Though breastfeeding is infinitely rewarding, it’s natural for some moms to worry about how it will affect the appearance of their breasts. Moms may wonder: will my breasts still be as firm or shapely after nursing my little one? Much of the answer is, “It depends.” But one thing is sure: to prevent saggy breasts, it’s best to prepare as early as possible.
What can you read in this article?
- Does breastfeeding ruin your breast
- How to fix sagging breasts naturally
- Saggy breasts after breastfeeding solutions
Talaan ng Nilalaman
Does breastfeeding ruin your breast
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Breast involution, or the returning of breasts to their former size and shape, usually occurs six months after you wean your baby.
Breasts can return to their former appearance, shrink, or become enlarged following breastfeeding.
Not all women who breastfeed will develop saggier breasts. But some women experience severe breast involution, which causes their breasts to appear droopy or deflated. This is because the size of the skin around the breast doesn’t change even if the breast tissue has shrunk.
Why does this happen exactly? How do you prevent saggy breasts?
Cooper’s ligaments, which connect the chest and breast muscles, stretch and weaken throughout pregnancy. As a result, breasts can increase in size, which is believed to be the body’s way of preparing for nursing.
The extent of breast sagging will depend on your age, genes, and lifestyle.
As a woman ages, her skin elasticity weakens. Breast size is believed to be inherited. Smoking has also been known to lessen the skin’s elasticity.
Breast size will also depend on the number of pregnancies. Naturally, the more kids you have, the higher the chances your breasts will change shape and firmness.
Your breast size pre-pregnancy is also a factor. If your breasts are naturally small and rounded at the bottom, they have a higher chance of maintaining their shape, unlike larger, elongated breasts.
Excessive weight gain could also lead to increased breast stretching.
Breastfeeding is a factor as well.
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When you’re nursing, the flow of milk from your breasts may stretch the skin and tissue of your breasts. Some women’s breasts appear “empty” or “stretched out” after breastfeeding because the milk-producing structures shrink to the size before becoming pregnant. This is a cosmetic issue, not a medical one.
Each breast is different and independent. As a result, what occurs in one breast during breastfeeding does not always happen in the other.
Breast engorgement, or the unpleasant overfilling of the breasts with milk, is a common condition that can cause one breast to distort. Breast asymmetry can also occur when one breast produces more milk than the other.
The breast tissue reaches up to your armpit. The curves of your bust line may vary when breast tissue expands with milk and then diminishes after breastfeeding.
Many women have unequal breasts both before and after pregnancy and breastfeeding. One breast may shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size while the other grows larger, droops, or flattens more.
After breastfeeding, some women find that one breast is a full cup size smaller or more significant than the other, and they just learn to accept the body that nurtured their baby, no matter what shape it takes.
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Saggy breasts after breastfeeding solutions
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Don’t let your fear of sagging breasts prevent you from breastfeeding your child. Make healthy lifestyle choices to help keep your breasts looking young.
Can saggy breasts be prevented while you are still breastfeeding?
Yes. One way is to wear a maternity or nursing bra that provides adequate support to your ligaments. Gravity can work overtime, especially if your breasts are enlarged. To help prevent any negative effects, you can wear this bra all day and night. Just make sure it’s not too tight.
(1) Controlling weight gain and avoiding sudden weight loss can help lessen the risk of sagging. Try to eat less animal fat, and eat more whole grains, food rich in vitamin B, and green vegetables to help maintain your breasts’ tone and elasticity.
(2) Make sure your skin is sufficiently moisturized. Why? Dry skin tends to become less elastic. Just make sure the product you choose is safe for nursing moms.
(3) When showering, alternate between hot and cold water while massaging your breasts. This helps improve skin tone and circulation. Remember to always finish with cold water.
Most of all, make sure you wean your baby gradually.
Aside from these five guidelines, two often-overlooked prevention measures can significantly help prevent breast sagging if done regularly.
How to fix sagging breasts naturally
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1. To prevent saggy breasts, work on your posture
Be careful with your position when breastfeeding. Make sure that you assume a breastfeeding position that goes against gravity.
An example of this is nursing while sitting upright, leaning back, and using a nursing pillow for support.
2. To prevent saggy breasts, do special exercises
Contrary to what some may believe, exercising doesn’t affect milk supply. Exercises that help strengthen chest muscles can do wonders in preventing misshapen breasts.
Dumbbell pull-over
You can try the dumbbell pull-over. Lie back on a bench with both feet firmly on the floor. Then lift two dumbbells overhead repeatedly.
Push-ups
You can do full or half push-ups. Try kneeling while exercising the upper half of your body. Just make sure your hands are placed parallel to each other, and you lower yourself as far as possible. This is an excellent workout for the arms, back, and core.
Chest press
Another way to tone your upper body is by lifting dumbbells in each hand and pulling them towards your chest then extending outward in successive movements.
Make sure you consult your physician before engaging in postpartum exercise, especially if you underwent a cesarean section.
Final tip: Have your breasts screened when breastfeeding
The majority of post-breastfeeding breast problems are cosmetic in origin rather than medical. Keep up with your routine breast screening exams to protect your breast health.
Breast self-examinations are a quick and straightforward way to keep track of your breast health. You should check your breasts once a month, even if you’re breastfeeding.
It’s essential to inspect your breasts in the months after you stop breastfeeding because their form and size fluctuate. Some bumps are big enough to get into your armpit.
Any lumps or nipple discharge that isn’t normal should be reported to your doctor. The vast majority of nodes are benign, meaning they aren’t cancerous. However, they should be tested for breast cancer.
A breast exam by a doctor can assess whether a breast ailment that has developed as a result of nursing needs to be treated. See your doctor for a breast exam once a year or if you notice unusual breast changes after breastfeeding.
Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore
Additional information from Margaux Dolores