Does Breastfeeding Cause Sagging Breasts?

The size of a woman’s breasts changes throughout her life and is common for them to change especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The CDC recommends mums exclusively breastfeed their child for the first six months as breastmilk is ideal for an infant. The warm bond a mum creates with her baby during breastfeeding is like no other. But as a mum, it is natural for you to feel concerned about the changes that happen to your breasts when nursing.

Let’s find out if breastfeeding causes sagging breasts and what you can do to prevent it.

Will Breastfeeding Make My Breasts Sag or Become Flat?

When a mum is nursing, the flow of milk can stretch her breast skin and tissue. This as a result leaves some women with a stretched-out look to their breasts after the milk-producing glands in the breasts shrink back to the size they were before pregnancy. 

Let’s look at some common reasons which cause the sagging of the breasts.

Stretching of Ligaments

Breastfeeding stretches the ligaments that support a woman’s breasts as they get heavier during pregnancy. Even if a woman doesn’t breastfeed post-pregnancy, she might get sagging breasts because of the stretched ligaments. 

Number of Children

According to research, the more children a woman has, the more stretched out her breasts will become. To put it simply together, the shape of breasts tends to get affected as they get fuller because of the weight gain during pregnancy.

Smoking

Another reason for the sagging of breasts is smoking which hurts elastin which is a protein present in the skin. This protein helps to keep the skin appear youthful and supports the breasts.

Weight Loss

After the weight decreases, the body fat percentage also gets affected which contributes to changes in the breast shape.

5 Tips To Prevent Saggy Breasts After Breastfeeding

1. Exercise

Maintaining a healthy weight by exercising, can help your body get toned. Hence, ensure that you include regular exercise in your daily routine.

2. Eat a Healthy Diet

Eat food that is rich in healthy fats, protein and carbs. It will especially help to promote healthy skin and provide the required nutrients for breastfeeding women. 

3. Drink Plenty of Water

The skin tends to become saggy and wrinkled when it’s dehydrated. Hence, you must drink enough water to make your skin look better. 

4. Wear a Supportive Bra

Whether you are exercising or doing your regular activities, pick a supportive bra that makes you feel comfortable. Your bra should be able to hold your breasts firmly in an upright position.

5. Avoid Smoking

As mentioned above, smoking reduces skin elasticity. Hence, try to reduce or quit it with the help of your doctor.

While you can’t prevent the changes in the shape of your breasts, don’t let it prevent you from breastfeeding your child. Give it time and if you still want to make your breasts appear firm, you can consider getting surgery done through medical consultation.