Breasts after breastfeeding

[Ariannah]

It’s a year today since I stopped breastfeeding. The main reason I stopped was because one breast was producing more milk than the other, so it grew significantly bigger and I was worried about being permanently disfigured. But it hasn’t gone back to normal! That breast is still dramatically bigger.

I wear a padded bra that’s designed for breast cancer survivors. I can’t bear to let anyone see me with no clothes on, never mind touch me. I saw my GP this week and she just shrugged and said it might never go back to normal. I asked what my options are and she said a padded bra. I find this incredibly upsetting. The NHS obviously realises that having mismatched boobs is a psychological issue for breast cancer survivors so they pay for reconstructive surgery. But my boobs are equally disfigured and uneven and they just tell me to wear a padded bra?

Am I beyond hope or is there still a chance they might go back to normal by themselves? This is literally ruining my life and destroying my self esteem.

Hopeful bump. Has anyone had lopsided breasts and had them go back to normal by themselves?

No experience but in the first instance, find a different doctor. Of course you don’t have to live with something like this. This is what the nhs is for.

Go back, see as many as you can to get lots of different opinions and stress to them how much it’s affecting your mental well-being.

I have the same issue! I'm currently feeding my 4th baby. I had the same with my third and it did go back to normal eventually but I can't remember how long it took!

Are you definitely not producing milk anymore? I ask because occasionally women go on producing milk long after they have stopped BF, due to high levels of prolactin. If this could possibly be the case with you, is it worth getting hormone levels checked? That's a bit of a stab in the dark though.

If I was still producing milk I’d expect my boobs to fill up and hurt? They don’t fill up. I don’t know if there’s still any milk, it doesn’t leak out or anything. I just want them to go back to normal.

@Ariannah could you ask for a referral to a breast specialist? They would be able to consider your options in terms of treatment.

No, they wouldn't necessarily fill up. You can produce milk at a level that doesn't cause engorgement or leaking. I've fed both of my children into toddlerhood and it tends to settle at this level, which is useful when they're barely feeding any more.

I'd try hand expressing (look up Marmet technique if you've never done it before) and see if anything comes out.