Large breasts? Small breasts? Does it matter?

You might have small or large breasts, oval or round, even or uneven, full or droopy.  

If you’re worried that your breast size or shape could make breastfeeding difficult, you’re not alone—but you can be reassured. All these breasts are normal, and nearly all mothers can make enough milk for their baby (or babies).

• Breast size is about how much fatty tissue you have. Bigger breasts have more fat, but that doesn’t affect how much milk you make.
• What matters is the amount of glandular (milk-making) tissue, and that’s not usually related to breast size.
• The amount of milk stored in your breasts can vary between women, and even between your own breasts. But again, it’s not about size.
• If you follow your baby’s cues and breastfeed whenever they show they need a feed, you’ll make enough milk.
• Your milk supply depends on how much and how often your baby feeds—not on the size or shape of your breasts.

If you have large breasts and are worried about positioning your baby, you’re not alone. With support and knowledge about different positions, you can breastfeed successfully. 

A very small number of women have hypoplastic breasts (also called insufficient glandular tissue, or IGT). This means their milk-making tissue is underdeveloped. If you have IGT, you might not be able to make a full milk supply, but you can still provide some or most of the breastmilk your baby needs. You can use donor milk or formula for the rest.

Nipples also come in all shapes and sizes, and can point in different directions. You might worry that your nipple shape will affect whether your baby can attach to your breast.

• Some nipples are flatter than others, and some are inverted or retract inwards.
• Most women with flat or inverted nipples can breastfeed successfully, sometimes with a bit more help and support. 

© Australian Breastfeeding Association October 2025