Tell me about your breasts

[FREEmom1120]

I had serious supply issues with my first baby that I thought were due to using a nipple shield from day 1, not having a good latch, waiting too long to get help, etc.

I am currently breastfeeding my 2nd daughter exclusively, she is 2 weeks old. With the exception of a small issue in the first week, she is doing great. Good pees and poops and all that.

However, my breasts never became engorged/lumpy when my milk came in. They definitely get fuller and firmer and soften in between feedings, but my LC was a little concerned about their overall softness. So of course, I am too.

Anyone else have a similar experience and no supply problems? I guess I just need some reassurance here.

Thanks.

[sarah04]

I haven't had that experience, but here's the question: Is your DD getting enough milk? You said that she is, so sounds like you have no issue to be concerned about. I'd only be concerned about your breasts if she had signs that your supply was too low.

[YummyYarnAddict]

Fortunately I've never had supply issues, but my breasts have responded differently with breastfeeding my two kids. After my dd was born, my breasts became quite large. They went up several cup sizes and I honestly don't know what size I wore for a while there because I went to Target and bought the largest unstructured jogging bra I could find and even that was too small. Things calmed down when she was about 2 months old, but even then, my breasts would definitely feel and look "fuller" after a couple of hours without either nursing or pumping. (Sometimes my co-workers would ask if I needed to take a break when they noticed my top getting a bit too tight! It was fine because my boss and two other nurses were pumping as well so it was a very breastfeeding friendly environment.)

After my ds was born, I didn't notice any appreciable increase in my breast size, nor did I feel that "full" feeling after going a period of time without nursing even though I would feel a let down. I could tell my supply was good and I could pump quite a bit when I did pump. Even now (he's 3yo), my breasts are actually smaller than they were in previous years and I never feel full but my supply is great and I still feel let downs.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I never had engorgement either. If I went a long time without nursing (the rare long chunk of sleep at night) they were pretty full and hard, but otherwise, not really. We're still going strong and she's almost exclusively bf (probably 90-95% of her calories) at 10.5 mo.

[*Erin*]

i didn't have engorgement with my second child either. in fact, second time around,from the very first nursing on, it was so totally comfortable and easy i too wondered if something wasnt working properly! never had any issues at all, with either babe.

[Carma]

Also no engorgement for me with the second one. Think your breasts are better at it the second time.

Carma

[SeekingSerenity]

I did not engorge with #3, #5 or #6. I think it depends a lot upon the baby and how strong their suck is, as well as how long they nurse. Some are just sluggish nursers, not necessarily to the point of not getting enough, but simply not emptying the breast at one feeding. Early on this would certainly contribute to the engorgement. With #4, he struggled to keep up with the heavy flow, and made loud gulping noises (sounded like, "york-york-york" I kid you not!) whenever he nursed. But #5 felt like I'd given birth to a small Hoover, so there was no engorgement - in fact, she was born hungry and nursed almost constantly until the colostrum changed to milk and she finally got something hearty in that little tummy.

[twins+1]

With my twins I was a lot bigger but I was also pumping a lot. This time I get fuller, but not nearly as big as I did when i pumped for my twins (pumped 11 months). I was more comfortable this 2nd time. Sounds like it isn't uncommon

[Rainbow2911]

I got engorged the first two times and then not at all on the third. There was a little more fullness before a feed but nothing like with the other two. I did have a bit of a worry about that, but my ds2 is now 2.5 and a solid chunky boy. There was no problem with my supply, just that my boobs knew what they were doing this time!
I say watch the baby for problems, not your boobs. If nothing hurts and she is healthy, happy and growing then don't give it another thought.

[haurelia]

I am nursing a 6 month old 8-10 times daily. I've ever been engorged, and never leaked. I have large breasts (E cup pre preg and G or H now) and they feel firm if it's been 4 hours or more (rare!) since he's nursed, but never hard or engorged. They soften after a feed, but they always feel mostly soft-ish. I've read that since women with large breasts have more fatty tissue in relation to the milk ducts, it's normal that they don't feel as full as a smaller breast where the milk ducts are more prominent.

I think you're in the range of normal, and if she's pooping, peeing and gaining, I wouldn't worry about it.
HTH!

[Carma]

I forgot to add. I also leaked a lot with the first, but not at all with the second one. Bought those nipple pads for nothing the second time.
Also with my first I could not pump enough when I went back to work at ~4.5 months I had to supplement, and with the second there was no problem pumping enough when I went back ~ 5 months.
But I agree with the others, the only right indicator is how many soiled diapers.

Carma