Body changes

[AbigailB]

We are (still) trying for our first child. I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on changes to your body once pregnant and then a new mum. I’m a 34b, will I increase a cup size when I’m pregnant and if so will this develop through out my pregnancy? Will they return to my current size after I’ve given birth? What will breast feeding do to them? How difficult is it to return to my current weight?

There really isn't a set answer to this as every woman is different:

For me, I'm quite big chested anyway but increased about 2 cup sizes when pregnant with my first. BF for a year, they stayed that size and never went back down.
Now 21 weeks with my second and my boobs are enormous, uncomfortably so.

With my sister, she's much smaller chested (we always joke i got hers) but they became quite full in pregnancy and she loved them. In her own words, hers completely deflated into 2 small sacks as soon as she'd given birth!

Some women put a lot of weight on in pregnancy, some very little. Some women bounce back instantly, others are left with a stubborn stone they can't ever shift, some really struggle to lose the baby weight.

There is no way to exactly predict this as everyone is different.

For me personally, Pre-pregnancy I am the same bra size as you, I'm 35 weeks pregnant and I'm now a 38DD. My other two pregnancies I went up to around the same size and they went back to normal size after I had given birth and the milk had dried up. They look pretty much the same after pregnancy but then I don't know if that's because they are small to begin with so there's not much volume to lose!

My first pregnancy I had returned to my normal weight within 2-3 months but I was 24 and arguably more active. My second pregnancy at 29 it took around 6-12 months and this pregnancy (33) I am not able to advise yet.

Thanks both, that’s really helpful to know

Hi OP. As the others have said, it's impossible to tell what will happen for you personally.
I was the same cup size as you pre pregnancy. I remained the same cup size whilst BF for 2 years and have still stayed the same size after stopping. They look exactly the same as before pregnancy too, maybe slightly saggier but not noticeable. In terms of weight. I was in absolutely no hurry to really do anything about it. Others will be different and want to get back to it as soon as they're cleared. I put on about 1.5 stone and gradually dropped the weight over a year. Be open minded :)

Absolutely no set answer.

first baby - boobs went up 2 cup sizes in pregnancy and a further 1-2 when breastfeeding. body went back to pre baby weight within 6 months (but I’m naturally slim and I didn’t do anything to lose weight , think this is just my body).

then boobs went back to pre pregnancy size when I gave up BF

baby two - boobs went back to pregnancy size. Weight went down to small than before any babies at all - underweight. Had to really focus on healthily gaining weight again- think breastfeeding and not getting enough calories was the issue here.

boobs went tiny.

pregnant again and boobs are officially refusing to think im pregnant and remain small. Considering I might have to bottle feed this baby

Pre-pregnancy I was a 32D. I'm at least a 36E now, but I'm wearing stretchy pull on nursing bras because I'm itchy all over and my boobs hurt and I can't bear wires. I think they've stopped growing now at 20 weeks. My mum said hers went down straight after birth. At my swimming club, 3 of us are pregnant and we're doing bra swaps as everyone expands between all of us. Everyone has an old bra lurking at the back of the drawer as a result of weight loss or gain. Especially if you're bigger it gets very expensive buying a new one every 3 weeks!

I’m a size 8 and possibly a 34b too. I switched to sports style bras a while ago so more flexible. In my first pregnancy I didn’t notice any change to my boobs. However after birth they went huge while I was expressing/pumping for 6+ weeks. Once I moved to formula they went back to their usual size.

I lost the bump within about 4-6 weeks. The weight I guess took about 3 months. I still had a bit of a flabby belly but it wasn’t that noticeable.

Pregnant again 18 weeks and my boobs are slightly bigger and fuller already. Maybe only one size bigger but they feel fuller and firmer.

Breastfeeding does nothing to breasts, its hormones from pregnancy and postpartum that might make changes in the way they look

Also mine got bigger from about 6 weeks in both my pregnancies, they didn't noticeably go down but must have been gradual

It's really depends on your body type and how much weight you will put on during pregnancy.

I was always very slim - I have a very healthy diet and exercise a lot. I eat more than usual during my pregnancies but always healthy - only homecooked meals, no fast food, no ultra processed snacks, etc. I lost the baby weight with my first in 3 months and with my second in 4 months. Now, after two pregnancies, my body looks exactly the same as it was before getting pregnant. It was NOT easy - being slim doesn't just happen: took a lot of preparation (like filling up the freezer with nutritious, home cooked meals before the baby arrived) and self-control to make sure I was back to my size.

My breasts got huge during pregnancy and even bigger while I was breastfeeding. To be honest, I didn't like that, I felt like a cow, and they were also different sizes; as it turned out, one of my breast has more milk tissue than the other one. Couldn't wait to stop breastfeeding and get back my normal sized breasts.