Listening to Big Breasted Women

I will never forget the first time I had to use the stethoscope on a relatively young and good looking woman with a large chest. I had to go down her bra to get one of the sounds on the left sternal border we were looking for. She also had put lotion on her breasts because part of my hand was very soft and coconutty smelling when I came back out of her shirt with the chest piece. When I listened to her mitral sound I just asked her to hold herself up, but I believe it was the tricuspid I was having issues with. I think it may have literally been my first day doing it lol.

As I've said previously listening to a heart with clothes or bra on is like enjoying a lovely view with the blinds drawn. You must have the patient undressed to hear properly. Also of course they must be put in all the different positions to properly appreciate the sounds. Big breasts are no problem, just push them out of the way with the back of the hand holding the stethoscope.

Like liquidsky I was taught never to listen to the lungs and heart over clothing regardless of the gender of the patient. It can be a bit awkward with female patients, but for the more modest incline I auscultate under their top or gown.

Auscultating via clothing does muffle and add additional breath sounds cause by the movement of the diaphragm on the material, which can mast other more quieter breath sounds, murmurs etc .

With regards to listening to well endowed women I used the back of my hand holding the diaphragm to move the breast out of the way during auscultation. It’s a very simple and effective technique and places the patient at ease as you are not actually handing or holding her breast.

I have used this technique on numerous occasions and I do feel that it does place the woman at ease as you are not handling her breast per say.

I agree with some of the other posters that over any material is by far inferior. Any tiny movement against the material ruins all hope at hearing faint murmurs, clicks, etc... once I am out of the academic setting and can dictate more of my own procedures I will definitely be making sure the patient allows access for just direct skin contact during auscultation whether male or female. Obviously I would never force anyone into something they were absolutely resistant to though.

Has anyone ever found that the top of the breast is actually lower than the apex of the heart on some well endowed females?

While I have not experienced this, I am quite large breasted, so I imagine listening to my heart would take some work.

I am large breasted. Auscultation has never been an issue. My physician(s), PA, nurse, tech etc have always professionally used the back of their hand to move & lift my breast out of the way. Nothing erotic, nothing arousing, NO BIG DEAL!

~Just my two cents~

I love stething big breasted women. There is something about the stet in that location that turns me on