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Boobs after baby- what was your experience?
I'm not pregnant but I've always wondered what most women's experience is after birth/nursing. Technically, it's the milk swelling that causes any sagging, not breastfeeding itself (one reason I plan to breastfeed if the time comes). My mom said hers got slightly saggier but they still look great in her 50s, and she said they got bigger after each baby, but probably partly due to weight gain everywhere. Meanwhile my boyfriend's sister-in-law said hers got way smaller and saggier.
So what did you experience?
1.) Size- did they change a lot during pregnancy, and did they get smaller, bigger or the same after they "went back"?
2.) Shape- how much did the shape change? How much sagging did you see?
I don't mean to body shame anyone as breasts' primary purpose are for feeding a baby anyway- I'm just a bit curious.
Filed under Boob and body issues
14 comments
I'm on my fourth pregnancy and each time they have gotten bigger than the last. But, in between each pregnancy has been different. After my first, I lost quite a bit of weight (20 lbs more than pre-preg weight) and they got pretty small (about 34B), after the second time they went down to a full C, after the third I got fairly thin again but they stayed in the D cup range. (of course, all of this is before I found ABraThatFits). So far this time, I'm up to a G cup, and anticipate about +2 cups with nursing.
As far as shape goes, as far as I can remember, I used to be firm enough I could go without a bra, I definitely cannot do that now (even at the smaller size). They are heavier on the bottom now and "swingier" than before, lol. I guess the tissue is softer (i'm talking about in between pregnancies, after nursing).
As far as "sagging" goes, yes they are not as perky as before, but when I see my cousin's boobs (who has never been pregnant and is closer to 40 yo) her breasts look similar to mine, so I think it is more genetic than caused by babies/pregnancies.
My boobs changed during pregnancy and nursing, but I've found that mental and hormonal health have more of an effect on my breast size and shape than even nursing did. Bottom line is: take care of yourself. The more you care for yourself the better you will be, and aging doesn't have as much to do with it as much as loving yourself. (I know I sound like a bad cliche, but I mean it sincerely.)
When I was younger my boobs were such a sore spot with me that I didn't pay close enough attention to them even to be able to compare them to how they are at my current age: 47. I know their overall shallow-full-on-bottom-and-sides shape is just the same, but, for the first time, I think they look pretty good! I weigh 97-98 lbs (my regular weight since I was in 7th grade, except during pregnancies), and gaining even a pound here and there makes my breasts larger. I have a hard time keeping weight on though, because of nutrient absorption issues.
Overall my breasts are shaped like my maternal grandmother's were, but mine are a lot smaller. My Nana was naturally curvaceous, and she was proud of it. She always made sure to take care of her health and grooming...never went a day without makeup and perfume, slept in negligees, watched her diet, etc. She had 4 babies and nursed them all, but her breasts were beautiful...seriously beautiful...until she was in her 90s (she passed at age 95).
When I was growing up, she would tell me her boob preservation tips: never to sleep on my stomach (I always did), always put moisturizer and body oils on my boobs (I never did), never sleep without a bra on (I started sleeping with a bra on 6 months ago), and do upper arm exercises every day (Um...I vacuum...)
I wish she could see me now! Since finding Bratabase, wearing better quality bras that actually fit, and taking steps to "care for" my boobs I think they look better than they ever have! :-)
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