DISCLOSURE: I feel that I have to write this. I understand that every woman’s body is unique and the tips I give below MIGHT NOT work for you. When it comes to the fallen breast (or breast ptosis), a lot depends on your genetics alone! Another huge factor is how your breast looked before pregnancy (maybe it wasn’t firm enough or you had light ptosis you knew nothing of).
This article is not based barely on my experience. The information is gathered from trusted resources + my experience. I don’t share things I have no trust in. I am a huge believer in preventative methods. You may try these tips and see if they make any difference to your breast form and shape.
If you have more tips to prevent breast sagging, please share in a comment section. Moms crave for the feedback! I post all comments (positive and negative ones), providing that there’s no vulgar language.
This article is for information purposes only! You should consult your health care provider if you want to take any supplements while breastfeeding listed below. Sorry, it was so long. But I’m sure this disclosure will make most things clear now.
You may have heard this kind of a spooky flick that if you breastfeed for a long time (over a year), your breast will lose its form and become saggy.
I’ve heard this many times from women of the older generation. Little did I know about the reality of what may happen with the breast after nursing but I just felt like breastfeeding no matter what. My baby came first and I didn’t care about my breast form at all.
Anyway, we live in the 21 century, the century of possibilities, and changing the breast form (and size) is not a problem! So, I didn’t give up on breastfeeding and made it up to 1.7 years.
And you know what?
As I’ve expected, the fallen breast turned out to be no more than just another breastfeeding myth (of which I’ve heard a lot while I was breastfeeding). As for the beast form, within two-three weeks after weaning, I got my pre-pregnancy breast back: no more, no less, just about the same size and form I’ve always had.
So it made me curious, why do people talk so much about damaged breast form after breastfeeding? The thing couldn’t just appear out of nowhere, right? Then I started really digging in to find the facts, real stories, and even research data to be able to see the full perspective of the problem.
Turned out, there are only TWO things that may REALLY affect your breast’s form after breastfeeding:
- The first one is really unexpected. It’s not the extended nursing as my auntie assured me of. Believe it or not, it’s quite the opposite – it’s the early weaning, which is known to be one of the most common reasons for breast sagging after breastfeeding.
- The second is the abrupt weaning.
The summary: Breastfeed for a long time (over a year) and wean gradually and you’ll be covered!
DON’T MISS THIS ARTICLE: 10 REAL CAUSES OF BREAST SAGGING (AND THEY ARE NOT WHAT YOU THINK!)
Keep in mind that I am not a medical professional, nor am I an IBCLC and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. I am simply a mother who’s been there and wants to share her experience with others.
Now, let’s dive into the things you CAN do WHILE breastfeeding to prevent breast sagging.
1. Breastfeed on demand
Don’t make long intervals between the feeding sessions. They may lead to engorged breasts. As a result, you can get a clogged milk duct, or even worse – mastitis. If your breast often becomes engorged with milk, it won’t do any good to the form either, since the tender skin of your breast may stretch. The stretching can easily lead to ptosis after you stop breastfeeding, or the worst thing that you can’t fix – stretch marks!
What you can do:
- Breastfeed your baby on demand
- Pump and freeze breast milk (for later use) if your breast feels engorged but the baby is not quite ready for nursing
- Pump breast milk if you need to go out without a baby and know it will take more than 2-3 hours
YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS: 8 WAYS TO TREAT A RECURRENT PLUGGED DUCT WITH NATURAL REMEDIES.
2. Forget about daily pumping
Disclosure: this statement is only true for mamas who exclusively nurse and don’t plan to get back to work while breastfeeding. Obviously, there are many situations when you can’t go without pumping! Starting with power pumping for boosting milk supply to working mommas who choose to support lactation (you are awesome!).
It doesn’t mean that your breasts will definitely sag if you start pumping on a daily basis while working part time or full time. This is mentioned by no means to offend pumping mommas! I personally admire you!
This article is for information purposes only. Let’s not take things personally. Mamas need support, not shaming! And I am here for you if you need to talk, ask a question or look for support.
In
It is better to hold on to breastfeeding on demand. This is a more natural and less traumatic process that lets your breast both get emptied frequently (so it is highly unlikely that you have a clogged duct) and helps sustain a good milk supply (because the more you nurse, the more milk will come next time – it’s the ‘demand breeds supply’ kinda thing).
3. Find the right breastfeeding position
Finding the right breastfeeding position is crucial for comfortable nursing and prevention of fallen breast after you finish nursing! Do not let your baby play with your breast. If the baby is not in a comfortable position while nursing, he can be really fussy, which includes pinching your breast, twisting the nipple with his mouth or even biting.
