, to produce breast milk. When a woman is lactating, the breasts are constantly at work and busy producing milk that your baby nurses on periodically. Most of the milk is emptied out by your little one, but if you have big breasts, then the extra milk that your baby couldn’t finish finds enough space to be stored for later. So yes, that’s what big breasts determine— the storage capacity.
Does Size Matter At All?
All breastfeeding mothers have more or less the same capacity of milk production through the day, but the only thing that is different among them is the capacity to store. Of course, bigger boobs equals larger stock. But hey, that also means you have unnecessary weight to carry around! Having said that, women with smaller breasts may have to frequently feed the baby, while the big mommas are good to go for long hours without feeding.
On the other hand, size does matter. Some women have insufficient glandular tissue (IGT) in their bosoms. Although the occurrence is a rarity, women with IGT, or underdeveloped breasts, fail to produce adequate quantity of milk due to the inability to produce a good number of milk-producing tissues. A possible give away of this breast condition also called hypoplasia, or possessing hypoplastic breasts, is unusual looking breasts. But, most women have asymmetrical breast shapes, and you can’t always determine its efficiency by looking at it. After all, don’t we all know not to judge a book by its cover?
Another important thing to note is the position and placement of the breasts, to ensure your baby doesn’t have a tough time locating its food. Moms with bigger breasts find it easier to feed the baby while lying down, while moms with smaller breasts may have to raise the baby to a higher, comfortable position.
With all the technicalities discussed, we mustn’t forget that breastfeeding isn’t just a mechanism of feeding, but it’s what defines the baby’s strength, nourishment, and of course, the bond of unconditional love between you both. For your baby, your milk is manna from heaven, and it provides him/her with nutritional and immunological benefits to be a healthy and a happy baby!
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