As a woman, your body can do amazing things, including nurturing new life. Breastfeeding improves physical and mental health and gives your baby a healthy start. But over time, it tends to take its toll on your body. Learn more about breasts and how to properly care for them after breastfeeding. In this blog, you can get ten saggy breasts after breastfeeding solutions to prevent this major problem.
Breasts After Breastfeeding
Breast shape and size change before and after breastfeeding. Breast tissue and glands enlarge and swell in preparation for breastfeeding. After feeding, it will return to its original size. Afterward, the breasts may appear softer, less full, and saggy after breastfeeding.
The extent to which breasts return to their pre-pregnancy size or shape depends on many factors, including:
- Age
- Weight gain during pregnancy
- Genetics
In women who have ever smoked, the skin of breasts after breastfeeding becomes less elastic and more prone to sagging.
Nipples After Breastfeeding
During pregnancy, high estrogen levels and progesterone also affect the nipple area. Nipple enlargement and the surrounding areola may darken the skin or develop lines.
Constant breastfeeding can also cause soreness and pain in the nipples. It is unknown if they will eventually return to their original shape and color.
Does Breastfeeding Cause Sagging?
Contrary to popular belief, research shows that breastfeeding is not directly related to breast sagging. Connective tissues in your breast stretch out during pregnancy. This means that even if you choose not to breastfeed your newborn, you may still experience sagging in your breasts.
How To Prevent Sagging Breasts
While you can’t control things like age or genetics, there are ways to slow down the sagginess of your breasts.
1. Wear A Supportive Bra
Make sure your breasts are well supported during the inevitable changes of pregnancy by choosing the right bra size. Wearing poorly fitted bras can lead to pain and injury. Also, bras restrict blood flow, so remove them before going to bed.
2. Exercise Regularly
Your mammary glands, fat cells, and ligaments probably don’t benefit from exercise, but the muscles under your breasts do. Tightening the major and minor muscles under your breasts will make your chest look slightly lifted. Consider adding push-ups, free weight workouts, and chest presses to your routine.
3. Moisturize and Exfoliate Your Skin
Moisturize your skin daily, especially around the chest area, to keep it firm and hydrated. Choose herbal lotions that contain natural extracts to help maintain tight, youthful skin. Also, use a body scrub or loofah during your daily bath to gently exfoliate your breasts. Removing dead cells improves circulation and restores elasticity.
4. Practice Correct Posture
A hunched back or poor posture is the same as having an unsupported chest. Not paying attention to your posture will only add slack. Pull your shoulders back and keep your spine as straight as possible to repair breast sagging after pregnancy.
5. Consume Less Animal Fat
Eat a balanced diet high in whole grains and vegetables to stay in top shape for breastfeeding and lose unwanted pregnancy weight. Replace high-cholesterol saturated animal fats with olive oil, vitamin B complex, and vitamin E to fight wrinkles and improve skin tone and elasticity.
6. Quit Smoking
Studies show that smoking significantly reduces the skin’s ability to repair the damage. The regeneration of skin cells in the body is disturbed by frequent tobacco use, leading to premature skin aging, dryness, and wrinkling. Stop smoking and keep your breasts in shape.
7. Take Hot and Cold Showers
Hot water opens the pores, and cold water tightens them. Changing the temperature from hot to cold while taking a shower is considered an effective way to promote blood circulation. Increased blood flow evens out the complexion, supplies vital nutrients, and detoxifies the skin.
8. Nursing Comfortably
Minimize stretching by placing the newborn on a pillow and lifting it to a comfortable height while breastfeeding. It can help you avoid breast sagging.
9. Wean Your Baby Slowly
When you’re ready to start weaning, it’s a good idea to start weaning gradually so that the fatty tissue re-deposits on the breast. Gradually reduce the frequency of breastfeeding to regain the shape of your pre-pregnancy breasts.
10. Lose Weight Slowly
Like weaning, postpartum weight loss is a process that one should never rush. Give your body a chance to adapt to all these changes. A sudden change in size causes sagging and excess skin, especially in the chest area, that cannot be reversed. If you want to lose weight safely, eat healthily and exercise regularly.
How to Dry Up Breast Milk Naturally?
Any new mother will tell you that one of the most challenging things about breastfeeding is how to dry up breast milk naturally when it’s time to wean. While women can use some medical interventions to dry up breast milk, many women prefer to use natural methods.
One popular method is to decrease the frequency of nursing sessions. For example, if you typically nurse every four hours, you would space out sessions to every six or eight hours. Additionally, it’s important to avoid stimulating the breast by wearing a supportive bra and avoiding any contact with the breasts.
Finally, many women find that cutting back on their fluid intake helps to dry up breast milk more quickly. So, if you’re looking for how to dry up breast milk naturally, try these tips!
Are There Long-term Benefits of These Breast Reshaping Methods?
Natural remedies take months to take effect and take longer to reach their peak. Whether or not you follow a specific method to firm and shape your breasts depends on your willpower and the amount of time and money you are willing to invest.
Exercise, creams, and dietary changes can help your breasts get the right shape. While you may not get your breasts back to their pre-pregnancy shape, these methods can improve the sagging and stretched shape. However, surgical enhancement may be the right choice if you value your body image and want to go the extra mile.
Still, it would help if you understood the costs of freely choosing how you want your breasts to look. You must consider all of the effects of re-operation.
It is unlikely that the chest will return to its previous state. There’s a good chance you’ll be in pretty good shape for your age and body type. Knowing how to make your breasts grow naturally after breastfeeding can help you start with the right posture and wear gorgeous clothes to show off your amazing body again.
