The Aftermath of Breastfeeding

I really think it depends on you. Everyone's body is different. My boobs went from C to E while breastfeeding and now I'm back to DD. My daughter is 6. So while some people loose theirs others don't. Don't base it on what happens to other people. This is one thing you will have to wait and see about.

I will tell you that when I was younger I joined the army. I was a B cup back then. After all that excercise I became an A cup. So if you want your breast to firm back up I would suggest you get an upper body workout tape. Try doing that a couple of times a week for a while and your breast will firm up. The breast are muscles and with the proper amount of excercise you can get them to firm up. If youve ever seen gymnist you notice they have no breast. Its cheaper than surgery and good for you too! But hey now youve got what other women are giving up months of salary to have!

Hi J.,
Well, I just got finished reading the responses to your request. You see, I am in the same possition. I finished breast feading about four months ago and have been a little disgruntled as well. I do know that some exercises that focus on the muscles in your chest can help some. As for them being larger. I also have the same problem. But I put on some weight from the pregnancy and that can be part of it also.
I guess be patient and ride the wave of being a full breasted woman for as long as it lasts. Good Luck!!!

Dude, breastfeeding gets a bad rap for stuff like this, but it's being unfairly blamed --> PREGNANCY causes these breast changes, NOT breastfeeding. Moms who don't nurse for a single second still experience breast changes like this!!!

A great study from Oct 2007:

Breastfeeding Does Not Create Sagging Breasts
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/86982.php

So don't blame the breastfeeding, blame the pregnancy! ;)

my unusually large and natural DD breasts are not as perky as before. They are a bit droopy and flat but a good bra pumps them back in place. I have decided some day to have the girls moved North so to speak but after the kids are a bit older and i loose all this weight. I breast fed 4 kids by the way.

Don't you just love it! You are no longer perky!!! AHHH! If it helps at all... I'm the same way and I know some of my friends are too. It started after I finished nursing my first child and it was worse after the second. I think for some reason it is just part of the deal. BUT, remember that you got to nurse that little sweetie and it hopefully will help. At least they are bigger! HA! I'm trying to look on the bright side here! Again, same deal with me, they are bigger, just not as perky and a lot softer than they used to be. Being a mom messes with your body huh? But it's all worth it! Kids are such a joy! Hang in there!

changes? who likes them? well, anytime you lose weight, it will be in your breasts first - at least that is how it usually seems. Most breastfeed until the children can drink regular milk - usually a year or more. Then you need to give your breasts time to get closer to what you remember normal being. I remember still haveing milk 2 years after I quit breastfeeding with our last baby! It's always different!

We all are... thank God for that :)

Hi J., A few years ago when I had my first child, I asked my sister(who'd had kids already), what was happening with my breasts, when I started I was a b cup, during pregnancy and breastfeeding I went up to a d cup!!! And when I finished, I was a c cup, from all the extra skin and "jello" weight you called it. I can't remember who told you this, but another mom was right when she said, this is babymaking mode, for at least two years. I got pregnant with my son, when my daughter was 3 and by then, I was okay with my body again, and now I'm going through the same thing, my son is 10mos. and I'm weaning him for his first birthday, and I'm dreading what they will look like this time around. Also, I don't know if you've experienced this yet, but mine weren't as sensitive to the touch as they were before, just ask my husband. But hopefully that's just babymaking mode and in a little while that should resolve itself too.

Oh girl! I breast fed my daughter for 8 months. Before I was pregnant I was a C after breast feeding I was a DD My daughter is now 7 and I am a DD, still. As far as the firmness I don't think you are ever quite the same but doing little weight lift and push ups tend to help.
I hope this helps,
H.

I feel the same way you do, mine are like that too. I breastfed for 11 months and was a d cup now I'm an A cup. Sometimes I wish I could breastfeed again to get them bigger, lol. It's amazing what happens to our bodies after a baby.

