A vain and superficial thread - I miss my old breasts!

[Birdie B.]

Ok, so breastfeeding my daughter is one of the most amazing things I've ever done. I had hardly any problems getting started; I've had it easy, and I don't regret a thing.

But....my breasts!! They used to be so perky and symmetrical, they were fabulous. And I loved them. And now...they are 2 very different sizes, small and saggy. I know, it's vanity that's coming back to haunt me, but I am NOT looking forward to this summer's beach season.

So post here if you can relate, if you want to commiserate about your post-nursing body, or if you have any advice or support for me.

[Juvysen]

Well, I'm not done nursing yet (just had a baby) but the last time before I stopped nursing I remember thinking "man, these boobs are huge and make me look bigger than I am - I miss my A cups..." then Ds stopped nursing and I got my a-cups back, but they were saggy and war-torn, so to speak... which was annoying... and then I missed the big boobs Now I have the big ones back (D-cup for the moment) and they get in the way but I'm scared to go back... *sigh*

[Lineymom]

I am enjoying having "boobs" again since I am nursing again. I nursed my first for 2yrs and got preg with my 2nd while still bfing and nursed him for almost 3 yrs. It was a total shock for them to be so small after that (well actually in the last few months of nursing him, too. They strunk down to much smaller than prebaby. I so dread that again DD is almost 5m, so I got a while. They feel like they are alive again, I want to keep them

[HappyFox05]

Lol, I was just thinking this today. I miss my almost B's - they're DD for the moment.

[nelson]

I have always heard that your breasts change because of pregnancy not because you breastfeed. Not sure if that makes you feel any better...

[rebecca03]

I also miss my old breasts. I also miss my post-pg breasts. My ladies are now saggy, saggy, saggy. They've probably been every size from B to D. There is also more of a noticeable difference of sizes between the two. Pre-pg, it wasn't so bad.

I figure there are more kiddos in my future, so I have many more breast changes to come, lol.

[mamaw/two]

I have heard lots of mama's that never bf even once complain about the same thing, so it's actually the pregnancy more than the bfing that does it. But I really, really miss my pre-children breasts and stomach! BTW, right now I'm a 38H and have been nursing and/or pregnant for the past nine years, I was a 36C - so it might be scary to see what they look like if I ever go back down to that size

[akind1]

I miss my pre-baby breasts because it was far easier to find bras to fit! (and pretty ones! I miss my pretty bras!) I was a 42DD and now am a 42G. I am so hoping they will shrink after I am done nursing (whenever that is; I want to ttc once DS hits 1 yo, so I may just go from baby to baby), but not wanting them to be saggy!

[Birdie B.]

Oh, that's interesting, I was assuming it was the nursing that changed them, not the pregnancy itself. That makes me feel a little better. I just really wasn't prepared for such a huge change in my appearance and it's throwing me off. I wonder if they'll change some more after I am done breastfeeding? (whenever that may be )

[mommy212]

I miss my Cs. DDs are too big for my frame. Bs would have been even better, lol. And my god at the sagging. UGH!!!!

[bella99]

I personally think it's pregnancy AND breastfeeding, but yes, smaller and squishy these days.

My husband is still quite fond of them though

[RiverSky]

Just get pregnant again. They will pump back up.

[kayabrink]

I feel your pain.
And, pre babies I was only a B cup, I only am at C or maybe small D when nursing now... the size issue doesn't bug me, but I could really do without the sag-a-thon.
Also, not to blame nursing entirely, but my 60 y.o. mom-who-was-pg-7-times (but never nursed) has way perkier boobs than I do, at only 2 pg-cies but 3.5 yrs nursing. I think it depends on the person.
eta: dh just read all this and prefers the... texture... they have now.

[ShwarmaQueen]

I want to know how my nipples migrated so far south?

Really, they were round and full before, now after nursing for a couple years, they're long and droopy...no perk left. At all. <sigh>

But the benefit of having long, go-go Gadget boobs is that you can side nurse much easier.

[judybean]

Originally Posted by ShwarmaQueen

But the benefit of having long, go-go Gadget boobs is that you can side nurse much easier.

LOL!!!! Soooooooo true! You always just have to look on the bright side

[mambera]

Aw, geez. This thread is depressing me. I'm 10 mo into nursing my first. I was actually looking forward to having my smaller, more symmetrical boobs back when I'm done (I used to be 34C, now I'm probably 36D+ on the left and 36D- on the right). Guess that's not going to happen (or rather if it does I'll be unpleasantly surprised with the aesthetics).

Maybe I'll get a boob job when I'm all done with babies.

[Megan73]

It's not breastfeeding, it's pregnancy.
But yes, I'd love to have my old boobs back

The Effect of Breastfeeding on Breast Aesthetics
Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 28, Issue 5, September-October 2008, Pages 534-537

Abstract: BackgroundThe health benefits of breast milk for infants are well documented, but breastfeeding is avoided by many women because of concerns about a negative effect upon breast appearance. However, there is very little objective data to either support or refute this view.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for the development of breast ptosis after pregnancy and to determine whether breastfeeding has an adverse effect on breast shape.MethodsCharts were reviewed of all patients seeking consultation for aesthetic breast surgery between 1998 and 2006. History of pregnancies, breastfeeding, and weight gain were obtained via telephone interview. Degree of breast ptosis was determined from preoperative photos. Nulliparous women were excluded. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of postpregnancy breast ptosis.ResultsNinety-three patients met the study criteria. Fifty-four patients (58%) reported a history of breastfeeding. The mean age at surgery in the breastfeeding group was 41 years, compared to 37 years in the nonbreastfeeding group. An adverse change in breast shape following pregnancy was described by 51 respondents (55%). Greater age, higher body mass index, greater number of pregnancies, larger prepregnancy bra size, and smoking were identified as significant independent risk factors for postpregnancy breast ptosis (P < .05). Breastfeeding was not found to be an independent risk factor for ptosis.ConclusionsThe risk of breast ptosis increases with each pregnancy, but breastfeeding does not seem to worsen these effects. Expectant mothers should be reassured that breastfeeding does not appear to have an adverse effect upon breast appearance.

[kittywitty]

Megan is right-it's not breastfeeding. It's pregnancy.

I miss mine, too. I miss being able to not wear a bra. Now they are saggy and deflated...

[mambera]

Originally Posted by Megan73

It's not breastfeeding, it's pregnancy.
But yes, I'd love to have my old boobs back

The Effect of Breastfeeding on Breast Aesthetics

I've seen that study and it made me feel a little better.

However, I'd like to point out that ALL of the women in the study were seeking surgical treatment for droopy breasts. So they've shown that among women who are already dissatisfied with their droopy breasts, independent observers don't think the ones who breastfed are droopier than the ones who didn't.

But it could easily be the case that there were lots of perky-breasted non-breastfeeders out there who didn't make it into the study because they weren't looking to have their boobs lifted in the first place. IYSWIM.

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by mambera

But it could easily be the case that there were lots of perky-breasted non-breastfeeders out there who didn't make it into the study because they weren't looking to have their boobs lifted in the first place. IYSWIM.

But hey, there could be lots of perky-breasted breastfeeders who didn't want surgery, either!
I agree it's not that great a study.
I wonder why it excludes women who'd never been pregnant instead of comparing them to the pregnancy and pregnancy/breastfeeding groups? It may really be age/weight gain/smoking and not even pregnancy OR breastfeeding, YK?