Where did my boobs go???

[cherrylola]

I know they say it is pregnancy that changes your boobs, not Breast feeding but Christ on a bike I was not prepared for this!

I've been meaning to ask about this for a few weeks here to see if anyone else had this or has any advice/ comfort to offer!

My now 16 month old practically self weaned at 12 months (unusual I know, but that's the way it was!) down to just one feed a day at bed time. My boobs disappeared. I bought a load of new bras about 3 months ago when I realised I could ditch the nursing bras and now I swear I only half fill them. I've gone down at least 2 cup sizes since before I got pregnant and the skin is very very loose and my boobs are TINY!

Does this just happen to everyone???

[YonicScrewdriver]

I stopped BF quite suddenly and my boobs took months to fill out again. Have you lost/gained weight overall?

[cherrylola]

I should add, I don't regret BFing for one second and would do it all again

[mupperoon]

This is terrifying. I have gone up to a GG cup and if they vanish when I stop breastfeeding I will be left with two windsocks.

[cherrylola]

Oh Yonic, so there may be some hope yet?! I am almost exactly the same weight as I was pre-pregnancy which is one of the reasons I'm so puzzled!

[cherrylola]

Mupperoon- take comfort that it might not be the same for you! Mine didn't get at all huge and I never got any engorgement

[tiktok]

This is perfectly normal, and temporary :) It can take many months for the fat that used to be in your breasts to return - but it does happen in time.

[cherrylola]

Thanks TikTok and THANK GOD!

[AlwaysOneMissing]

I have had exactly the same. Just as you describe. However, it has been 2 years since I stopped breastfeeding my DD, and only about 10% of the lost volume has returned. I am extremely self conscious of them

[tiktok]

Always that is unusual. But give it more time.

(How do you estimate 10 per cent?! )

This is how it works - we are the only mammals who have breasts when we are not either pg or bf, and it's fat that gives our breasts that shape, laid down as a result of hormonal activity (oestrogen, mainly). When bf is really well-established, the fatty tissue is replaced by milk producing and storing tissue. When the milk stops being produced, the producing and storing tissue shrivels and there is no fat to take its place.....yet. But given sufficient oestrogen producing cycles, the fat comes back.

[bangersmashandbeans]

Ummm...my DS (DC2) is 21 months and my boobs are tiny saggy horrible things and show no signs of improving. Gets me down to the point that I'm saving for surgery . I work so hard at the gym and have lost the 4 stone I gained in pregnancy but my boobs are just hideous!
Sorry OP probably not what you want to hear!

[onehellofaride]

I lost 2 cup sizes after having DS and DD and breastfeeding. They are now 7 and 5 I now have no boobs at all I think I only wear a bra because it's the done thing . Sorry OP!

[Gumblossom]

Tiktok, so the fat thing is the reason post menopausal women get giant breasts? (Some of them at least).

Cherrylola - has you cycle returned? When I stopped breastfeeding my DS, it took along time for fertility to return, so boobs took a while to fill out.

[Wotsitsareafterme]

I stopped feeding dd2 at 18 months. She's 2 on Wednesday and thry have started to fill out a tiny bit

[tiktok]

I don't know this thing about giant breasts - if weight is put on generally, as it is sometimes in middle-aged women, it will also go to the breasts. But much older women - seventies and upwards - tend not to have much body fat at all on their breasts.

[80sMum]

I had a similar experience OP. I had small boobs before my first pregnancy (32B). During breastfeeding I reached the dizzy heights of 36C, but when I stopped BF for the last time I finished up with almost nothing and have been 32AA ever since. My youngest DC is now 31 (years, not months!). I hope it's different for you.

[tiktok]

It's true that some people have bodies that change long term - but the evidence is that it is pregnancy that does it, not breastfeeding. The major changes in the breasts happen with pregnancy - and they happen, obviously, whether you breastfeed or not. There is some research on this - can't find it at the moment, sorry. Individual experiences will vary, and there will be individual women who respond differently, but it is generally true.

[cherrylola]

Gunblossom yes I've been having periods for about 5 months now, since he significantly dropped BFs. Have actually been trying to conceive without any luck so far ever since so not entirely sure if everything has settled back to normal yet. Looking forward to a positive result and BFing a second baby even if only to have some boobage back (jokes obvs)

It sounds like quite a few people have had this problem without their boobs ever springing back to life. Ho-hum, maybe I'll just have to accept it

[toptomatoes]

After my first 2 DC it took about a year but they eventually returned to pre-pregnancy size. I'm a bit worried this time though
(Dc3) as I am still feeding at 20 months and they are already smaller than I started with, I'm not expecting good things when I stop!

[Levismum]

I found after the births of my older dc thst my boobs shrunk to almost nothing. I didn't breastfeed at all. Nor did I gain very much weight during pregnancy. I am a small boobed & slim lady.

Youngest dc is 9 months. I'm still bf her. At least after this baby I will feel like there's good reason for my boobs looking knackered. Actually I don't really care. Managing to bf this baby totally changed my view of my breasts.

I had major issues with them. I contemplated surgery in my 20's but now I'm in my 40 's & I realise, they are absolutely amazing!