Best Nursing Pillow for Large Breasts
This is nancy j. graves , a mother of 3 kids and the founder of babypointhub.com When I first became a mother, I was at...
This is nancy j. graves , a mother of 3 kids and the founder of babypointhub.com When I first became a mother, I was at...
A nursing pillow is among the few baby products that provide comfort to both mother and the baby. Back and shoulder pain is found common in breastfeeding mothers. New, as well as old mothers struggle a lot to find the perfect comfortable position for breastfeeding their babies.
Thankfully, the best nursing pillow for large breasts is available on the market. Lactating mothers need to provide the extra support or lift to their babies that are only provided by these specialized pillows. However, not all the nursing pillows that you find on the market are good for both the mother and her baby.
To make sure you purchase the perfect one without wasting money on an uncomfortable pillow first, consider my top 7 suggestions, which I have come across after hours of research and reading customer reviews.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Nursing Pillow
Unlike ordinary pillows, nursing ones are designed to provide much comfort and support for the mother and her baby during breastfeeding sessions. Having the right pillow will make both pregnancy and nursing a lot easier for you compared to the individuals who don’t use such pillows.
Here are some benefits that might convince you to get one before you give birth to your happiness.
- There are certain types of nursing pillows that are very comfortable to sleep with during pregnancy nights when it gets extremely hard to get a peaceful sleep.
- Brings your baby close to your body; thus, you don’t need to struggle much and lift the baby.
- You can continue breastfeeding the baby for a long time without feeling much uncomfortable, strains on the back, shoulders, and neck.
- If you went through a C-section, having such a pillow will reduce putting pressure on the area where the surgery was done.
- Prevents the baby from slipping off the surface while nursing.
- Allows the baby to get the right latching position.
- Can also be used for tummy and propping time when your baby gets older.
7 Best Nursing Pillow for Large Breasts
The list includes different nursing pillows of a wide price range so that you can pick the right one according to your budget while ensuring the prime aspects of having a nursing pillow.
My Brest Friend Original Nursing Posture Pillow
The first product is from such a company that manufactures great quality maternity and baby products that are much admired among mothers. This isn’t an exception to that.
As a mother, you need to make sure the baby is well-lifted so that the little one doesn’t have to struggle when it comes to breastfeeding. That little lift causes back pain as well as shoulder pain when you breastfeed the baby while sitting without a proper nursing pillow.
Using this piece of nursing pillow, you no longer have to experience such strain. Providing a better posture during breastfeeding, the pillow also alleviates the straining issue on your back, neck as well as arms.
For your baby’s sensitive skin, the pillow is made out of 100% cotton, so it doesn’t cause any allergic reaction to the newborn. To add more to this, there is a handy pouch in which you can keep some maternity supplies and access them easily.
The shape and size of the pillow fit most sizes without any issue. It will surround your body securely and allow you to sit comfortably to feed the baby. You don’t need to put any effort to provide support to the baby; the pillow can handle the job quite well.
Apart from your back, the pillow also provides support for your arms and elbow and reduces stress on these areas while breastfeeding.
Pros:
- Made of pure cotton
- Great comfortable support for back, arm, and elbow areas
- Reduces stress and strain issues
- Doesn’t let the baby slip while nursing
- Comes in adorable looking prints
Cons:
- The pillow feels a bit stiff for the baby
- Cover is of rough fabric
My Brest Friend Deluxe Nursing Pillow
Breastfeeding mothers struggle to get a relaxing sitting position during nursing a baby. To reduce such disturbance, My Brest Friend introduces this deluxe nursing pillow. You will be able to sit with a comfortable posture when your baby needs you the most.
Conventional pillows cause straining issues, but this one isn’t that type of pillow. It’s made to alleviate straining issues in your arms, back, and neck. With little to no effort, you can breastfeed the baby for a long time without feeling uncomfortable. In addition to that, you will experience no stress on your arms and shoulders at all.
The pillow also cares for the baby as well – designed to prevent the little one from rolling out during nursing, thanks to its latch-on. Its fabric feels comfortable to the skin; thus, your newborn baby will not experience anything uncomfortable.
For the convenience of the mother, the pillow features a deluxe strap with Velcro and a silent release buckle that makes it the best nursing pillow for plus size on the list.
