[Dragonfly]

I hear this all the time and I have to admit that, after nursing for 3.5 years (and counting), I have a really hard time believing it. My breasts have always been small and they did get a little larger when my milk came in and for the first year when ds was nursing almost exclusively. For the past 2.5, though, they've been shrinking down to almost nothing. My skin is getting stretched from his pulling while nursing and my nipples look like they're made of flesh-colored elastic.

I'm sure pregnancy, itself, does take a toll on your breasts (though it wasn't apparent to me), but I'm really doubting that my breasts would look like they do if I hadn't nursed for so long.

Just interested in thoughts on this.

 

[Tupelo Honey]

Well, IME this is true. My mom did not bf and her boobs are just as saggy and stretchmarked as mine. About 7 months thru my first pregnancy, I woke up with stretch marks radiating out from my nipples. My breasts looked like bloodshot eyeballs, LOL!! I'm sure this varies some from woman to woman, but I think it's true that the majority of breast changes are caused by preganancy. And you know, even if you don't bf, your milk still comes in and stretches everything out for a week or so.

What I don't understand is, why don't women who get very large breast implants get stretch marks? I think they are holding out on us!

 

[Dragonfly]

I guess it's just an individual thing, then. My mom also didn't breastfeed either of her children and her breasts are lovely. I'm jealous, in fact. :LOL

 

[AmandasMom]

I guess it depends on what you mean by "ruin". My left nipple is 2 inches lower then my right because that's the side dd prefered to nurse on. I don't consider them ruined. They are doing what nature designed them to do and look like nature wants them too. Ruined boobs are the ones with implants IMO.

 

[pure]

I had a miscarriage in September. (I am trying to have a baby!) Since then my breasts are decidedly less firm. I have never breastfed so I know it was the pregnancy hormones. I'll have to see what happens when I do breastfeed.

 

[Dragonfly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmandasMom I guess it depends on what you mean by "ruin". My left nipple is 2 inches lower then my right because that's the side dd prefered to nurse on. I don't consider them ruined. They are doing what nature designed them to do and look like nature wants them too. Ruined boobs are the ones with implants IMO.

I used the term "ruin" simply because it's the term I see used most often in these threads. I don't consider my breasts ruined because they function perfectly well - better than I'd think possible, considering they're almost non-existent and they still make enough milk to satisfy a 3-year-old who nurses frequently.

They're definitely not pretty, though. They bother me so much, in fact, that I actually have considered getting implants. (If you knew me, you'd realize how severe that is).

One thought: You may want to think carefully before you make statements like that. There are certainly women here who have had implants.

 

[kate-astrophe]

My breast were virtually unchanged after my first pregnancy, and I didn't bf at all. With my second pregnancy and the susequent 20 months of bfing, my poor boobs are *very* changed. I wouldn't call them "ruined" because I agree with the above poster, ruined breasts are the ones implanted with silicone. I think nursing, especially toddler nursing, is hard on our skin and tissue. Saying it's pregnancy that causes breast changes and not nursing is misleading, IMO, because for so many women it's just not true. It's often trotted out as one of those "well, you might as well breastfeed" things for people who are on the fence. I think if a woman cares that much about having the breasts of a 20 year old, I would wonder why she is having kids at all.

-Kate

 

[AmandasMom]

Well, I do think implants ruin boobs, but it's my opinion. I could care less if you or anyone gets them. I don't think it's any more offensive then you saying pregnancy/nursing ruin them.

 

[mealymama]

I have to agree that it depends on the woman... my breasts don't seem to grow much at all during pregnancy, so it doesn't affect them one bit. But once the milk comes in they go from D's to DD's or bigger. I don't have any stretch marks from nursing (little weeny old ones from developing) but the weight of all that milk has taken its toll!... then there are some women whose breasts balloon even before they start showing, so I imagine pregnancy does its thing before nursing gets the chance!
Everybody's different. I prefer not to think of it as pregnancy's fault or BFing's fault... its gravity's fault, if you ask me

 

[mealymama]

...and before the Great Debate gets outta control... what's wrong with wanting to have your cake and eat it, too? I happen to want both: perfect breasts and my perfect children! Luckily for me I'm usually too busy scraping the petrified Rice Krispies off the floor to give it much thought, but there are those moments, in the bathtub, while I'm watching them roll slowing into my armpits...:LOL

 

[jeca]

I did not nurse my son and he was born I coticed a great change in my breast. The were floppy adn definitky more saggy then before. He was formula fed so if it's not true I'm just a total mess.

 

[ldsapmom]

But I thought, scientifically, the only time there were changes or growth in the breast tissue was puperty and pregnancy? Anyone know what I am talking about?

 

[KiwiZ]

I would replace the word "ruined" with "changed". After 2 babies I still think I look good in a bikini standing up, but when I bend over, its accordian city LOL. It doesn't bother me cuz I expected my body to change. Even if a woman never has kids, her body still changes over time. We all end up a little baggy/saggy at the end, its normal. Dont' try to be what you were, enjoy what you have

 

[Tupelo Honey]

I would definitely like for my breasts to be a bit less saggy after I'm done nursing. I think breasts serve both a sexual and a nurturing function. By the time I'm done, I will have breastfed three children for a combined 7+ years. if I want new boobs afetr that, then dang it, I will get them! I just want a less painful way for that to happen.

 

[kimberlylibby]

I think LIFE screws up your breasts. Just getting older. Cause even women who never have kids get saggy, you know?

Ever been to a retirement center? Some of those women's boobs are at their ankles!!!

 

[kate-astrophe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tupelo Honey if I want new boobs after that, then dang it, I will get them!

now where's that boob jiggling smilie? :LOL

 

[Tupelo Honey]

:LOL

 

[veganmamma]

I think breasts can't be "ruined" by the women who make decisions to alter them. Through pregnancy, breastfeeding, reductions or implants. I think self esteems can be "ruined." I care about how women feel about themselves. It makes me sad some women think natural breasts aren't as beautiful as modified breasts. It's not my place to judge what is "ruined" and what is not since I'm happy with the breasts that sit (slouch?) on my chest.

 

[Dragonfly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmandasMom Well, I do think implants ruin boobs, but it's my opinion. I could care less if you or anyone gets them. I don't think it's any more offensive then you saying pregnancy/nursing ruin them.

I didn't say either one ruined them. I did say that I hear quite frequently that pregnancy, not nursing, ruins one breasts. I then said that my experience has been that nursing caused the majority of the wear and tear on my breasts (and I then explicitly said that I didn't consider them "ruined). I don't think I can be much more clear.

I'm sorry if you take offense, but you're reading meaning into my words that wasn't intended to be there.

If you're interested in discussing women's views of their bodies and the way breastfeeding (or not) impacts that, then maybe you could start a new thread. I meant this one to discuss the cause of physiological changes.

 

[Dragonfly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by veganmamma I think breasts can't be "ruined" by the women who make decisions to alter them. Through pregnancy, breastfeeding, reductions or implants. I think self esteems can be "ruined." I care about how women feel about themselves. It makes me sad some women think natural breasts aren't as beautiful as modified breasts. It's not my place to judge what is "ruined" and what is not since I'm happy with the breasts that sit (slouch?) on my chest.

I generally think natural breasts are much more beautiful than modified breasts. The only thing beautiful about my breasts now, though, is that they've grown and nurtured my ds. That's no small thing, but I can't be happy with them the way they are. It's not rooted in a lack of self-esteem but, rather, an idea about the way I would like my body to look.