Welcome to the age of the wonderbra or waterbra. They will never go back. But the good news how is that some engineering genious has put together a miracle called the push up bra. They are even pretty. Learn to love them. And, yeah, they could very well stay that size. I started having babies as a C. Five babies later I am an F. Have been for the last two babies and 3 years. The good news is they are fun to take to parties! :)

Hi,
I nursed my son for 8 months. He is now 10.5 months and mine are also like jello. They are not "smaller" like many people said they would be either. I wouldn't mind that, unlike most women. I'm trying to excercise regularly so they are a little more in shape before baby #2.
Hope this helps!

J., Sorry but in my experience it doesn't get much better. I have three children and have experienced this. I have known people who breastfed and it didn't happen. I think it has to do with the amount of body fat you have when you are breastfeeding. I went from a C to a B cup. The good news is my OBGYN says my chances for breast cancer are less. I have less breast tissue. Good luck. J. (Stay at home Mom of 3)

Hi J.,
I just thought I would let you know that not only did I go down in size, I also lost the firmness. It is sad, but, look at the joy that we have. I ALWAYS wish that I had my size back. So at least you didn't drop in size. Enjoy your precious gift. Mine are now 8,7,6,and almost 5. Have a great day.
T.

Believe it or not, the changes are more likely related to pregnancy, not the breastfeeding. It is the hormonal changes and size changes of pregnancy that change your breasts, not the baby at the breast. I know a lot of women who's size changed permanently with pregnancy

I wouldn't worry just yet- I think it is from hormones. I had the same thing happen when I miscarried(and never had a chance to nurse that baby). I am currently nursing my 3rd baby and although they have never been exactly the same after each "aftermath," they soon went back to my original C cup.

Yep, it's normal unfortunately. It can happen to women who formula feed too because your breasts get fuller during pregnancy, and your milk still comes in at least some afterward. Some women get boob jobs, but I'm not a big fan of unneccessary surgeries. I don't trust doctors. Still, I'm jealous of my friends with nice boob jobs who have awesome looking breasts.

It's been sometime since I breast fed but I can remember that same thing happening with my breasts. They also turned to mush. My youngest is now 4 and my breast are definately not what they used to be but seemed to have perked up some. I know everyone is different but I think it's pretty normal for them to change after being so stretched out during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
S.

more than likely no- you'll go back down to a c AT LEAST IF NOT TO A B- sorry:( I started as a full -and might i add perfect B- ended up a DD - yuk! there will be no more wonderful firmness- sorry, in my family we no refer to our breasts a flapjacks cause they just flap on down- might i suggest a very good bra, cause that's the best it'll get
F.Y.I - I was 104 when i got preggo, now after 3 years i am back down to my pre-preggo weight, but hon, the girls are gone! i am happy i didn't stay as large, i mean come on ! DD's on a 5'3" girl!?! i had no idea what to do with them, plus food would fall down in there it was a hot mess! I did stay a nice full 34 C for about 6-7 months after preg.

J.,
Have you talked with your OB/GYN? If you've not been breastfeeding for a month or more they should be back to normal-not nice and perky(maybe a bit lower and saggy than before-haha), but not jello like. Have you gone through an engorgement period? Still wearing your good maternity bras? I'd call and see my Dr., but then anything wrong w/my boobs worries me.
Good Luck!!
R.

Hi J.. Like so many other women here, I've got the jello, saggy boob blues. ;)

I was a 36C before my middle daughter was born and shot up to an astounding 38G! I breastfed her for 2.5 years and had a large yo-yo weight thing for a few years. That left me at a very saggy and disheartening 36D (I kind of liked the larger ones). With my son, I went back up to a 38F shortly after he was born. I'm still breastfeeding him. It's so funny though. If he goes long enough, they will get than nice full round appearance but then after he eats, it's like he deflates me like an old innertube! Back to saggy jello land. LOL

As my friend here has mentioned, the wonderbra and waterbra (with underwire of course) are miraculous things. They are wonderful. It's the only way (when I'm not breastfeeding) that the "girls" go back to where they really belong. I think I'd actually kiss the feet of the person who invented these things.