It especially concerns older babies who can actually injure the tissue of your breast quite seriously while playing with your breast or showing their discomfort, so you might want to offer the baby an alternative – a toy he can play with while nursing, for example, these
YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS: HOW TO BREASTFEED LIKE A PRO
4. Make weaning gentle
The process of weaning is best if done gradually. Why? Well, for one, to avoid having problems with clogged milk ducts and mastitis. But, generally, gradual weaning allows your breast to involute in a right way.
What is breast involution? It is the process by which the breasts undergo the reverse of development and become smaller with fewer alveoli and become less ready for lactation. If you’re weaning smoothly, the glandular tissue of the breast that makes milk will be slowly replaced with the fatty tissue and the skin will have time to tone up, so that your breasts won’t get saggy.
5. Check your breast health regularly
Always pay attention to your sensations while breastfeeding, during the weaning process, or even
This discomfort may be a sign of a clog or infection that may lead to severe consequences you surely don’t want to deal with. So make sure to check with your doctor if any kind of discomfort occurs.
6. Wear good supportive bra 24/7
The breastfeeding bra you’re wearing should fit you perfectly. If you choose a bra with a small cup, it will put extra pressure on your breast, which can lead to a clogged duct or bigger problems. When you’re breastfeeding, it is highly recommended that you wear a good fitting and supportive bra around the clock. Wearing no bra at all may lead to sagging.
So you have to choose the one you’re comfortable with. As for me, I hate bras with underwires, so I used to wear a sports bra while breastfeeding which was absolutely amazing and super comfy. The greatest thing about it was that it didn’t feel like I was wearing a bra. The bonus was an easy access to the breast in case I wanted to breastfeed. Just LOVED this option! You can try a sports bra, too.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS: COOPER’S LIGAMENTS – HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR BREAST SHAPE WHILE BREASTFEEDING
7. Exercise regularly
Keep in mind that the baby weight will go away sooner or later. Start exercising postpartum as soon as your doctor allows you to but don’t overindulge yourself.
What you have to avoid is rapid weight loss or weight gain. Neither will do any good to your skin elasticity and your breast may lose its form after breastfeeding. On top of that, the stretch marks can appear because of constant weight fluctuations. So you would want to take everything slow.
Things to consider:
- start your exercising routine
- be consistent
- do push-ups to keep your breast muscles engaged
- aim for gradual weight loss
YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS: HOW TO GET YOUR BODY BACK AFTER BABY
8. Drink water (A LOT!)
Oh, this one! You must have been tired of reading about staying hydrated in every freaking article. But this thing cannot be underestimated. Water is what helps you get rid of toxins, clears your blood, supports just about every system in your body, nourishes your organs and tissues, AND your SKIN! So keep this water intake up!
9. Massage and moisturize your breasts regularly
Massage will tone up your skin, make your breasts firm and help prevent stretch marks. If you already have stretch marks, massaging your breasts with a moisturizing cream will help to soothe them. (Unfortunately, there’s no way to get rid of stretch marks ones they are there.
The appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy, breastfeeding and weight fluctuations depend on genetics (80%) and skins elasticity. So make a breast massage with a moisturizing lotion your daily habit. You will see its benefits quite fast.
Things to consider:
- Use either a great anti stretch marks cream, like my favorite Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion For Stretch Marks (that I’ve been using for over 10 years!) or just the coconut oil (it will do just fine).
- Learn the right technique to massage your breast (it will also come in handy if you get a clog in a milk duct).
- Massage promotes skin’s resilience.
- It just FEELS GOOD! 🙂
10. Take contrast shower
A contrast shower improves blood circulation while helping the muscles and skin to tone up. Don’t forget to moisturize and nourish the skin of your breast after the shower.
11. Stick to a healthy diet
Healthy nutrition is crucial when it comes to thriving and beautiful body (AND mind). Evaluate what you’re eating. You don’t need a diet but you need to choose the right food. Always stick to healthy alternatives. Eliminate the “bad” stuff. Plan your meals ahead to avoid pangs of hunger.
The following nutrition tips are great for moms who want to shake off the baby weight, for breastfeeding moms, for all people, in general, who want to live a healthy life having healthy bodies and glowing resilient skin.
Eliminate:
- sugar
- soda and fizzy drinks
- pre-packed sauces
- alcohol (one glass of red wine once a week is okay)
- fruit juices
- refined grains (flour, white bread and white rice)
Limit:
- sweet fruits
- starchy veggies (potatoes, carrots, peas)
- gluten
- dark chocolate
Focus on:
- water
- lean protein (organic, non-GMO fish, beef, and turkey)
- healthy fats (avocado, salmon, nuts, coconut oil)
- whole grains
- leafy greens
- veggies
- berries
12. Stock up on supplements
You may consider taking the following supplements to keep your skin healthy, glowing and resilient:
- B-complex vitamins – improves the ability of the epidermis to retain moisture – leading to softer, smoother skin with less dryness and flakiness
- Vitamin E – a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, supports healthy cell turnover
- Omega 3 – supports collagen production, regulates your skin’s moisture balance and improves the overall appearance of your skin
- Collagen Type 1 + 3 – promotes skin elasticity, helps the skin on your belly to shrink faster after delivery
- Vitamin D – crucial to epidermis cell replenishment, repair,
and metabolism (supports skin immunity and locks the moisture inside the skin cells) - Zinc – a powerful antioxidant with antibacterial properties
- Vitamin C – protects from free radicals, supports cell strength, and promotes collagen production
If you’re a breastfeeding mom, have any medical issues or are on medication right now, consult your doctor before taking any of these supplements. I am not a doctor I just give you some information to consider.
