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Original poster

Vain (sorry) question to women who have breastfed

134 replies

thatsgood · 10/04/2023 00:18

Im just wondering what to expect breast wise post weaning. I have been ebf for 8 weeks. Feeling sad at thinking how my boobs will look at the end of this, though appreciate the amazing thing my body has done for my baby. Will my breasts resemble what they look like once the LO has emptied them of milk after a long feeding session? Or even more empty? They look quite empty and a bit saggy after a big feed. I was a 32a/30b pre pregnancy and a 32c now for reference. It's been so nice actually having boobs for once and I'll feel sad to say goodbye to them! Just wondering what to expect really. Thank you!

OP posts:
afterdropshock · 10/04/2023 00:43

Mine disappeared completely and never came back.

Enko · 10/04/2023 00:46

I was B cup pre pregnancy. 25 years and 4.babies they have remained an E cup. I miss the B cup

Ruthietuthie · 10/04/2023 00:47

I fed for two years - and fed a lot, including near constantly during the night as we co-sleep. They also swelled up a great deal during pregnancy - I kept my pregnancy weight gain within the suggested boundaries, but then swelled up a ton at the end as I had pre-eclampsia.
Once I stopped, it took a little while (a couple of months) but now they look exactly as they did before. 32DD, so not massive, but also not small.

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Ruthietuthie · 10/04/2023 00:49

Not boobs, but the one thing that did take AGES to return to their usual size was my feet.
After pregnancy, my feet were half a size to a size (depending on the shoes) BIGGER. It took TWO YEARS (!!!!) before they returned to their pre-pregnancy size. I was glad I hadn't got rid of my lovely shoes (because I was too disorganized to sell them or take them to the charity shop... which turned out to be a good thing).

creaamontop · 10/04/2023 00:50

I'm in the itty bitty titty committee. They were great while feeding, non existent after. I've put on a bit of weight (as in got back up to a size 8) and went on a 'good' contraceptive pill in this respect and I have a tiny perky pair now. To be honest at this stage I'd rather have the tiny perky good looking ones I have than a big saggy pair, I think they're relatively ok for someone of my age that's fed 2 kids.

Remaker · 10/04/2023 00:53

My B cup breasts didn’t grow a lot during pregnancy and I struggled with milk production. Only bf for 6-12 weeks. My breasts haven’t really changed shape at all but they have grown to a C cup. Still perky now in my 50s.

My best friend who was an A cup and fed 3 DC for a year each was completely deflated afterwards and ended up having implants. Her rib cage is also permanently larger (she is short and very slim). My SIL similarly started off as an AA/A, was very successful with bf x 3 but is now completely flat chested.

BreadInCaptivity · 10/04/2023 00:54

thatsgood · 10/04/2023 00:18

Im just wondering what to expect breast wise post weaning. I have been ebf for 8 weeks. Feeling sad at thinking how my boobs will look at the end of this, though appreciate the amazing thing my body has done for my baby. Will my breasts resemble what they look like once the LO has emptied them of milk after a long feeding session? Or even more empty? They look quite empty and a bit saggy after a big feed. I was a 32a/30b pre pregnancy and a 32c now for reference. It's been so nice actually having boobs for once and I'll feel sad to say goodbye to them! Just wondering what to expect really. Thank you!

Same sizes as you.

Breasts stayed a C cup even after I stoped BF and remained a nice shape (I preferred them to pre-feeding if I'm honest).

Not sure if it made a difference but I started mixed feeding at 6 months so there was perhaps more of a transition phase iyswim.

Matchymatchylemonscratchy · 10/04/2023 00:57

Mine went back to normal but due to tongue tie and a bunch of other challenges I only bf’d for six weeks and then expressed for another four months (full time expressing though).

Matchymatchylemonscratchy · 10/04/2023 01:00

But yes my rib cage permanently expanded so my back is now broader, despite not carrying excess weight there. I genuinely did not know that would happen!

dresshelp43 · 10/04/2023 01:03

Much better after :) so don’t worry x

DeflatedAgain · 10/04/2023 01:14

I'm naturally a 34A so not much change with me except one is much larger (currently at 16 weeks ebf).

I'm getting excited as once I stop I'm finally getting a boob job 🙈 (one was a lot bigger than the other and so, so uneven)

I will leave it a year though and see if my opinion changes first - can't see that happening as I've wanted it for years.

