Like every single one of my friends, my breasts swelled during pregnancy. According to Christina Ahn, MD, associate professor of Plastic surgery at NYU School of Medicine, in anticipation of milk production there’s a hormonal effect during pregnancy that initiates engorgement and increased volume of the breasts. And for most of us, our engorged boobs don’t go away. Those puppies are large and in charge throughout pregnancy, and if you’re planning on breastfeeding, prepare for your boobs to get even bigger. “While breastfeeding, the skin stretches to accommodate the milk engorgement,” says Dr. Ahn. “Supportive ligaments may stretch with the added volume/weight. The nipple and areola become hyper-pigmented (darker) and possibly larger.”
See, nobody told me that when I was pregnant with my first child. Much like the excruciating pain of childbirth, discussing post-breastfeeding boobs is something people just don’t bring up. Maybe it’s taboo, or maybe they just don’t want to scare you, but now that we’ve been through it, boob-talk it is a common woebegone conversation among my fellow deflated friends. “They’re like pancakes now,” my friend Karen often jokes. “I swear I could hoist my boobs up over my shoulder.” It’s true. What used to be big, beautiful, boulders are now flat tires on a toddler bike. And that’s not all. Flatter boobs are just the beginning. “Breastfeeding will definitely change breasts,” says Anna Barbieri MD, an ob-gyn and professor at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “Let’s face it, we sacrifice a lot for our children — including our perky pre-pregnancy breasts.”
As we know, women come in all shapes and sizes and our boobs are no exception. Who’s to say what your breasts will specifically look like, but, if you’re intrigued (and not too terrified), check out these illustrations of the ways your boobs may look after breastfeeding, and see if you can spot your fun bags.
More on Breastfeeding:
- 21 Things Only Moms Who Breastfeed Know
- Breastfeeding? 14 Times Your Boobs Will Leak for Sure
- How to Breastfeed in Public: Tips from Moms Who Are Pros at It
The Crazy Things That Happen to Your Boobs After Breastfeeding
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Breasts That 'Bottom Out'
Breasts look flatter and "bottom out" with the loss of the upper pole fullness, says Dr. Ahn.
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Darker Aerolas
The dark circle around your nipples may appear darker due to pigment changes during pregnancy. However, Dr. Barbieri says that they will usually return to "normal" eventually.
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Fuller Breasts
Breasts may stay larger and fuller after breastfeeding, but not because you breastfed, says Freda Rosenfeld, a board certified lactation consultant in New York City. "Bigger breasts are a result of weight gain," she adds.
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Larger Nipples
Nipples may remain larger and/or stick out further. "The nipple is elastic so it can grow during breastfeeding and then stay that way," says Rosenfeld.
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Lopsized Breasts
After breastfeeding, the dominant boob could look up to one cup size bigger. "Each breast has the ability to produce and store milk independent of breast size and it is not uncommon for asymmetry to exist when nursing has ceased," explains Dr. Ahn.
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Sagging Breasts
Breasts hang lower, feel less "perky," and have a more elongated shape. Factors include: the elasticity of your skin, your BMI, and the size of your pre-pregnancy boobs.
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Stretched Aerolas
The areola stretches, with the nipple pointing downward.
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Wrinkled Breasts
Breasts appear smaller and shriveled as the skin becomes looser after breastfeeding, usually due to weight loss while breastfeeding.
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Natural Fixes
If you are unhappy with your post-breastfeeding boobs, there are things that can help. "Supportive bras, exercises to strengthen pectoral and back muscles, and firming lotions can help," says Dr. Barbieri.
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Surgical Solutions
Still not happy? Surgery is an option. According to Dr. Ahn, scarring can be minimal to moderate and usually considered a fair trade for improvement gained. Options:
Mastopexy (breast lift): Doctors will reduce sagging by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape the breast.Breast Reduction: Just as it sounds, doctors can perform this procedure to reduce breast volume and minimize sagging.
Mommy Makeover: This procedure combines a mastopexy with abdominoplasty, which removes excess abdominal tissue.
Autologous Fat Grafting: A procedure to increase breast volume by gathering fat from other areas of the body via liposuction.
Note: Before having surgery you should be finished having babies. And, you should have been at a stable weight for a least six months.