I was taking Omega 3, collagen, vitamin D and Zinc while breastfeeding. I can say, they all worked pretty well together and tremendously helped my skin in terms of moisture balance and elasticity. My skin has never felt so nourished and glowing! Coupled with a healthy and nutritious diet, these supplements make wonders to your body.
Make sure to take vitamins and minerals separately, to ensure their absorption. Collagen must be taken on an empty stomach mixed in cold water. It doesn’t work if taken any other way. I mix a spoonful of collaged in a glass of water and drink it first thing in the morning. Then I have my breakfast and take vitamins + fish oil. I drink my mineral supplements with lunch.
If you’re on the go since the very morning, it’s great to have this pill organizer. It saved me many many times so I didn’t forget to take my daily doze of supplements.
What about you?
Share your experience in the
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Don’t forget to share this post if you found it useful. Let’s help to spread it out so that other mommas could really benefit from it!
I’ve been breastfeeding almost 3 years straight, tandem nursing for 1 year! My breast aren’t what they use to be, but I’m hopeful they will be okay!
Thumbs up for extended breastfeeding! 🙂 Aim for gradual weaning to ensure breast involution and keep the skin of your breast moisturized.
Can you better explain proper weaning? What does that look like? How frequent/infrequent?
Hey Amanda,
I’m writing an article about weaning (hoping to publish it by the end of August), but if you want to know the basic idea of proper weaning, it looks like this: you gradually cut off one nursing session after another (starting with daytime breastfeeding).
First goes nursing for comfort, then breastfeeding after solids, the last nursing you would want to cut off would be nursings around the nap time.
In the meantime, you cut off any additional night time feedings that you think your baby doesn’t need any more (meaning, he’s not asking your breast for food but for comfort).
The weaning should be as gradual as possible. It is best if done in a couple of months, rather than couple of days! Thus, you breast will have time to involute in a right way, you won’t get problems neither with clogged ducts, nor with mastitis (which is very common in abrupt weaning). By the time you finish breastfeeding, your baby will be ready for the change and accept this choice without tantrums.
Don’t forget to still wear supportive bra all the time and pump just a little bit if your breast feels engorged because of decreased nursings. Would be better if you learn how to properly hand express your breast milk, because you will be able to massage and see if you have any hardened spots in your breast, which means you will access them right away and may prevent undesired conditions.
I hope this clarifies a little about how the proper weaning should look like. I will write everything in detail in the article!
Hi there! So obviously you said you took Omega 3, collagen, vitamin D and Zinc while breastfeeding. So I’m assuming that they are all safe and have no effect on the baby?? My skin is the absolute worse that it’s ever been. Granted I’ve never had the pretty skin, EVER! Now, my thighs feel like sand paper and it doesn’t matter how much lotion I put on, it doesn’t help.
Hi Angela,
Omega 3 is tremendously beneficial for the baby, because it helps his brain to develop. Vitamin D is okay if taken in moderation (I’d suggest taking 1000IU is pretty safe), although, I would first of all run a blood test to see if you have a deficiency in vitamin D. Sometimes you need higher doses, sometimes 400IU is enough. The blood test will say for sure. As it is recommended to give both Omega 3 and Vitamin D to the baby from the very birth, I assume they are safe for a breastfeeding mom as well.
Collagen won’t do any harm. It is an essential element in our bodies. Zinc is in prenatals, so I suppose it’s safe for the baby, too.
Okay, about the skin. What really affects its appearance is:
1. Your diet. You have to eat healthily. I have nutrition recommendations in this article, take a close look and eliminate the products that are not good both for your health and skin.
2. Your water intake. Are you sure you’re drinking enough water?
3. No body shaming and total acceptance of how your skin looks. I’ve noticed the greatest thing that works magic and transforms the way you look is love and acceptance. Love yourself. Love your skin (especially if it doesn’t look the way you want it too). Our skin is just the mirror of our attitude to ourselves. I do strongly believe in that. Love is a game changer. Try positive affirmations. It will be hard in the beginning. You will feel silly, because you don’t believe in what you’re saying. But, practice makes perfect. If you do it on a daily basis, you won’t notice how your thoughts change into positive ones. Just try it.