Regardless of your body shape, the pillow will easily fit securely surrounding you. It will provide you the relaxation that you need for nursing the baby for a long period.
There is a pouch to keep some maternity supplies that you need the most during nursing sessions.
Pros:
- Comfortable for the mother
- Surrounds most body sizes without any issue
- Prevents the baby from rolling off
- Support for arms and elbows
- Convenient pocket
- Adjustable strap with easy to release buckle
Cons:
- Cover isn’t of good quality
- Almost impossible to clean as there is only the foam inside the cover
My Brest Friend Original Nursing Posture Pillow
Pros:
- Both the pillow and cover are made of cotton
- Very firm and thick
- Reduces soreness and stress
- Prevents the baby from rolling
- Machine washable cover
- One size to fit all body shape
- Convenient storage pocket
Cons:
- Poor hook and loop design catches on blankets
- Cover is difficult to put back on
- Cheap cover
Boppy Original Nursing Pillow and Positioner
When the purpose is to get a nursing pillow that the baby can use up to 12 months regardless of his/her development, this one from Boppy Original meets the need. Made to provide comfort for both the mother and baby, this one is ideal for breastfeeding with large, heavy breasts without experiencing any strain and soreness.
You can use the pillow for your newborn baby, one who is on his/her propping, tummy, sitting, and attempting to stand period. So, it’s the only pillow that you will need for the first year while nursing the baby.
For the mother, Boppy allows her to sit with comfort. You will be able to sit comfortably without any stress on your arms and shoulders. Whether you are nursing by breastfeeding or bottle feeding, the pillow will get you to sit with a perfect posture for the well-being of your body.
The pillow features a middle stretching panel that adopts most waist sizes easily. You will not face any issue regarding it.
As there is always the risk for little messes to happen, the pillow cover is machine washable so that you don’t need to struggle much for washing it. With its easy to get off zipper, you can remove the slipcover effortlessly. Moreover, the slipcover is water-resistant, so it will take much less stain, liquid spillage, and other messes.
Pros:
- Soft and firm to provide comfortable support
- Can be used for the first year
- It’s easy to remove and clean the slipcover
- Fits most waists
- Manages to provide a comfortable nursing posture
Cons:
- Made of cotton-blend
- Not good for newborn babies
Blessed Nest - The Nesting Pillow
For your newborn baby’s sensitive skin, you always want to make sure the skin doesn’t conduct anything that might cause irritation and allergic reaction.
Blessed Nest seems to understand the fact well and come up with this pure cotton made nursing pillow. You can rely on its cotton quality even if your baby has sensitive skin.
Filled with organic buckwheat hulls, you can shift the materials inside the pillow like a bean bag to find the perfect and comfortable position for you and your baby. If you give it a slight pressure, the hulls inside the pillow will form a shape to conform to your body and hold the position as long as you want.
Its repositioning feature provides comfortable support on the back and belly for mothers and great abdominal support for mothers who went through cesarean surgery.
So, you can use it as a back pillow for nursing in bed. You can also use it for sleeping, knitting, reading books, and other activities when you aren’t nursing the baby.
The pillow allows enough air circulation so that you and the baby don’t feel uncomfortable during long nursing sessions. For all stages of caregiving, such as breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, tummy-time, and others, the pillow comes extremely supportive.
As far as cleaning is concerned, its slipcover is machine-washable. So, you can wash it easily whenever needed.
Pros:
- Made of 100% cotton
- Comfortable and supportive for mother and baby
- Can be repositioned for support
- Applicable for other purposes
- Easy to clean slipcover
Cons:
- Expensive option
Minky Nursing Pillow Cover
Slipcovers that come with nursing pillows are mostly made of synthetic materials and aren’t easy to clean. That’s why parents opt for 3rd party pillow covers to use the pillow conveniently while reducing the cleaning hassle. For such purposes, you can give your valuable consideration to this slipcover; it will not disappoint you at all.
Even though it’s not made of cotton, the cover feels comfortable enough on the sensitive skin of your little one. With its plush softness, you will find the pillow to be soft and breathable enough for the baby. Its 100% plush minky fabric feels less scratchy than most cotton alternatives.
When it comes to removing the cover, you can easily swap it out. No matter how many times a week you need to wash the cover, the fabric will not lose its quality whatsoever. The manufacturer claims the cover to withstand up to 10,000 wash, so you can rest assured about its durability.