And as far as I know, there isn't anything that will restore the "girls" back to their original firmness short of seeing a plastic surgeon to have them hoisted back up there. That procedure is awfully barbaric sounding and I don't think I could do it. So I guess I'll settle for a lifelong love affair with my underwire push-up bra. :)

Mine never firmed up again. My daughter-in-law & her mom both went up a cup size with each pregnancy & never went back down.

Actually, that's the aftermath of PREAGNANCY, not breastfeeding. Women who never breastfeed also experience a change in their breasts. Some women have more change than others. Yours sound like mine:( But you can't blame it on doing what's best for your son!

J.,
My son is 2 now, and I stopped breastfeeding at 5 months. My breasts went back to the size they were before after a few months, but they are very saggy and jello-like (no firmness at all). I don't think they will ever return to pre-pregnancy stage. It sucks', but it's worth the advantages of breast feeding.

J.

J., This subject I can definatly give advice on! I went from a DD to a G after breastfeeding my daughter, she is 7yrs now! Nothing stays the same after motherhood, but I moved up to Ohio from NC last July and I was a bra-fitter down there and I moved my home-based business up here I can positively give your "girls" a lift like you were 22 again! Go into the Mom-owned business and look me up, or you can respond directly to me privately I don't want to sound like a commercial on the web-site! Kim

I only breastfed for 3 weeks but yes, same problem.

I had killer ones before, and now they look like half-filled pastry bags. Blech!

I've read thru most of the posts and had a completely different experience. After I stopped nursing, I felt like everything fat related on my body was "Whipped" Jiggly, loose. But after the 2 year mark they looked and felt just like they did before I had children. They were firm and just slightly less perky. So maybe I got away with the boobs ok, but the stomache is another story. That for me was never the same, even after I weighed 20 lbs less then my pre-preg weight. Would I trade my pre-baby body for no kids? no way. I just shop for swim suits at Lands End now. :-)

Welcome to the "joys" of motherhood. Our breasts will never be the same! No more perkiness of yesteryear! Count your luck stars, however, that you are a size bigger. I'm at least a size smaller after nursing 3 kids.

Well I was a B then went to a C and now it's a small B again. Of course it's been 23 years since I breast feed but they did get mushy. I guess it's from the stretching. I wonder if exercise would help. I don't know. There are always implants but that's so expensive and still somewhat dangerous.

I guess stop looking in the mirror and get a good bra with some padding. Ha Ha!

I am in the same boat, but my size went way down I was a 34B before I got pg and then I went up to a 36B and now down to a devastating 34A. My breasts are the same way, saggy and jello like. My daughter is 6 1/2 mo. and I quit nursing when she was 5 mo. I don't know what to do. I bought a push up bra, but that's not working. If you find out any thing let me know.
Thank you for sharing that.

Welcome to the wonderful world of breastfeeding! I would like to tell you that they will return to how they were before but that is sadly not the case. They may get a little firmer but not much and you may stay a D cup or they may get smaller again once your milk completely dries up. But I would say that if you are still a D you will probably stay that way. I would recommend using a bust sculpting gel I used it and am still using it( I actually got it from avon) and it works like a charm. anyways goo dluck with everything.

Clearly - it all differs according to different women, but your body can take a long, long time to mend, not just months, but YEARS. My breasts were limp and lifeless for at least the first couple of years, but sometime between years 3 and 4 I noticed that they'd perked up a bit. I never would have expected to still see changes that far out...

I am a mother of six. You are quite normal. Some women firm up again and others do not. Some girls gain a new size, and some go back to the original. What matters the most is that the man doesn't care; he loves you any way. And the benefits are great for your baby. Also, when you feed, a tender loving feeling comes over you for your baby. When I told my mother that, she cried. (She was only able to nurse 6 weeks with each of her children.) Keep it up. It's worth it!

I don't really think that nursing changes your breasts that much (at least, that is what I have read) but pregnancy definitely does! Join the club! My breasts are definitely softer and less "perky" than they used to be before I had kids. I did nurse both of my kids though.