I hope my advice will help you.
Take care,
Jane.
It was impossible to avoid the pump with a premie baby and working full time. My boobs look terrible but it’s a reminder how I could make and sustain my daughter’s life…I embrace my new mom bod 🙂
Hi Bailey,
Thanks for sharing! You’re so right! Embracing the imperfections is one of the most important steps towards freeing oneself from worries and low self-esteem.
Agreed. This article was disheartening. What are working moms supposed to do?
To late for me? my breasts became smaller then they were before the pregnancy, and they look like empty bags….
Jenia, I’m really sorry to hear that! 🙁
I had a daughter 30 years ago, and breastfed exclusively for 9 months. My breast became large (double D), then empty sacks, and then – over a good few years – returned to normal (C-D cup)! Today a pencil will not stay in place if I place it under my boob – so not sagging. I would recommend eating healthily, wearing very supportive underwear and gentle exercise (again, while wearing a REALLY supporting bra – bouncing is bad). Good luck, and patience! (I was reading this post because I am about to become a granny this week! How exciting is that!!!)
Lmao these things dont prevent your boobs from looking like that and I’m living proof because that’s exactly what happened to me
I did EVERYTHING listed and then some. Your boobs sagging like that is not anything you can control. If yours dont turn out saggy, consider yourself purely lucky.
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for leaving a comment and sharing your experience. Every person’s body is unique and a lot depends on the original form of the breast, its size and genetics in general (if, for example, you mother’s breasts sagged after breastfeeding, there’s a high chance yours might have the same effect). The age you start breastfeed your first baby is also crucial, since the younger you are the more elastin and collagen your body naturally produces, the easier your skin adjust to stretching and shrinking.
If nothing else works, breast lift (mastopexy) is something you can consider doing to change your breast form.
Amen amen Amen hope I’m like that last poster and they just go back after a few years?? Ha
As a lactation counselor we tend to say not to wear sports bras because such a binding bra can lead to clogged ducts, especially if you’re more prone to them. So if you want to wear one maybe wear one that’s a little bigger, also if your hiking your bra up above the breast it can cause less blood flow, again clogging ducts and decreasing supply, but of course everyone is different, so of course always do what you’re comfortable with.
Hey Patsy,
Thanks for mentioning about the sports bra. I would never have thought it could get you in trouble. But I think it was just because mine was really loose 🙂
I breastfed 2 babies for about 13.5 months each in the last 3 years. I weaned both gradually only cutting out 1 feeding a week before decreasing again. My boobs are definitely smaller and have no definition so breastfeeding for over a year and weaning gradually is not the key to keep your breasts in tact. I work full time and went back to work after 6 and then 9 weeks and pumped 3 times a day to keep my babies exclusively breastfed so maybe that is the issue. Even though my books look awful I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
Hi,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re all here to help and learn from one another.
My breasts look smaller, too. But that’s a natural thing. I don’t have ptosis, but I do have one other thing I certainly wasn’t expecting to have – stretched nipples. Which is not nice, of course. And I even know it came from my baby always trying to pull back the nipple while nursing when he became a little older. I could do nothing about this. And as you’re saying, I would’t have done it any other way, too.
So, despite any issues and imperfections with our bodies that came with motherhood, we, mothers, should be proud of all we’ve done to ensure our babies healthy growth and development. I know, I am. And I’m sure, you are, too!
Yeah, I think this is a load of full on rubbish. But hey, it filled a page! I agree that it’s luck of the draw. I know a young mum who bf for a year and has empty saggy breasts, I also know someone that bf for 12 weeks in her 30s and they went back the same. So I’d be interested to know where this “research” came from.
I have also found that many mums think their way is right and call themselves parenting experts, but every baby/child is different and again, I think it’s just luck of the draw if you get a sleeper, good eater etc etc.
Remember ladies, you know your body and your baby best! ?
Hey Vanessa,
Thanks for your comment.
As I’ve already mentioned in comments above, every person’s body is unique. What comes first is your genetics and breast form before the first pregnancy. But it definitely won’t harm if you try this tips and see what difference they will make to your breast’s skin and elasticity.
You may, of course, think it’s full of rubbish and believe there’s nothing you can do about how your breast will look after breastfeeding.
I believe otherwise. And I definitely don’t consider myself an expert lol.
Just to inform you, this research comes from a very trusted lactation consultant based in Russia. I could give you a link to her resource, but you have to know Russian to understand what she’s talking about.
It would be nice if you shared your experience about the things you’ve done to prevent breast ptosis, if any. I would accept your point if you did everything listed in the article and even more with no luck at all. Otherwise, it’s just an empty talk.
Coconut oil isn’t a healthy fat. You should look up its nutritional value- it’s got more saturated fat in it than regular old butter.