Unlike typical slipcovers, the zipper on this one is tucked, covered by an extra piece of fabric on the outer perimeter. There is no chance that the baby will come in contact with the zipper. Meaning, the skin of your baby will be unharmed, no matter what side of the pillow the baby is on while nursing.
Pros:
- Made of high-quality plush minky fabric
- Soft, breathable, and comfortable
- Easy to remove
- Machine-washable
- Durable slipcover
- Zipper is hidden and covered
Cons:
- A bit slippery for newborn babies
- Doesn’t fit snugly on every pillow
Dr. Browns Gia Nursing Pillow
Universal sized nursing pillows don’t seem to be comfortable enough for taller mothers. To make mothers feel comfortable while breastfeeding, this can be the best nursing pillow for tall mom. Other than its long and wide shape, the overall quality of the pillow is great for both the mother and her baby.
The pillow has a pure polyester filling with pure cotton stitching, which makes it soft yet comfortable enough for most cases. As the material is BPA, phthalate, latex, and lead-free, you can use it without worrying about the health issue of the baby.
However, don’t use it for nursing a newborn. It’s best to use for babies of 3 months and older.
You can reshape the pillow to find the perfect position for your comfort. Due to its thick to thin design, you will be able to find limitless nursing positions as per the situations require.
Your baby will find great support from this comfy pillow for propping and sitting positions. So, even when you are not nursing, the pillow itself will company the little one in the best and comfortable way possible.
Unlike the rest of the other nursing pillows on the list, you can machine-wash it for convenience. Also, the pillow is good to use with or without a cover. The cover doesn’t come along with it, so you have to buy it separately or use a third-party cover.
Pros:
- Made of polyester fill
- Soft and comfy
- Designed for versatility
- Machine washable
- Conforms to countless nursing positions
Cons:
- Conforms to countless nursing positions
- Not good for newborn babies
How to Choose the Best One?
When it comes to the physical well-being and comfort of both mother and the baby, there shouldn’t be any compromise. To make sure you spend on a good quality pillow, check for the following aspects before finalizing the order.
Material
Obviously, you would look for the best material to have in the pillow. You will come across pillows that are made of pure cotton, cotton-blend, polyester, and polyester-bend.
Undoubtedly, cotton is the most preferable one for the sensitive skin of your newborn baby. So, look nowhere else if you are to get a pillow for a baby under 2 months old. However, some cotton material might not be comfortable for the bare skin, so avoid those pillows at any cost.
If your baby doesn’t have any allergy and is above 3 months old, you are good to go with a polyester-blend nursing pillow. It’s quite a cheap option. These pillows are softer and squishier.
Posture-friendliness
Only a mother would know how difficult it’s to breastfeeding with large, heavy breasts. Such mothers don’t feel comfortable while nursing a baby for a long time. Cheap and conventional pillows cannot provide a healthy posture.
Therefore, for this purpose, go for a firm pillow, which is soft enough for the baby’s skin as well. The pillow should lift the baby up to a level for the mother to breastfeed comfortably.
Machine Washability
Getting a machine washable pillow is always preferable as you can clean the messes more easily every time. These pillows are a bit pricey compared to the ones that you cannot wash easily.
Pillows that are for newborns are mostly non-washable. This is because a newborn baby is too little to make the pillow mess. And these pillows cannot be used for more than 2 to 3 months.
If you are looking for a pillow that the little one will use for more than 6 months, make sure it’s easy to clean the messes.
Types of Nursing Pillows
It gets quite confusing when you see nursing pillows of different shapes and sizes. Each type has its own purpose and way to comfort and support the mother and her baby. You better have a clear understanding of all types to know which one suits your needs the most.
Classic Nursing Pillow
These are the most commonly used ones. Its C-shape design wraps around your waist while providing the baby with perfect firm support. You can get a nursing pillow from My Brest Friend if you are looking for one for the newborn baby.
Wrap-around Nursing Pillow
Babies often slip off the pillow if the pillow isn’t flat and even. To overcome the issue, these pillows feature a flat and level surface. You can conveniently wrap the pillow around your waist through a buckle. If you need an adjustable nursing pillow, these are the ones you should look for.
