I hate my breastfeeding boobs

[BraveLilBear]

So I'm a first time mum. DS is 6 weeks old and is feeding great- putting loads of weight on and rarely struggles with latch or anything so I've been really very lucky.

Thing is. I hate my massive ugly boobs. I used to be a small 34AA - or 30DD depending on how you measure. I was very athletic and used to run 10ks etc and never needed anything more than a crop top to immobilise my boobs.

Now, my boobs are huge and ugly. They have lurid blue veins all over like something out of an alien film. I have radial stretchmarks on one side only. And they bounce up and down if I walk at anything even moderately faster thanssnail's pace.

I hate how it feels and I hate how they look. Will they stay like this as long as I breastfeed? Will they stay like this no matter what?

I know this is miserably shallow but would love to know what to expect.

Mine gradually decreased in size in time, do you have a good supportive nursing bra? Bouncing milk-filled boobs do take time to get used to, your baby is still young and your supply is still being established fully.

I currently have a couple of nursing crop tops from mothercare- I have no idea what size I need- online calculators have offered suggestions as wildly different as 36C to 32DDD/F so I can't order from the Internet.

Trying them on is also unachievable at the moment as that requires a bus ride to town (DP has my car for work) and I've not felt confident enough to get the bus yet.

by 4 months into bfing I was back in my normal bra size~ish. I dropped from 38L post birth to 34h by 4 months and then stayed much the same

your supply will be starting to settle now and your body will know it only needs to feed one baby not 10 so hopefully you should start to see your breasts settle down a bit too!

Crop tops are not sufficient for any reasonable-sized bosom. I know it's a hassle, but it really is worth buying a proper bra, and being fitted somewhere like Bravissimo or John Lewis.

I wasn a 34C pre-bf but up to a 36FF for the first year of bf, then gradually getting smaller, now back to a 34D (still bf though). I have a huge collection of bras and some very embarrassing videos of me riding!!!!

I think a properly fitting bra, that supports your new bigger bosom, will help you feel better about them. Bravissimo have guides on their website and do mail order. Their 'Sophie' bra is very comfy and gives me plenty of support for my now 30H boobs. Mine were like inflated balloons at your stage, but calmed down once supply settled - around 3.5 months in.

Hi, congratulations on your baby!

I agree with PP who said crop tops are completely unsuitable for day wear. I think I know the ones you mean from mothercare and am fairly sure they are for sleeping in.

I would recommend the figleaves website and in particular the Anita range of nursing bras. Plus they do free returns which is great.

My DS is 8 months now and we're down to one morning feed, feed before bed and one night time feed. My boobs have settled right down now although they are probably a bit bigger still than before and much saggier

But your body is amazing! It grew a baby, popped it out and is now nourishing it, rock on!

I know I need something better- only got these to tie me over til I knew what size I was but have been totally stuck. Mothercare back sizes are all too big and not been brave enough to get into town and just try on loads at Debenhams til I find a rough size.

Having boobs SUCKS. My sister - also fairly flat chested - asked me if I'd ever get a boob job and I was categorically 'no' - would love my old pert small boobs back.

Judging by the responses here - thanks! - it seems things will improve at some point. Tho ther pertness may be a thing of the past. Sigh.

Just realised how vain this all sounds I think that at the moment it's the emblem of my grief for my old body. They're even stopping me doing something about the rest of my flab.

I expected to have wobbly bits after birth- I didn't expect to be at risk of earning black eyes on a stroll down the road. Or to look like a comic book villain...

They will calm down, honestly! And the rest of your body. 4.5 months in I'm back in most of my pre-preg clothes, only half a stone over my pre-preg weight (I put on 2.5 stone during pregnancy) all by doing not much other than breastfeeding, pushing baby around in the pram and trying not to eat cake more than once a day. At six weeks, without clothes on, I still looked a lot like Bagpuss.

That's reassuring to know! I put on more than 2 stone and are now just half a stone beyond pre pregnancy weight - but I'm needing clothes 2-3 sizes bigger!