Hi Stacey,
Here’s an article about coconut oil on a trusted resource https://draxe.com/coconut-oil-healthy/
You can read it for more information. Basically, yes, saturated fats are not good for your cholesterol level, but coconut oil is a little different here. It has much more benefits for the body and overall health than this one negative effect. Actually, there are studies that show coconut oil can increase the good cholesterol level, too.
Anyway, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil is considered safe for daily consumption.
As for the external use, coconut oil is incredibly beneficial for our skin and hair.
This is completely wrong, I say this because I did an entire research paper on coconut oil in college. It’s fine for your skin but to digest regularly is terrible for you. I would highly recommend for your future articles that you 1. cite resources 2. Use scholarly articles as research and 3. Stop listening to money hungry Dr. Oz types…. they are completely misleading. As for the rest of your information I sure hope it’s wrong
Are you an IBCLC? What is your evidence for the implication that breastfeeding causes “sagging?” You are using this undocumented myth to sell products! Readers should refer to evidence-based sources for such information.
Love your post , thanks for your tips! Forget all the haters ??
Hi Natalia,
Thank you for your supportive comment! 🙂 It’s nice to know that some people can skip the judgments and just estimate the great deal of work that has been done for this article.
I found this encouraging and informative. I recently weaned my first baby after a year of breastfeeding. It was gradual weaning. My beats are not quite like they used to be, but not as bad as I was expecting. ??
Thank you, Natalie! 🙂 I’m really glad you managed to save your breast form after weaning. Also, I’ve noticed (from the experience of my friends) that your breast tend to get back its pre-pregnancy appearance and become fuller over a couple of years after you finish breastfeeding. So I really hope it’s true! 🙂
Hi! I just stopped breastfeeding my daughter a week ago. She turned 1 and my husband and i decided to take a vacation where she couldn’t come with us. My son and daughter stayed with my mom for 4 days and because she hates bottles my mom had to feed her with a medicine syringe. I took my breast pump with me and cut out my feeding times. It was hard the first day for my not my daughter she took the syringe like if it was my nipple lol. I still pump but 2 a day now a gradually will go to once a day then stop i hope my breast go back to what i think are normal too. I do have a blog where i talk about my breast Stuggles and some of the things i had to do with both my kids.
I unfortunately did not have the pleasure of trying anything. My milk just stopped producing at 7 1/2 months and my baby weaned himself off. My boobs became flat and flaccid after returning to work. I was at least 3 sizes bigger and dropped almost 2 sizes from my original size, they look like Magda from “Something About Mary” boobs. So depressing
Hi Nat,
I’m really sorry to hear that! But hey, don’t get discouraged! Sometimes it takes years for the breast to return to its pre-pregnancy shape. So maybe you just have to be patient and adhere to healthy eating, exercising on a daily basis and wearing a good supportive bra around the clock. Also you might wanna try taking collagen, vitamin C and Omega 3 and see what changes they do to your skin and ligaments.
Lovely post, thank you! Trying these tips definitely won’t harm you so why not to try!
I think even women who don’t have babies get more saggy boobs and lose firmness – time is ruthless to each and everyone of us. Nobody’s breasts are the same as they were let’s say 3-5 years ago.
I enjoyed this post. Great advice. Ignore the negative comments. I’m currently gently weaning my baby and praying it goes smoothly. After each baby I went back to my regular size and shape but I’m older now and so I’m trying everything to help it along! This is my third and last baby. At 40 I can use all the help I can get.
Mother of 3, breast fed all. I was religious with massaging my breast whilst breastfeeding and after weaning in shower (washing) & after with coconut oil. now it’s just by habit aswel as always having good bra support. (Not allowing to hang too long esp when full of milk)
Definitely High support when going to the gym, casual every day bra during day and at night I wore like an ah bra to help support at night.
Only ever used breast pump first few months when had bubs to alleviate engorgement. Always fed on demand. Breast were awesome after I weaned all 3.
28yo pregnant with my 4th on the way and I shall be doing this again and what’s written on the article. Loved breastfeeding and cant wait to do it all again?
I’ve been breastfeeding for 3.5 years and I am looking forward to it ending because i also breastfeed my twin now 1 year olds. It’s been a challemge breastfeeding 3 kids (my oldest only wants it at night), but it is so exhausting. My breasts are constantly full, so I hope my breasts look somewhat normal after i’m done.
Hi Jane. That’s a great article which would be helpful to me. I’m a new mom and learning about breastfeeding.
Now. I have a problem with pumping my breast milk not enough for my baby, so I’m thinking to have breast pumps. What do you think about that? Could you give me suggestions? Thank you in advance.
