Do they remain large if you are breastfeeding? What if you decide to not breastfeed, do they shrink back down to normal? Serious answers only please:) I am a new expectant mother (6 months pregnant), and would really like to know what others have experienced after pregnancy. Thanks!
2007-06-27 20:34:29 · 10 answers · asked by Love to Answer 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The "damage" done to the breasts is done early in pregnancy, so the myth that breastfeeding ruins your breasts is just that, a myth.
You can expect your chest to always be a bit larger after a baby. When you breastfeed, your body starts off making milk in a kind of panic mode, and it will stuff the breasts. After about six weeks (this is why everyone keeps saying, "try it for six weeks!") your *brain* controls the milk supply, and you will make it "on demand" right at the source. At this time, your breasts will deflate quite a bit (they'll feel very hard at first, and then one day, they'll seem much softer.) This is the most comfortable phase of breastfeeding: the leaks stop, the baby's filling out, the tension eases up, and your chest doesn't hurt.
If you elect not to breastfeed, you will still have a slightly larger chest (you may need to go up both a band size and a cup size.) You will also have to endure unrelieved engorgement, which is very damaging to the elastic tissue of the skin.
You can't really escape increasing a band size, because your ribs will separate slightly in the end of pregnancy. The cup size can differ from one to three increased cup sizes: it really depends on your baby and your breasts before you got pregnant. Larger women tend to have the biggest increases, in my experience.
2007-06-27 21:19:50 · answer #1 · answered by M L 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
They say that some women lost half a cup size from what they were pre-pregnancy..well i've only met one woman that that happened to. A lot of it is genetic, i was a 34C before my daughter, during pregnancy i was a 36DD and after her i went down to a 34D...your boobs will never be the same though :( lol but just know it's from your baby. they will droop a little bit and your nipples will usually be a bit larger than they were before but it's not such a change that you are totally uncomfortable with them. I decided not to breastfeed so after a few days of having her my milk"came in"..and my boobs were dolly parton size and hard and hot and miserably uncomfortable. my grandmother told me to stuff cabbage leaves in my bra, i thought she was nuts but did it anyway, i guess there's a chemical in the leaves because in about 24 hours my milk was gone and my boobs were back to normal. good luck :)
2007-06-28 05:22:14 · answer #2 · answered by Celena F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
After my baby was born I only breastfed for about 6-7 weeks, as I just found I wasnt making enough milk.
It probably took between 2-3 months for my breasts to return to normal.
(Unfortunately they didn't stay as big as they were when I was breastfeeding!)
Good luck!
2007-06-28 04:37:07 · answer #3 · answered by cara1aus 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My breasts sagged after pregnancy but they remained larger than before. It has a lot to do with your genes. The best thing to do is to look at the women in your family. If you have sisters who have children you might ask them or your mother about it.
2007-06-28 03:39:18 · answer #4 · answered by Laurisa D 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If you breastfeed, they stay enlarged until you stop. If you choose not to breastfeed they will reduce back to pre-pregnancy size in a couple of weeks once your body realizes that milk production is eliminated.
2007-06-28 03:38:14 · answer #5 · answered by Mischele, RN♥ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They will never be "normal" as in back to what they were before the baby. Breastfeeding makes no difference, the milk will come in no matter what you do.
Be happy and accept yourself.
2007-06-28 03:49:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My oldest is 17. I was a 34B before I started having kids. I have 3 boys. I am now a 44C! They have never gone back to anyting considered normal for me yet.
2007-06-28 03:36:55 · answer #7 · answered by Stefbear 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't be complaining about breast size, but as far as breast feeding, it is always a good idea to breast feed your baby. There are many health benifits to breast milk.
2007-06-28 03:37:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Every woman is different.
Mine are forever larger.
Some women get firmer and better shaped.
Breast feeding is the best. if you can do it.
2007-06-28 03:40:58 · answer #9 · answered by clcalifornia 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
what are you talking about. if you have a baby. your breasts grow, filling up with breast milk. and they stay like that. didnt you ever get taught that in class at school?
and when ever have you heard of a mothers breasts going back to her original size? never...
2007-06-28 03:39:03 · answer #10 · answered by IKnowBest32 1 · 0⤊ 6⤋