To think breastfeeding does shrink your boobs

[ScarletLouise]

I may be wrong but 1st baby, didn't breastfeed long at all due to PND (2 weeks max) and boobs stayed the same, pretty unaffected by pregnancy as well.

2nd baby, pregnancy didn't seem to have too much of an effect on boobs. This time breastfed exclusively for 12 months and now I have stopped I've realised my breasts are at least 2 cup sizes smaller than before this baby. My old bras are massive on me, I used to have a lovely cleavage which non-existent now. They're just small and saggy as well now.

I really suspect breastfeeding for so long changed them? But everywhere says it's a massive myth and that it is pregnancy, not breastfeeding, that causes the changes.

Feeling a bit sorry for myself as I look rubbish in a lot of my old dresses and my boobs were one of the nice things about me that I actually liked.

I fucking wish it did :(

I think everybody's body is different in how it ends up after pregnancy, tbh. As soon as I stop breastfeeding my younger DC, a surgeon is shrinking mine!

Mine didn’t get any smaller. Breastfed both of my kids. Was a 30GG before the first child. Now a 32K!

Mine went back to how they were before being pregnant. I think its a variety of factors. No two women will have the same effects.

How long had it been since you stopped bf? I've heard it can take a while for the fat to settle back in once they've been working for so long.

That could of course be complete bs though. I haven't stopped feeding yet (extended) but have obviously being more aware of information about it,

Nope. I was a 30E before I got pregnant, went up to a 34H whilst pregnant then breastfed and once my ribcage went back to normal I stopped at a 30FF (though my right boob didn't get the memo and is a 30F). So thanks DD for ensuring I can no longer buy cute bras for cheap.

It's all just hormones.

Oh, and I've started pilates now which is helping my chest muscles so my boobs are looking a bit better. So if you are worried about sagging etc it's worth getting some toning in your pectoral muscles.

Lots of factors but I do feel breast feeding changes them. My Aunty breastfed her son for two years. He favoured one side. She lost two cup sizes in one breast. They stayed uneven for another two years. Her second pregnancy and breastfeeding again corrected it 🤷‍♀️

It must change them, all that swelling when pregnant and then inflating and deflating again when feeding just can’t be good can it?
I’ve always been petite with big boobs and lost the baby weight quickly both times but I think the shape of mine definitely suffered with the loss of fatty tissue etc. They did perk up a bit again eventually though just to give you a bit of hope?

Mine went small and saggy.

I’ve been for a consultation with a surgeon to have them augmented but i’m waiting until my children are a little bigger (healing process not conducive to lifting/cuddles)

I’m in exactly the same boat as you, OP. I stopped in February. Sat and sobbed my heart out when I got re-measured at 2 sizes smaller.

Have you only stopped BF recently? Pretty sure it can take about a year for them to fill out again.

Give it a year. It takes a while for them to fatten up again.

They shrunk mine. Have lost 2/3 cup sizes after feeding dds1&2. They're all small and droopy now.

I agree OP. My boobs shrunk by two cup sizes too after finishing breast feeding. It's rubbish. They remained sad little sacks of skin for over two years. But I'm happy to report that they've just plumped up a bit and I'm almost back to pre pregnancy size (dd2 is 3.5). There is hope!

And no, I don't believe it's pregnancy as that had no impact on my breast size at all. It was breastfeeding.

Suppose everyone’s body is different but mine shrunk and lost their volume at the top .

How long ago did you stop bf?

I bf all 3 of my DC for approx 10 months each & mine are pretty much the same as before. But after stopping each time my whole body took a little while to return to normal, I'd say 3 - 6 months.

Mine are slightly bigger, but only a tiny bit, and that might be because I'm a tiny bit fatter as being a parent can sometimes be quite boring so I reach for the chocolate. But I don't care about that, breastmilk is so so much better than formula milk. I wouldn't feed a toddler highly processed food, given the choice, so equally I wouldn't feed my baby it either. I was very fortunate to get amazing breastfeeding support when I needed it, but it's now all been axed in my area :(

Pregnancy does enlarge my breasts though, I am almost 19 weeks preg atm and I’ve gained two cup sizes.

I bf DS1 for 2 years and DS2 for 4 years. Boobs still the same size/shape as before. They were slightly smaller, possibly, just after I'd finished bf each time, but went back to normal within a few months.

I breast fed for 18 months and was a milk machine. My entire pregnancy and after, my breasts stayed exactly the same as they were pre-pregnancy (only a 32C so nothing special). They're not as 'full' as they were but otherwise incredibly lucky.

Was a 38G throughout two pregnancies and feeding two for 13 months each no change whatsoever. Am now a 36G but have lost 2 stone so think that's more the cause than the feeding!

I hear you. Was a real shock to me. Everyone I know got bigger.

Balcony bras in the right size really help

Pre-pregnancy I was a DD. Went up to a J cup when feeding and now a GG so no, not smaller for me.

Mine aren't any different despite breastfeeding for 11 months.

Lovely & bouncy when I was, I miss them

I 100% feel that breastfeeding affected the size of my breasts and I only did it for 12 weeks. I was a 34b before pregnancy, during pregnancy and breastfeeding I was a large c cup closer to a D but just not quite. My son is now 3 and my breasts are a 32A.