I think the most important thing you can do is always support your breasts. Most breastfeeding bras are not supportive. Lactation consultants urge women not to use underwire bras. I had size 34DDD to G breasts during pregnancy and breastfeeding. A wireless bra was not going to cut it for me. I used a wireless bra only for the initial milk coming in phase post birth then switched back to my normal demi cup underwire Wacoal bra. You can buy Wacoal bras with nursing clips at Destination Maternity but I found it to be uneccesary, just use a stretchy neckline shirt and pull it down and lift the breast out of the cup. It works fine. I made sure to drink water constantly and feed on demand. At the slightest indication of a clog I would massage and massage and nurse baby or pump to drain the breast. I never had mastitis or other issues. The few times (maybe 3) I had clogs were after air travel in 2+ years of breastfeeding. I support my breasts with a bra even while sleeping at night. My breasts are fine at 40 years old.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I personally found it very helpful. I’m sure many mommas will benefit from your comment!
No need to pump??? Do you know how many mothers WORK?? There is ABSOLUTELY a need for pumped milk, and to imply that it isn’t “necessary” is naive at best. I have EXCLUSIVELY pumped for my kid for almost 11 months. And yes, I consider him to be exclusively breastfed. Though I have been told point blank that what I’m doing is not “really” breastfeeding. *insert eyeroll* Even though we have not needed to supplement (though if we had, there’s nothing wrong with that). In fact, I have managed to feed him solely breastmilk AND freeze an additional 2,000 oz. So much for that theory of pumping not having the same ability to maintain a supply as feeding on demand, huh? I began pumping when my son was about 2 weeks old. And let me tell you, it has been neither “unnatural” or “traumatic”…what a disgusting and harmful way to describe a process that many, many women (working or not) rely upon. Furthermore, imagine all of the babies that have benefitted from donated breastmilk!! Which, guess what? Had to be PUMPED. Please stop stigmatizing pumping. I get that this is your personal experience, truly. And every experience on this journey is unique, difficult, and beautiful in its own way. But there is a way to share that experience without alienating others. Being a mom is hard enough and pumping is extremely tough as it is. To discourage women from doing it will only create more reasons to give up on breastfeeding completely. As moms, we need to lift each other up.
You need to relax. Clearly you misunderstood her portion on pumping. Clearly there is a deeper issue if you took it that defensively and got that upset. What a shame.
Oh my gosh!!! I am so happy I stumbled upon this! I’ve been telling my sisters now that those exact similar things are what I’ve been doing too! It just made sense to me and to discover that there someone else that did something similar and agrees is just amazing! The contrast shower is something that truly worked for me. And choosing not to excerise til 7-8 months postpartum worked for me too. Breast feeding just made all of my skin so soft especially with the relaxin hormones still running strong in my body! My focus wasn’t losing weight but toning the skin texture which was to moisturize, and help it get that bounce again.
Great! Happy to help 🙂 Thanks for your feedback!
Hey all!!
I am one of the lucky few that had virtually no sagging or shrinking or stretch marks after breastfeeding my babe (and pumping) for one year. I wore the criss cross comfort sleep bra, and I drank a million litres of water. I only took the prenatal vitamins, and I exercised regularly (30mins-1 hr, 3x a week). I’m living proof that sometimes it doesn’t matter what you do, it’s in your genes! (Sorry, not sorry!!) I think it’s largely dependant on your age and stress levels too. 🙂
These are great guidelines for all mums. Thanks for the insight Jane!!
Hey Laura,
Thanks for your comment! While it is obvious that you have some great genetic legacy, I’m sure that the things you tell about certainly did help a lot! Exercising, staying hydrated and having good support for breast are so-so important to ensure skin elasticity and great breast appearance in general.
I agree with you, that stress levels may very well be the culprit for breast ptosis, too. As well as the age, smoking status and the number of pregnancies a woman has had. The more factors are combined, the higher are the chances for breasts to sag.
My comments to “exclusive pumper” you need to relax. Clearly you did not read the article and her portion on pumping. For someone to get that defensive and upset, there’s a deeper lying issue with you. Hopefully your kids don’t suffer from this.
I loved this article! Fortunately I have breast implants so the changes of my boobs sagging are slimmer than others. However, everything in this post I already do. I drink around 5L of water a day, eat a healthy diet and workout everyday, including weight lifting and 40 mins of cardio. I gained 50 lbs during my pregnancy and had an elected c section. I was back into the gym within one week after our beautiful son was born. I worked out every single day during my pregnancy up until the day before I had my c section. I have no stretch marks and have no experienced rhe sagging breasts. I am breast feeding excuslively. I think the most important notes are to eat healthy,exercise and drink lots of water!!! Besides… 1 hour of working out is like 4% of your day. No excuses!!!
Lover this post!!!!
Hi Megan,
Thank you for your lovely comment and feedback. I enjoyed reading it. You share some great advice. I’m sure many mommas will find it helpful! 🙂
Hello Hello!