Mummynew08 · 10/04/2023 01:28

Ruthietuthie · 10/04/2023 00:49

Not boobs, but the one thing that did take AGES to return to their usual size was my feet.
After pregnancy, my feet were half a size to a size (depending on the shoes) BIGGER. It took TWO YEARS (!!!!) before they returned to their pre-pregnancy size. I was glad I hadn't got rid of my lovely shoes (because I was too disorganized to sell them or take them to the charity shop... which turned out to be a good thing).

Yeah similar here, my fingers swelled up in pregnancy and my old wedding ring only started fitting again two and a half years later!! No one tells you that having a baby will give you fat fingers medium term! I'm slim with bony fingers but I guess they were even bonier before...!

I got a new ring from dh when I got the fat fingers (I thought they'd be permanent too like the darkened nipples) and now it goes on the middle finger

Original poster
thatsgood · 10/04/2023 08:03

Some of this is reassuring! To the posters who said your breasts stayed at breastfeeding size - how is this possible if when they're "drained" of milk they look so empty (and will have no milk post weaning)?! I feel sad seeing them in their empty state and just hope that's not what's to come

OP posts:
otherwayup · 10/04/2023 08:16

I breast fed both of mine for 2 years.
I'm 52 now and my boobs are still perky! They were never particularly big but they're definitely don't look any worse for all that breast feeding!

Phoebo · 10/04/2023 08:17

Mine were fine, no change

UndercoverCop · 10/04/2023 08:19

I was a B cup went up to a c/d then back to a B. Not saggy though, I think it helps they were fairly small to start with

Girasoli · 10/04/2023 08:20

I was a small 32B pre kids, breastfed 2 DC for 3 years each and went up to a big 32B/32C. Weaned DS2 a couple of months ago and went back to my preDC size with no sagging or stretch marks.

Hypermobility runs in my family though - we have slightly stretcher than normal skin I think!

DragonflyLady · 10/04/2023 08:21

I’m an F cup - my boobs didn’t change during pregnancy, breastfeeding and after. They just stayed exactly the same. Don’t know why.

HelpsHeal · 10/04/2023 08:21

Mine were never very big but I don't think there was any lasting damage from BF

YearoftheRabbit23 · 10/04/2023 08:21

Mine haven't changed. I was/am a B cup and breastfed for 6 months. Still the same shape as before.

YukoandHiro · 10/04/2023 08:23

It apparently takes two years post weaning for the fat cells to rebuild. I've been pregnant or feeding for over six years now and my boobs are pathetic little things hanging way down. Really hoping they change again post weaning.

Phoebo · 10/04/2023 08:23

Phoebo · 10/04/2023 08:17

Mine were fine, no change

Oh sorry, I should say I was always quite big about an F, then went up to maybe an H?? I have a small frame so quite huge. They might be a bit smaller now (I ended up wearing the soft bra tops because they were easier when BF then haven't gone back to a proper bra so not sure what exact size I am).
But no sagging or anything like that

CUaround · 10/04/2023 08:25

I breastfed my DC for a total of 4 years and when I stop they seem empty for like 6 months to a year but then they get the fullness on the upper side of my breasts and they looked better because the increase in size filled them up more. With each DC I'd gain a cup or 2 bigger.
I think age is affecting my body more than having my DC. for example my nipples are sitting lower than 2 years ago and I hadn't breastfed for many years! But they are also enormous so they tend to sag quicker.....

Gameofmoans81 · 10/04/2023 08:25

My C cups stayed like two empty socks for at least two years after I stopped feeding. They’ve only recently become slightly fuller but they’re definitely nothing like they were before. Hope you’re luckier!

Comfies · 10/04/2023 08:27

Mine are in prettying good shape. I've bf two babies. One had to be exclusively pumped which I think can be even rougher on the boobs.

I also have enormous boobs (and always have) I am a 34HH. I'm about to turn forty and they genuinely look pretty good.

I'd say you'll be fine, especially as they are on the smaller side. Don't let people scare you. People are so negative about anything to do with childbirth and women's bodies, but lots and lots of women give birth and bf and still look lovely. But equally don't put too much pressure on yourself to look amazing. It isn't the be all and end all as I'm sure you know

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