Our Guide to Breasts Before and After Breastfeeding

Estimated read time: 12 minutes

Ever wondered about post-pregnancy changes, or breast changes after breastfeeding? 

Or whether you’ll have smaller breasts after breastfeeding? Or asked yourself, do nipples go back to normal after breastfeeding?

Mama, we hear you! Breastfeeding is just one of the amazing things your beautiful body can do. Not only can it improve your emotional and physical wellbeing, help you bond with your gorgeous baby, and help burn calories, but it also gives your little bundle of joy the best start.

However, overtime, and with extended breastfeeding, nursing can take its toll on your body, and can even impact the shape and size of your Boobies.

If you’ve ever thought about what your breasts before and after breastfeeding will be like, and the changes that might happen with Boobin’, then read on Breastie. We put together a postpartum breast guide just for you. In this article, we’ll explore breast changes after breastfeeding and even some postpartum breast care tips

In this article:

• What Does Pregnancy Do to Your Breasts?
• Changes in Breasts After Giving Birth
• Can Breastfeeding Affect Breast Size?
• Caring for Your Breasts During and After Breastfeeding
• Our Favorite Nipple Care Products for Breastfeeding

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What Does Pregnancy Do to Your Breasts?

Having a baby causes changes to how your breasts look and feel, as well as what they produce. If you are wondering how does pregnancy affect your breasts, we got you. Not only can your beautiful Boobies change in shape, sensitivity, and size, but - if you breastfeed - they’ll also become your baby’s primary food source for the first year. 

If you are expecting, then you may have experienced pregnancy effects on breasts. While pregnant, your body will experience changing levels of hormones, including prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone, which causes changes to your breast tissue. Not only that, your milk ducts expand and blood flow increases to prepare your breasts for producing milk. These changes can lead to your breasts becoming a cup size (or more) bigger, and you might even notice the veins in your Boobs appear darker and more prominent.  

Oh and it doesn’t end there Breastie. We have ligaments called Cooper’s ligaments that support your breast tissue. When you’re pregnant,  these ligaments stretch out to accommodate your growing breasts, which can also cause some stretch marks to appear. And let’s not forget your nipples because, yep, they too go through some pretty noticeable changes!

First up, they may become darker (some studies suggest this is to help make them more obvious for newborns to see), your areola may grow larger, and those little bumps surrounding your nipples (known as Montgomery’s tubercles), may also get bigger. 

These are the main changes you might notice during pregnancy…but what about changes in breasts after giving birth and beyond? 

Changes in Breasts After Giving Birth

Your beautiful baby has arrived and you’re a mom! Congrats Breastie. But now your baby is safely here, you might be wondering about post-pregnancy changes. You may be thinking, "Will my breasts will go back to their pre-pregnancy size and shape?" or if breastfeeding will change them again? 

Well, let’s get into it about postpartum breasts.

Breasts increase two to three times in size during location. You can thank your hormones for these changes in breasts after childbirth, especially prolactin, which makes your Boobies engorged with milk production. Hey, you’ve got working breasts now, and all that magical milk needs space to be produced. 

A day or two after giving birth, you’ll notice your breasts become temporarily engorged. Prolactin starts to be produced once your placenta comes out, and this is the hormone that kick starts your milk production. You might also notice that they feel heavy and swollen. Don’t worry mama, as your milk supply adjusts your breasts will stop feeling so engorged. 

You’ll probably also notice that after each feed or pumping session that your breasts feel a little smaller and less full, especially if your baby is a pro at draining them.

So, what about when your little one starts on solid foods? This is when your breasts will begin to shrink a little (mostly), as they don’t need to produce quite as much milk as before. 

Can Breastfeeding Affect Breast Size?

We’ve already seen that your breasts can get larger both during pregnancy and when breastfeeding, but they’ll most likely return to your original cup size pre-pregnancy after you stop breastfeeding. Some mamas even notice they get a little smaller, while others find that the size and shape changes - for example slightly larger and less firm.  

And if you have asked, can breastfeeding impact breast appearance? The answer is yes. But truthfully, your body and breasts will always change over time. So put that into perspective, too.

Now, let’s have a look at ways your breasts can change after breastfeeding. What breasts look like before and after breastfeeding depends on the person, since every woman’s body is different, but there are some changes likely in store. 

1. Changes in Size

Now, let’s have a look at ways your breasts can change after breastfeeding. What breasts look like before and after breastfeeding depends on the person, since every woman’s body is different, but there are some changes likely in store related to breastfeeding and breast size.

2. Nipple Changes

Let’s look at nipples before and after breastfeeding. Do nipples go back to normal after breastfeeding? Your glorious nipples have done a lot of hard work, so it’s not surprising that they also might change when you finish breastfeeding. They might become more sensitive or even less sensitive. Some women find that their nipples darken during pregnancy and breastfeeding; this is also a common and natural occurrence. Just remember, all Titties are different and all Titties are pretty. 

3. Skin Elasticity

Slightly saggy skin and stretch marks are the marks of the incredible journey your body has been through, and are a testament to all the hard work you have done. While not every woman will experience stretch marks and less firm skin, if you do get them, wear them with pride mama! Stretch marks, though they may fade over time, should be seen as a souvenir from the changes your breasts underwent during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

While stretch marks usually start out as red or purple streaks, they often lighten within a year and become silvery in color. This means they may not be so visible on your breasts after breastfeeding.Skin elasticity may also be affected, leading to a feeling of less firmness. 