I am a fellow breastfeeding momma. From 9/2012 into 10/2013 I breastfed out first baby boy and weaned him within one week. I had no idea how to wean, it just happened. My breass went from flat to 34C so there was some stretch marks. After weaning, my son and I fell asleep on the floor and I woke up to him nursing; he pulled down my shirt when he woke up I guess and nursed back to sleep. This left one saggy breast on one side and a full C on the other. I tried relactating to help, but I didn’t relactate so I fed him on the other side and dealt with saggy As.. I’m now breastfeeding our second baby boy (6 months now) and after every feeding my breast just fall from full C to flat saggy B. Anyrhing I can do to help while breastfeeding this time to maybe keep them full after weaning?
Thanks for writing this, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it… while nursing 🙂
Hi Jessica,
So glad to hear that! You’re welcome 😉
Everyone is different. I personally breast fed my son and also pumped 3-5 times a day (working mom) for his first eight months and my breasts went pretty much back to where they were pre-pregnancy. I do have implants though, so maybe that’s what saved me ?
Hi Tori,
Thanks for your comment! Actually, I’ve read quite a lot of information in the web stating that breast implants lower the risk of breast ptosis, assuming that the correct form and size was chosen for your body. So maybe this really helped you a lot to avoid the saggy part! 🙂
Btw, did you have any problems while breastfeeding with implants? I wrote an article about this. I personally don’t have implants, although thinking about them lol, so I’d be really glad to hear some feedback.
Hi! I am wondering why collagen must be taken alone in cold water? So many collagen companies share smoothie recipes they recommend adding collagen to. Thanks!
Hey Angie,
I can’t say for sure why collagen works best if taken on an empty stomach, but I did a lot of digging years ago and found this method works best if you want collagen to make any difference to your skin. Otherwise, it will be just easy accessible food for your body, which is good, too, and you will get various health benefits from collagen if you take it with food as well.
Different collagen supplements have different preferences and opinions about the best time to take collagen, so it’s better to read instructions and use trusted brands.
Also, there are studies showing that taking collagen on an empty stomach seems the most prudent strategy of maximising collagen.
Hope, this helps!
Take care,
Jane.
Hi!
First, I’d just like to say great insights and tips in the article… also loooove the advice and suggestions from comments (well most of the comments)!!
I am a mom to a 4.5 month old girl and I both breastfeed and pump. With my job being in education, I got lucky to stay home with her all this time. I am heading back to work and trying to get used to a pumping schedule. I dont completely drain my boobs during the day- but my supply seems to keep up with what she needs.
I was a double D before the baby and now, unfortunately a little bigger 🙁 I have tried some of the suggestions above and will add a few I havent implemented. Hopefully it can help with sagging but I do too believe that every body is different, every baby nurses different, and every pregnancy is also different and the pregnancies will affect your amazing mom body differently too!
Jane, I absolutely love your attitude!! Some of these negative comments are so silly! I think some read your article and completely missed the part about you giving just your thoughts and insights and encouraging moms to share their stories. You did not by any means claim you were an expert or tell people what to do! Ignore the haters and keep on keeping on!!
Take care!
Cao!
Hi,
Thank you so much both for sharing your experience and praising the work I’ve done for this article to be written and published. Your comment surely made my day! 🙂
Jane,
I very much appreciated the article, however I was a little taken aback by your pumping section. While I’m very happy for the women who do not have to work and enjoy spending the majority of their time with their littles, I did find it a little offensive you didn’t even mention working moms. Pumping is absolutely necessary for many moms. I respect your opinion that baby to breast is the best option and I’m so very glad it worked for you. But, perhaps a disclaimer that didn’t make it seem like a diss on working mothers would have been nice. Mothers are shamed for everything from formula feeding to breast feeding to working to not working, we don’t need to make others feel that they’re not doing enough or doing it the “right way.”
Hi Cierra,
Thank you so much for your comment! I had no intentions to shame working or pumping moms, of course. And I absolutely agree with you that having no disclaimer would seem like I’m not supporting these moms, which is NOT TRUE! I am impressed by mothers who manage to work and still breastfeed and keep their milk supply up by pumping breast milk regularly, because, damn, how hard that is!
So I’ve heard you! I will write the disclaimer shortly. Thanks for your considerations.
hi mums,
Jane, I found your article really interesting… since it’s a natural concern for the nursing mom…
I don’t understand the bad judgment and negative comment… probable ones that got unlucky for the after BF.
personally.. I BF my baby 13 months (6 exclusively). I also pumped a bit so my husband would have the chance to also feed his baby. My mom advised me to drink water and carrot juice (super good for your baby) , to always wear a bra (day and night) , to never let my baby more than 30 min on the same nipple, to always make sure the baby takes from both breast at each feeding time ( always starting with the one you finished the last time), and never give my breast for comfort or play.
I followed those things… and gradually stopped one or an other feeding time letting my baby decide wich one she didn’t need.
