When you've stopped breastfeeding...

[Aranea]

How long does it take for your breasts to settle down? I can't remember from last time, and I want to plan a bra-shopping trip!

Bump?

Hi Aranea

I don't know for sure as it can change from woman to woman but I'm guessing a few weeks? None of the sites I looked at gave any time scale and as I've not stopped myself I've no experience.

However sage tea is recommend (three cups a day) and the usual cabbage leaves, ice packs and hand expressing for engorgement.

I'd probably buy decent, supportive but inexpensive bras (get yourself fitted) at first then splash out on fancy ones once you're satisfied your breast have reached their post bf size.

Size wise I'd say a good six months after you stop. After each my 3 DCs my breasts were wizened and tiny (A cup as opposed to breastfeeding size of D) and horribly saggy after I stopped. By about 6 - 9 months post bf they were back to normal (C cup and not too saggy). Just my experience though I'm sure everyone is different

Yes - what nelly said. My breasts were like little, sad, deflated balloons for a while after I stopped feeding last time. In desperation I bought moulded bras and used inserts to pad them out a bit. Thank goodness they revived after a few months.

About 40 days after stopping bfing your breasts under go involution (inactive milk making cells die off) but it can take a while for the fat cells that were used during bfing to be replaced.

In short give it a while before buying a whole new underwear wardrobe!

Oh no, that's not what I wanted to hear! . I was hoping to set myself up with some lovely new bras in a few weeks... Six months?! Humph.

Mine took about 6 months...but that was following 6 and a half years of either being pg or breastfeeding.

I'd treat yourself to something reasonably priced but still pretty to keep you going while you're waiting...I love buying lovely underwear now, my boobs are the same size that they were pre babies, but they do need a little more help to be perky now

Aranea I feel your pain! I've started the transition from BF to bottle (he's starting to get teeth ) and was wondering the same & hoping it would be just a few weeks too.

A six month wait for sad little deflated balloons!!! F**k sake I was way off!

Well, I've got something to look forward to now

Oh bugger it. Mine never were particularly perky so I am going to want some good scaffolding! Especially after 3 years of breastfeeding. Maybe since we'd been down to just 1 feed a day for ages, it might be a less eventful transition? [hopeful]