Does breastfeeding make you age faster?

[Peridotty]

I heard someone say that breastfeeding makes you age faster because it takes a lot of energy. Is that true? I am still BF my 17 month old and don’t plan to stop until 2. But with the sleep deprivation and nursing i feel like my face has taken a beating. Others say I look young though and I was told last week I look 22. My sister just said I look older.

I think kids make you age faster, breastfeeding or not

@TurnUpTurnip they sure do!! But I was wondering if I am ageing even faster than that because I’m Breastfeeding ?

I have never heard that myth before. They probably also told you the breastfeeding makes your breasts saggy myth as well?

In reality, breastfeeding increases your life expectancy by reducing your risk of breast cancer. So yes, on average, breastfeeding mums live longer than nonbreastfeeding mums.

It also helps most women lose some of the pregnancy weight because you burn a minimum of an extra 500 calories a day by breastfeeding. That’s the equivalent of two HIIT classes. And nothing ages you more than being overweight- hard on your joints, hard on your cardiovascular system, etc.

I’ve never heard that one before? Breastfed both my DC. I’d agree with PP that it’s the child rearing rather than the feeding method that takes it out of you!

It's the sleep deprivation and lack of time to look after yourself that will do for you, OP, not the breastfeeding. As you were.

@TurnUpTurnip

I think kids make you age faster, breastfeeding or not

Yep, this!

No!! 😆 I looked really youthful after breastfeeding my twins for 3 years.

Thanks guys. I also never heard of it before until today!! But from an energy point of view I thought it made sense?? To be honest though I feel the sleep deprivation is the worst thing for my skin.

I think it is just kids that do that to you!

It doesn’t age you but it does ruin your breasts.

I breastfed for nearly 4 years. I don't look older than I am.

If burning energy made you age faster then going to the gym would age you, let alone breastfeeding.

It's just a silly rumour.

Is your sister anti breastfeeding? Has she ever done it?

Of all the stupid things people say about bf this is a new one…Your sister, not you.

If you’re feeling run down make sure your diet is decent and you’re taking vitamins and having plenty of water.

Sleep deprivation is awful, I get enough sleep these days with a 2 year old but it’s still often in broken chunks. I’ve always looked way younger than I am, used to get ID’d regularly till I was mid 30s but in the first year of having her I got crows feet and my first grey hair. It’s one of the many joys of motherhood.

@Ryannah pregnancy does that. Not breastfeeding. Even if it did it is hard to see how something can really be ruined by fulfilling its biological purpose.

@Ryannah

It doesn’t age you but it does ruin your breasts.

3DC breastfed for a year each, and I can categorically state my boobs are magnificent.

@Ryannah

It doesn’t age you but it does ruin your breasts.

Nope

No....it's the sleep deprivation

Don’t think there’s any truth in it- I suppose more frequent night wakings could lead to tiredness, and that does no-ones looks any favours.

I did find BF draining though. I remember sitting in the nursery chair after getting ds latched on and the minute my let-down started it felt like the life force was actually draining out of me.

I looked like a walking miracle on maternity, breastfeeding round the clock, never sleeping, surviving on cake fumes. It was the hormones, I think.

Now I’m back at work, have stopped breastfeeding, and have a demonically energetic preschooler, I look like fucking Hagrid.

I breastfed my children, I'm 56 but my colleagues guessed my age as 48 the other day.

It's the sleep deprivation!!

My friend did 100% of night waking with her DC1, her DH did 0 and slept separately getting 8 full uninterrupted hours.. I watched her age before my eyes while he still looked exactly the same!!!

Thankfully for DC2 she kicked his arse into gear lmao

@TerribleCustomerCervix

There is a word for feeling suddenly awful when let down starts, can't remember it. It happened to me for a few weeks once and was horrible

I think being tired can make you look aged but catching up on sleep sorts that out.

Breastfeeding means doing a lot of the nights which makes you tired and appear aged. Even though you could still be young and fit as a fiddle.

I've breastfed all mine (for far too many years...) and definitely feel like I look old... but for me i think it's the lack of sleep, the lack of time for caring for myself, and the dehydration that comes with breastfeeding.

Lack of sleep and lack of time would be true of formula feeding too, and I could definitely help myself by drinking more water...

But who knows what I'd look like if I Formula fed? None of us can turn back time and see if doing things differently would change anything.

Ignore negativity - you're doing a job that's worth far more than your looks - you're raising a person! Keep up the good work.

No it doesn’t! 5y breastfeeding and my boobs are perky and just the right size! Honestly they are better than when I was 18!

(My face though aged about 25 y in those 5y. I think it’s just having kids.)

OP: the energy theory doesn’t make sense either. Do marathon runners look ancient?