I ate healthy.. a bit of everything actually…
my breast stayed almost the same.. a bit smaller… a bit less elasticity… stretch marks.. but hey.. I think it’s also aging right…. the only thing that surprised me is that my nipple got back to being super tiny.
I know that genetics plays a big part (I have to say my breast doesn’t look like my mom’s or my 3 sister’s btw).. but also… the way you take care of yourself… the stress you put on your breastfeeding…
it’s not only luck or unluck.. sometimes it is…
it’s also how desperate you are to loose the baby weight.. and loosing too fast have also an impact on your breast…. it takes so much to make a baby and breastfeed so it takes also some time for our bodies to heal from it….
in about 2 month .. I’ll start BF all over again… and intend on doing the same things and hopefully.. BF even longer…
I think those article are amazing… all the tips doesn’t always works on everyone… but if a mom can find a tip that works for her or reassuring her.. then it’s worth writing them.
so thanks Jane.
Hi Aurore,
Thank you for your sweet words! I really appreciate it.
And thanks for sharing your story of breastfeeding in details. I found it very useful! I’m sure many mommas would love to read this and take your advice.
I wish you an easy and successful breastfeeding journey your second time around.
Take care,
Jane
Your input/warning about pumping to try and prevent sagging breasts this is fine. Where you went wrong in your wording. Pumping IS breastfeed. Feeding from the breast is nursing. I exclusively breastfed. It just so happened to come from a bottle. I know your words were not ill intended but do research before posting articles if you want your words to help all mamas instead of upset groups of them.
I just find the whole premise of this article so disheartening. There is nothing wrong with saggy breasts. There is nothing wrong with stretch marks. Our bodies change throughout life whether we have babies or not and I find it so sad to think that women like myself are having this pop up in our pinterest feed or wherever and experience that pang of “I’m not good enough” or “I should be working to change myself.”
Quite frankly I would rather have saggy (and STILL WONDERFUL) breasts than waste any portion of my post partum life/money trying to massage myself out of reality.
ALL BODIES ARE AMAZING.
I love your post thank’s for sharing keep it up to write a better articles.
I have been exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months now, and I feel as if I won’t last the whole 12 months (although I really want to) i don’t think I will be able to keep my supply up! I haven’t done barely anything in this article to prevent breast sagging, I wish I found this article earlier. But anyway, my breasts seem to already be saggy, even though I’m exclusively breastfeeding, as soon as my daughter empty’s my breast it looks like an empty bag… it’s quite depressing especially because I’m only 18 years old. I feel if I did do any of these things now it wouldn’t really matter 🙁
Great article though I enjoyed reading it!
Hi Jessica,
Thank you for your comment and nice words!
I wouldn’t worry too much about breasts looking baggy right now, this is what happens when your baby drinks all the milk out of them and they feel empty. When you stop breastfeeding, your breast will undergo the process called involution. This is when the glandular tissue of the breast is replaced by the fatty tissue, which allows the breast to regain its former size and shape. However, it’s likely not until 6-12 months after you stop breastfeeding that your breast will feel normal again.
Never stop wearing a supportive bra while you’re breastfeeding (even at night!) and moisturize your breast daily. I would recommend to start practicing all those tips mentioned in the article, though. It’s never too late.
And your breast will look get better eventually! You’ll see.
Hii jane..this is harman..m 5 months pregnent right now..Does pregnency also effects that..nd can i do something from now to prevent the changes in my breast.??if yes then what they r..reply plz.!!
Hi Harman,
Pregnancy does affect your breast form even more than breastfeefing, because your breast starts to change from the very first day of pregnancy. The Cooper’s ligamets are stretching under the weight of your enlarged breast. The best thing to prevent breast sagging while pregnant is, in my mind, wearing a supportive and comfortable bra around the clock. It is also good to moisturize your breast’s skin every day. Eat a healthy diet and try not to put on a lot of weight while pregnant, because weight fluctuations could mess up your breast shape.
This post made me sad I got pregnant young and have had body issues for a while and when I got pregnant I hated my breasts and when I was breastfeeding (still am) i hate them even more. Realistically I know theres not much besides surgery I can do to change it and that’s stings a little bit, my confidence definitely took a hit. But I guess it’s natural. Thanks for the post 🙂
Why eliminate fruit juices?
Hey ladies! I breastfed for a year and my daughter weaned herself off. My boobs went back to normal a few months later with the awesome help from Olive Oil ?
I am kinda sad that my breast is not being the same as how they use to be. Its making my self esteem drop ?. But at the same time i am happy because i get to breastfeed my baby be not everyone is untitled to do it. So im blessed and lucky! Any more tips that i can do to make my breast be the same shape again?
I’m not a mama and not even married but my breast is also sagging . Its sometimes very difficult form me to handle my saggy breast .