Saggy breasts: Will breasts ever perk up again after weaning?
I have a post-breastfeeding question. I breastfed my baby for seven months. I just weaned him over a month ago. My breasts have gone down almost to my original bra size. However, they do not look or feel anything like they did before I breastfed. They are very saggy for one thing. They also feel so empty. I know I'm used to them being full of milk, but this is like there is nothing inside of them -- not even breast tissue. Will they ever perk up again?
Question:Debbi Donovan
Debbi Donovan is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, as well as a retired La Leche League Leader. For more than a decade, Debbi... Read more
It can be surprising after weaning (or after pregnancy, in non-nursing moms) to see how your breasts have changed. Breast changes occur in all women as they age, and not just in women who have given birth (or breastfed).
How your breasts change during a pregnancy is related to genetics, skin elasticity and amount of weight gain. Avoidance of smoking and excessive sun exposure can help the skin to retain its elasticity.
Breastfeeding often gets blamed for the sagging of breasts. Actually, it is pregnancy and not nursing that affects the shape and size of your breasts. Breastfeeding and gradual weaning make it more likely that fat will be redeposited in your breasts, helping them to regain more of their pre-pregnancy appearance (Minchin, 1989).
Usually by about six months after weaning, your breasts will have returned to more of their pre-pregnancy look. They also will feel more dense, as fatty tissue begins to fill them out again.
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