Breastfeeding Myth: I Am Too Small/Large Busted to Nurse

As I read through posts on a parenting forum, I saw that many expectant moms were under the impression that their breasts are either too large or too small to adequately feed their baby.  This is simply  a myth.  Breast size has no bearing on one's ability to nurse.

First, it is important to understand that the breast is not a storehouse but a factory.  Yes, the breasts do store milk which is why we feel engorged from time to time, but storage is not their main function.  An empty breast actually produces milk faster than a full breast.  Breast storage capacity does not depend on breast size although it can be limited by size.

Breast size and storage capacity does not dictate ability to nurse.  A mom with a smaller storage capacity will still be able to produce plenty of milk for baby, but may need to nurse more frequently whereas a mom with a greater storage capacity can go longer between feedings because of the amount of milk stored. 

It is essential to understand how milk production works.  Kellymom does a great job of explaining the process.   Below is an excerpt from a Frequently Asked Questions page that should answer some other questions you may have.

What happens between feedings?

Milk is produced at all times, not just between feedings. Between feedings, milk collects in mom's breasts. Volume of milk stored in the breast is greater when there has been a greater amount of time between feeds. The amount of milk that can be stored in the breast between feedings (milk storage capacity) varies significantly from mom to mom and is not determined by breast size (although breast size can limit storage capacity). For most women there is not a lot of storage room. Although mothers with both low and high milk storage capacities produce enough milk for their babies, mothers with a greater milk storage capacity may be able to go longer between feedings without impacting milk supply and baby's growth.

Do breasts need time to refill?

Many people mistakenly think of a mother's milk supply as being like "flesh-covered bottles" that are completely emptied and then need time to refill before baby nurses again. This is simply not how we understand milk production to function.
First of all, milk is being produced at all times, so the breast is never empty. Research has shown that babies do not take all the milk available from the breast - the amount that baby drinks depends upon his appetite. The amount of milk removed from the breast varies from feed to feed, but averages around 75-80% of the available milk.

Trying to completely empty a breast is like trying to empty a river -- it's impossible, since more milk will keep flowing in while milk is being removed.

Research also tells us that the emptier the breast, the faster the breast makes milk. So when baby removes a large percentage of milk from the breast, milk production will speed up in response.

Rather than thinking of nursing or pumping as "pouring milk out of a container" think of it as flipping on the "high speed production" switch!

Yet another analogy: Imagine you are using a straw to drink from a glass of water. As you drink, a friend is very slowly pouring water into your glass. The emptier the glass, the faster your friend pours the water. Would you be able to drink all the water in your glass?

Waiting a set amount of time to nurse your baby (under the mistaken belief that breasts need time to "refill") is actually counterproductive. Consistently delaying nursing will lead to decreased milk supply over time because milk production slows when milk accumulates in the breast.