4. Veins

If you notice the veins on your breasts look more pronounced and darker in color while pregnant and breastfeeding (thanks to the extra blood volume), when you finish breastfeeding, those same veins will typically return to normal. 

5. Lopsided Boobies

Did you know that most women’s breasts are slightly uneven? They’re sisters, not twins, and that’s before pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Even if you’ve never noticed it before, once your breasts expand through pregnancy and breastfeeding, they might become more noticeably lopsided - especially if your little one has a Boob preference. It can take several weeks or even months after breastfeeding for them to return to their normal state, but you should get your breasts checked if you’re concerned, as there could be an abscess or a blocked duct.

Caring for Your Breasts During and After Breastfeeding

Let's talk about breast care. While you can’t really reverse the effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding, there are a few simple steps you can take to take care of your gorgeous breasts. 

• Wear a supportive bra and get properly fitted. When caring for breasts during breastfeeding, a special nursing bra can support your delicate and sensitive breast tissue, helping to prevent signs of sagging.

• Treat your skin with the love it deserves. Dryness is a common complaint after giving birth, so stock up on appropriate skin care lotion and keep your pretty Titties nourished.

• Nipple care is also important. They can go through a lot, including blistering, bleeding, and cracking. There are lots of over-the-counter balms and creams you can use to give your nipples the care they need.

• See a doctor if you have any lumps or pain. Breastfeeding can be uncomfortable - especially if your baby’s latch isn’t perfect or you don’t nurse in the right position for you - but it shouldn’t be painful. If you experience any lumps or pain in your breasts, it’s important to speak to your doctor or lactation consultant. Some women get mastitis, which is an infection that can happen as a result of a plugged milk duct or broken skin on the nipples.

• Keep checking your Titties. Breast health after childbirth is important. Continue with breast self-exams every month and speak to your doctor if you notice any changes. Breast care is so important, especially during postpartum. Check out this podcast where we "Talked Titties" with Dr. Robyn Roth of @TheBoobieDocs and we discuss

 

"There is a rise in pregnancy-associated breast cancer. It's associated with increasing maternal age. So as mothers' ages get older, we're seeing slightly higher rates of pregnancy-associated breast cancer, unfortunately. And they typically are diagnosed at a later stage." - Dr. Robyn Roth, Breast Radiologist.

 

Our Favorite Nipple Care Products for Breastfeeding

When it comes to nipple care, there are a lot of products out there. In our own experience, we have used lots of nipple care products and we put together a short  list of our recommended nipple care products for breastfeeding moms.

1. Motherlove Nipple Cream

Cost: $13

Postpartum health must-have: Nipple Cream! If you ask us, Motherlove is the best in nipple care. When it comes to the early days of breastfeeding, sore nipples are part of the package, and this all-natural nipple balm soothes your nips. It works wonders on cracked nips!

This herbal balm soothes nipples from the discomfort of breastfeeding as both baby and mom get used to it. Motherlove nipple cream is truly a personal favorite that can be used directly on the nipples or pump flanges (to ease discomfort during breast pumping). The certified organic, herbal balm can also be used to moisturize dry lips and hands!

Pro tip: Use our discount code, for 15% off your purchase on MotherLove.com: TITTYCITYDESIGN15

Nipple Cream is an award-winning organic herbal balm to soothe the discomfort of breastfeeding nipples with Motherlove's award-winning, lanolin-free Nipple Cream. 

2. Lansinoh Hot and Cold Breast Pads

Cost: $15

Self-care essentials for new moms. Breast therapy packs with a soft cover can offer relief and comfort during common breastfeeding struggles. This set of hot and cold breast therapy packs are key when adjusting to breastfeeding. We like comfort and these hot/cold packs help make breastfeeding as comfortable as possible. 

Whether it's to relieve discomfort from engorgement or to promote milk flow, they are a must-have for any breastfeeding mom's post-birth toolkit. 

Pro-tip:  Simply pop them in the microwave or freezer – no boiling required. Use hot therapy to relieve clogged ducts and mastitis.

3. Reusable Organic Bamboo Nursing Pads 

4. Silverette Nursing Cups 

Cost: $60

Soothe and protect sore nipples! These silver nipple shields help take away nipple pain associated with breastfeeding and pumping, including cracks, soreness, wounds, and infections.  

These nursing cups are a soothing remedy for sore nipples and sensitive breasts. We love that they are 100% natural and serve as a nice buffer to protect those sore nips when you aren't nursing.

Your Breasts are Beautiful Mama

And so are you!

Don’t be too quick to judge your Boobies after breastfeeding. It can take about three months after weaning for your breasts to settle down to their new normal, so have patience. Embrace your breasts and celebrate them for the amazing job they have done. Be proud of them. They’ve nourished and given life to your baby, and they, and you, deserve all the praise in the world. 

If you enjoyed this guide to breasts before and after breastfeeding, make sure to share it on social media, send the link to fellow mom friends, and join our supportive online mom community on Instagram and TikTok @tittycitydesign.

At Titty City Design, we believe that every boobie is beautiful, and that should be celebrated. We are a female-owned and operated, small business here to spread self-love and body positivity with our line of boob apparel, boob accessories, and boob-themed decor and products for the home. A portion of our proceeds goes to help support postpartum people and breast cancer patients.

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