Breasts worse after breastfeeding?

[Magic28]

Hi, I just wondered is it true that pregnancy ruins you're breasts just the same as breastfeeding does? I thought this was said in an attempt to not discourage breastfeeding. I don't understand how months of breastfeeding can't make them sag more when pregnancy only makes the milk come in once then go. Would my breasts look better if I hadn't have breastfed? Anybody not breastfed from birth and not had sagging?

I read that it's pregnancy that causes sagging as opposed to breastfeeding - because the hormone relaxin softens the ligaments. Either way, my boobs are the least of my worries about my post baby body 😕

It annoys me when I read that pregnancy causes boobs to change size, not BF; I suppose it's to encourage more women to BF but it certainly wasn't true for me.

How do you know it was breastfeeding and not pregnancy though?

I BF both of mine until a year and 18 months on mine look the same as they did pre pregnancy (a little veinier but that’s it).

My crackpot theory is that if you full term breast feed - so feed up to and through weaning, there is a cross over of milk cells and ducts reducing and breast fatty tissue coming back in. So the very soft, floppy after effects of stopping pre 5-6 months is diminished.

I bf for 5 years in total. 2 babies to over 1 and 2 and breasts were ok - sagging now as heading to mid 40s and lost a stone recently. But still some firm stuff.

My stomach, on the other hand...

I’ve breastfed 3 children and I’m now 52 and my breasts haven’t sagged. I did wear a bra in bed from about 6 months pregnant and for about three months after baby was born. Breastfed for 3 years in total, I think genetics pay more of a part than anything else.

Thanks so much for your lovely words Uptheduffy. I agree they remind me of my experience. When my baby was born breastfeeding felt so natural and when he was half an hour old I put him straight on no latch issues or anything and it felt great. Even after a traumatic long high risk labour and birth I was happy to breastfeed.

My baby was admitted to SCBU at 1 day old and taken away from me. I was given a double pump and under so much pressure to get milk out for my baby with loads of clinicians checking had i got any. I cried my eyes out, they made me feel inadequate for not having milk when as I know now it's actually natural for milk to take up to 6days to come in for a FTM and normal to just have colostrum at the start. When I couldn't get any they gave my baby formula and I felt useless. A horrible old nurse told me I was doing it wrong and she wouldn't discharge me until I could prove it and had to have people come in and watch me and criticise my position of choice (actually my baby's as only position would feed in). I now know one position doesn't suit all and infact I was doing it correctly; ir just wasn't the position of the nurse's choice.
By now it couldn't have felt more unnatural as there had been so much intervention in what is supposed to be a special intimate moment between Mum and baby. I should have given formula at this point and not pressured myself and let them all get to me. I plodded on exclusively breast feeding determined to prove them all wrong utterly exhausted and miserable for 6 long months that felt like years. I can't get that time back with my baby.

i don't want to breastfeed a second child if I go on to have one and feel terrible and cry for saying that. I feel like I've had enough of breastfeeding to last me a lifetime and I'm selling my pump on eBay.

I'm breastfeeding my 18 month old and breastfed my eldest for 16 months, so nearly 3 years breastfeeding. My breasts are not noticeably different to before I was pregnant. They're bigger because I'm fatter now, but no sagging or anything like that.

OP I’m sorry to read about your traumatic experience

So sorry to hear about your experience Magic28

You should never have been treated like that. Be kind to yourself, feeding doesn't matter in the scheme of things, happy mums are the best mums!

Thank you Amber and Apples. I think because of everything that happened and my baby having a rough start I ended up feeling very pressured. I'm pleased it's all in the past now and I have my beautiful baby which I appreciate every single day. x

Aw, enjoy every moment. There's far too much pressure to breastfeed. I experienced it too and now know that breast just isn't best in every case. Health and happiness of mum and baby comes first every time

I suppose we can never really know, since no woman can see what an alternative choice re. breastfeeding would have done to her breasts in order to compare outcomes! I didn’t breastfeed, but my boobs were huge during pregnancy and when my milk came in, and 15 months post baby they are definitely saggier and smaller. They’re like deflated sacks and haven’t got any perkier. Maybe they’d have been worse still had I breastfed, or maybe not!

I think it depends on breastfeeding duration, tbh. I'm 3 and half years into breastfeeding DD2 and the changes are very gradual. If she breastfeeds to natural term my milk supply should be minimal when she stops.

DD1 was definitely more of a sharp reduction after a very short period of breastfeeding, comparatively. The changes were much more noticeable.

After a terrible birth and (ongoing 16 months later) recovery I felt so out of control I was obsessed with breastfeeding my son as thought maybe it would give me some control back. I also felt immense pressure to do it. I stopped feeding at 10 months pp, so 6 months ago and think I’ve seen an improvement in them in the last few weeks. I paid £100 (!!!)for two bras last week in An attempt to do something nice for myself and they defo make things better. When the bras are off they are definitely not as full as they were. I used to be a 32dd and now I’m a 32e and had to change the shape and brand I would have gone for previously because they just didn’t fill the cup enough. Anyway I would say give it another 6 months at least. Are you taking any supplements? I’ve heard you can take a liquid collegen that helps re build.
As many of the others have said try to eat well, drink lots of water and do a bit of exercise. That’s what I’m trying to do anyway.
To be honest tho I’m more focused on my banjaxed prolapsed ridden nether regions to mind so much about the boobs. F**king midwives and nhs , all those appointments during pregnancy and not ONCE did anyone discuss possible outcomes of poorly managed 3rd degree tear. Thanks for that...only a lifetime of problems as a result.
Sorry off track a bit there

@Whatcanido13 thanks for your response. It has really helped. I’m sorry you had such a bad time; that’s terrible. You’re right those midwifes never tell us what can go wrong do they!?! They’re full of horror stories to do with c sections but not for VB. They practically tell you baby will just slide on right out and it will be all rainbows and butterflies. Nobody warns you about any of it or any of the changes to your body (some of them life changing.) I guess it also doesn’t help seeing these celebrities on tv who just bounce right back!

I only take regular multi vitamin and omega 3. I’ll try the collegen thank you for the tip

I think it's the inflating and deflating of pregnancy not so much breastfeeding

Oh also I know what you mean about finding a good bra. I’ve found my boobs are bigger but not as full too. It’s like the breast tissue has spread out when it used to be more compacted of that makes sense. They feel softer and a little flatter on the top. I don’t know if they’ll firm up more in time. I know some people say it takes 6 months but other say more improvement after a couple years. I guess it helps to know after 6 months it isn’t the final result and things are continuing to improve all of the time.

if

I didn't bf and my boobs look the same now as they did before. They're slightly bigger but I've gained weight and they always get bigger when I'm heavier.