Two-sided Nursing Pillow
Having both a soft and flat surface, a two-sided pillow can get you a perfect nursing position depending on the needs. The pillows are designed for breastfeeding shallow latch with large breasts.
Twin Nursing Pillow
As the name tells, mothers of twin babies need such pillows the most. This allows the mother to breastfeed both the newborn simultaneously. You can also bottle-feed the twin at the same time.
Travel Nursing Pillow
When you got no chill and have to breastfeed the baby on the go, this is the pillow that will take care of you, both providing support and comfort. Along with an adjustable shoulder strap, there is a nursing sling that holds the baby. You can feed the little one hands-free.
Adjustable Nursing Pillow
For those who struggle to elevate the baby to a perfect and comfortable height, an adjustable pillow will be a great product of relief for them.
Pregnancy Nursing Pillow
This is the pillow that can company you during uncomfortable sleepless nights of pregnancy and after you give birth to the baby. The pillow provides comfortable support on the back, neck, as well as feet for the mother.
When the baby arrives, you can use it for breastfeeding him/her while maintaining a better posture.
How to Use a Nursing Pillow?
To get the most benefit out of the nursing pillow that you have bought, make sure you are using it correctly.
No matter which type of nursing pillow you got, wrap it around your waist properly. If it comes with a clasp or buckle, wrap the pillow sideways so that you can easily adjust the clasp.
Lift the pillow to a level that feels comfortable for your baby to get a good latch for breastfeeding. This is really important; make sure the baby isn’t struggling whatsoever.
Make yourself comfortable with how you sit. You can recline a bit if it eases the nursing session.
The baby might sink down the pillow a bit. If you notice it gets difficult for him/her to latching onto the nipple, consider adding one or two regular pillows underneath the nursing pillow. It will further lift the baby to find an easier latching position.
Use your free hand to swaddle the little one and adjust the head to make sure the nursing session is comfortable and convenient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can your breasts be too big to breastfeed?
Big breasts have nothing to do with any negative aspects during breastfeeding. The mother can feed the baby in any comfortable to sit positions. However, it will require some practice to be able to see what the baby is doing while on the latch.
As long as you are comfortable with your nursing sessions, it’s totally fine to be different than average people.
Should you hold your breast while breastfeeding?
Depending on the size of the breasts, mothers need to hold the breast to make sure it’s into the mouth of the baby. Due to milk production, these become heavier, so for most cases, holding a bit would be required while feeding him/her.
Which nursing pillow is best?
For newborns, pillows that are made of pure cotton and firm enough to support the little one are the right pillows that you need to buy.
Older babies would require a soft pillow, and any polyester or synthetic-made pillow should be fine if the baby doesn’t have any allergic issues.
No matter which one you get, the pillow should be able to provide you a better and comfortable posture while breastfeeding.
How can I get my baby to latch with a big areola?
Once the mouth of your baby is wide open, latch your breast into it. If the breast is overfull, consider hand expressing some of the milk before you start feeding. It will make the baby latch much better and take a significant area of the areola.
What causes extremely large breasts?
Due to some hormonal changes, women end up with large breasts when the estrogen level increases. Furthermore, pregnancy and milk production also enlarge breasts; this again has to do with certain hormonal changes. Also, some drugs, as well as massages, are also responsible for this according to many studies.
How can I prevent my breast from sagging after breastfeeding?
Even though pregnancy enlarges breasts, there are some tips that come really effective at preventing breasts from sagging.
Wearing the right size bra, keeping your skin always hydrated, eating healthy food, sleeping on the back, etc. are the most effective measures. Also, you should protect the breasts from direct sun and quit smoking to maintain an overall good shape.
Final Words
Investing in the best nursing pillow for large breasts can really help you out from the soreness and strains that most mothers feel while breastfeeding their babies. Don’t compromise your comfort for the sake of the baby’s support. Good quality pillows feel great for both mother and the little one.
Read More About Breastfeeding Nursing Pillow
Use My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow
How using old boppy pillows
Use Sleeping Pillow for the Baby
This is nancy j. graves , a mother of 3 kids and the founder of babypointhub.com When I first became a mother, I was at loss for which strollers, diapers, car seat and carrier were the safest and best to buy for my kids. That's why I created this site - to help other parents ease into the challenges of parenthood!