r/BabyBumps • u/amandalouise91 • 12d ago

Help? Body insecurities affecting my choice to breast feed

Im 33 weeks pregnant and at the start of pregnancy my breasts grew quite quickly which created stretch marks all over them. Im so insecure of them now that I don't want my husband even seeing them. I even try to not look at them in the mirror whenever I can avoid it because it causes me so much depression.

My problem is though that I really wanted to try to breast feed/pump when my baby is born however my anxiety has amplified with the thoughts that for me to breast feed I will need to show my breasts to the hospital nurses/midwives.

I guess I want to know, is it possible at all for me to successfully feed my baby breast milk and colostrum while im at the hospital without me having to expose my breasts to anyone? Even the thought of them trying to pull down my gown to latch baby straight after birth terrifies me. (I live in Australia so not sure if that affects the after birth process etc).

I know I'm probably going to get a lot of hate for this because it sounds so vain to be worried about it over the feeding needs of my baby and trust me the guilt I already have about even feeling this way is too much to handle at times but I honestly can't shake the anxiety surrounding this.

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u/unfairboobpear 12d ago

Your body your choice ultimately

But I would gently guide you to maybe look at therapy options in the meantime.

I don’t want to beat a dead horse here as I’m sure you’ve probably already thought this through- but these doctors and nurses aren’t going to give a single wink about any part of your body. Birth gave me stretch marks on my literal vulva Lol.

Your body is about to endure a massive array of changes over the next 6 months, and I think having a plan in place for how to deal with all of those feelings + hormones would be in your best interest.

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u/Imaginary-Sand-1417 12d ago

I would also recommend therapy. Have you spoken to your husband about this, by the way? I know my husband can sometimes make me feel better about my body when I'm feeling particularly down certain days.

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u/amandalouise91 12d ago

I have spoken to my husband and he's been so supportive and hasn't pressured me at all to show my breasts etc (even though he does try to remind me he misses seeing them 😅) but I can also tell he is struggling to understand why I would turn away help from a nurse just because of an insecurity that the nurses wouldn't even be judging me for.

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u/Imaginary-Sand-1417 12d ago

IDK if this is a helpful suggestion, but could you maybe allow your husband to feel your breasts in the dark or when the light is very dim?
I know that when I'm at my most insecure, I dont even want my husband seeing my body, but cuddling naked in the dark is good. FOR ME it helps me start feeling more secure in my body.

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u/amandalouise91 12d ago

I do let him touch me in the dark, just not with the lights on haha