J.,

Well, I nursed each of our 2 sons for almost 2 years. The jello is here to stay! Actually smaller than I was before I got started, although I did attain true cow status (huge) during the nursing phase. But, hey, babies & wee ones (well, and not wee ones) love the nice soft pillow status of the current chest.

No matter how you slice it, a woman's body is just never the same after it is used to grow another human being. But, as my Mother always said, "It's a price that is absolutely worth paying."

Best wishes,
K.

Enjoy your new breasts AND you new blessing! Your breasts will not be firm again, and eventually they may (or may not) go down a size. Your body will go through what I call the 'baby making mode'. Basuically it takes about 2 years for you body to get back to normal after having a child.
B.

Well I am in the same boat as you. Although I am enjoying my new "D". I always wanted larger breasts...but I do notice, now that you posted, that they aren't as firm as they once were. I do think that we have more tissue now, which may cause the jello-like feeling. I dont have a solution for it though. I don't find it to be an issue...what I have experienced though is yeast infection under the breast...so note to try to keep your breast dry and wear bras that will not push them so close together for the cleavage.

HI! I'm the mother of threee, 10, 7 and 4. I breastfed all 3 of my children and from everything I have learned whether you breastfeed or not, your breasts change after pregnancy. Unfortunately, they will not be as firm as they once were. I don't know if exercises would help or not, I never tried them. I look it as a "badge of honor" that goes along with being a mom! I do have a friend who never had children and she has told me that her breasts have started to sag, so age will do it to. But I don't think as moms we ever get that "firmness" back!! Debbie

Hi J.,
It's totally normal! I breastfed two babies..my first for 11 1/2 months and my second for 14 months. I was a large C/small D before kids..went to a E while breasfeeding (sometimes bigger, depends what bra I had on) and after 2 kids..I am now a B. It's rather depressing since I've never been a B in my life. I went from nothing to almost a D in high school, so this is all new to me. For the first time in my life, I wear padded push up bras so it looks like I have something left, lol.
If you are still a D, be grateful!! Everyone I know personally that has breasfed for any length of time, is smaller now after than they were before.

:-)

I breast fed my first daughter until she was 5 1/2 months. Before her, I was a 34B and while pregnant and nursing her I went up to a 38, then after breast feeding I went down to a 36. That wasn't bad, it made clothes fit better.
Then 5 yrs. after her I was pregnant with my second girl who didn't breast feed at all. I had to do some hormone therapy for the 2 yrs. before this one. I started out 36B, and went all the way up to a 40C almost a 42. WOW is right. It was miserable and I dealt with yeast infection under my breasts as it was summer time.
I am now back down to only a 38B. Bigger than I wanted and yes, absolutely jello!!!!!!!!!!! I can lie down on my back and they roll to the sides like they are falling off of me. I have found nothing to work to get the firmness back.
If I could lose weight, that may help. I am currently at 150.
Let me know if you find a solution to the jello issue.

J., i am 35, and am now in the process of nursing baby #4-my 8 mo. old daughter, Josie. Before kids, i had nice, perfect little 34 b cups that fit my 5'4" petite frame. While nursing/pregnant, i am now a 34b. After nursing, i am permanantly in a double A cup! Boo-hoo! I hate it! And yes, not only are they jello-they're like jello with raisins in it! :) It's not that i had my kids back to back either...they are 15,8,4 and 8 mo. So, that did'nt do the damage. I think hereditary and genetics has alot to do with it! Nowhere else has body suffered, except my boobs! I've got barely visible, minute stretch marks, and my stomach looks normal, even my weight is pre-pregnancy...but my boobs are tore up from the floor up! LOL! But, as others have said-i have my kids to show for it. I consider my saggy boobs my "Mommy badge of honor". They are my battlescars. If it really bugs you, you can get a boob job! My breasts are small, but they fed and nourished my children. I guess it's a fair trade-off! ;)

Honey, mine were never the same. After two kids, I think they kinda shrunk and it's perfectly normal and fine with me. And yes, mine are like jello, now.