A Question About Post- Breastfeeding Deflation - for the Smaller Chested Ladies

You may not get back to exactly how they looked before you had kids but with the right chest and arm exercises you can pull in some of those muscles back...

Good luck.

A little different spin on this, but I have friends that DIDN'T breastfeed and they still end up less full and perky than they were before. I've actually heard that it's the pregnancy, not the breastfeeding, that does it.

First - Congrats on the new baby! I have a son who was born on November 27!! And for breastfeeding...

Second - I breastfed all 3 of mine for 12+ months and my breasts are pretty weird looking now. My youngest is almost 3 and after two years my breasts still haven't come back. I am definitely smaller on one side than the other and they sag and my nipples even look weird. Had I known in advance that this would happen, however, I still would have breastfed.

Since I have never been very big at the top losing them was no great loss. At 5'8" and 130 pounds, I think I look pretty good in my clothes overall with my very small b cup and sort of an a cup. My senior year in high school I was this same height and less than 120 pounds and was a nice round full b cup. I didn't even need to wear a bra; they were so perky. I hated them then for not being bigger. What I would give today:)

My husband just likes having sex and so I feel good that he takes me as I am. If I point out what is wrong too often he starts to notice it more and that can be discouraging - I mean that with everything like saddlebags, stretch marks, etc.:) I don't mind joking about it here and there but I try not to bring up my flaws too often. His mother had 10 children and is FAT so he probably thinks I look awesome!!

Third - I have a sister who has a perfect looking body at 49. I mean perky breasts, no cellulite, no stretch marks. But she can't have children. I don't think I would trade with her but she would probably trade with me.

Finally - As you get older you sort of reassess what is important and what makes you, you. At 38, I am realizing that by worrying how my body looks, I have given my daughter a set of words that I don't want her to even think about - "I look fat, I feel fat, this makes me look fat, my leg shakes when I walk", etc. She is only 8 and I see her checking herself out in the mirror and pulling on her belly to pinch an inch. Now I try to say things like, "Wow, I have really firmed up since I started walking." And being more positive about myself. My self image affects all 3 of my kids and they really love me the way I am. No, my body does not look perfect but it worked perfectly to give me 3 beautiful children (and I mean BEAUTIFUL:). What is perfect anyway - Victoria Secret models? I always tell myself that they have really bad breath or something to make them seem more human!!

Good luck and love your body as it is right now!! Your boobs may come back but they may not. As someone mentioned you can get it fixed up but I bet the people who really matter to you love you just as you are...

Take care and God bless.

So far I also have only breastfed one, but I am pregnant again. And though my breasts didn't grow this time the way they did with my first pregnancy I feel like I have my original breasts back. I'm going to take pictures while they are here so I can at least remember what they looked like in their prime. Since I carried about 8 lbs over my prepregnancy weight I didn't feel I really had a lot of shrinkage over the original size. However, I do have a major deflate and loss of structure on top. Instead of curving out, my breasts curve in. Also what really drives me crazy is that my nipples seem to fall in and become flat when I lay down. All that being said, yes we all have changes but it is completely worth it. Also they say a lot of the damage is already done when your milk comes in so even if you dry up right away you would still not have the same breast you did.

As far as husbands are concerned, every guy is different. I know my husband is very definately a boob guy. But luckily he is a natural boob guy, to him all shapes and sizes are great as long as none of it is artificial.

As far as hope for your ta-tas I have no idea. I'm hopeful, but I think I can learn to deal if not. However doesn't breastfeeding reduce the risk of breast cancer - now there's some hope for ta-tas right there.

I'm so glad that you are committed to breastfeeding! Your story sounds like mine. I am a small lady and my breasts have always been 34A. When nursing they enlarged and were so beautiful! I loved them. After weaning they shrunk down to what used to be called "fried eggs". Over time they do fill out to your normal size. If there is one thing I don't like about my body it is my small breasts. But I know I need to be thankful to God for all things. I am healthy and my breasts were very functional. I had plenty of milk for my babies. And perfect nipples. For this I thank God. My breasts still stimulate me sexually too. So we must be thankful for small things. I wear padded bras. AF

With weight loss (pregnancy or not), breasts get smaller. With weight gain, breasts get bigger. Try to gain some weight... it sounds like weight gain is a concern of yours anyway.

Interesting story... In high school and college I was skinny (got a few "eat a sandwich" comments here and there) with full B breasts... After college I gained about 15lbs (which I was super-happy about because I thought I was too skinny then and that weight gain gave me my "ideal" body), and with that weight gain of mine I went to D breasts...

now, after I have had 4 kids, I've gained more weight and am now a DD... I'm about 25 lbs heavier than pre-pregnancy. I'm trying to lose weight now and have lost almost 10 lbs since trying, and I will have to say that I'm not quite down to a D, but, by the way things are looking, i will be soon.

I understand men and breasts- my husband was with me when I had B's, so we joke and say they got bigger just for him. he's obsessed to say the least:)

Oh, one more thing... goat's rue actually has been known to make some breasts bigger- a more or less safe supplement. Some lactating mothers take it to up their milk supply, but my midwife told me that it shows more result in making the actual size bigger. It doesn't work for everyone.

Good luck and don't get yourself down. Your husband thinks you are beautiful- inside and out. And to make yourself feel a little better, focus on your other features.

I agree that my non-nursing friends have similar concerns and it's more about the weight gain/loss with pregnancy. Time will tell what I end up like in the end because DD is not weaned.

I've always been a very small A cup. Mine were definitely deflated after weaning and have gone back to the regular "inflation" however, they are much lower to the ground. The sag makes me look even flatter naked, however padded bras work wonders under clothes. You can always have them enhanced if you'd like, breasfeeding was worth it for me.

same to what "Mommy B" mentioned. It is the weight-loss that is causing more of the reduction. Most moms, end up with larger ____@____.com because they still carried the fat overall. If you want larger ones then either gain more weight in general or opt for surgery.

I am smaller after nursing three children, but I am thinner now then when I was pre-kids.

Hi there,

I had 2 babies, 7 1/2 yrs apart. Nursed both of them and after nursing, I lost all my breasts, ended up with what you had. I too lost alot of weight nursing my youngest, soon to be 2 in 1 month, and I gained some back after nursing. I nursed both my kids for 12 months, the day of their 1st bdays, was our last. I still have nothing in my breasts!! I am going to get a boob job one day, soon! My hubby doesn't care that they are small, I am about an A as well, when nursing I was a D easily! For me, I want my boobs back, so I will feel better about myself with a boob job.

Congrats to you for nursing regardless and for going for the year! It's the best for our kids to be nursed at at least the 1st year! Alot of moms say that they need a mommy make over after having kids...body work, boob jobs! I hear it often.

So I have to say, hunny, you aren't alone! :)

good luck and God bless!

Hi, Danielle, I had the exact same experience, and YES, they do come back!!! Hooray! I know what you mean - when you are small, you don't want to lose what you've got. No worries.........Good luck, enjoy the babies, nursing, etc. :)

Skin stretches, loses elasticity as we age and gravity pulls it all down. A good support bra is important whether you are breast feeding or not. I was average before I got pregnant. I put on a lot of weight during my pregnancy and not only did I get belly stretch marks I got them on my boobs, too. (Itchy skin = not fun.) I used to be envious of a girlfriend I had in high school who was a DD cup size, but she had back aches, sore neck and shoulder muscles and was in a lot of pain if she didn't wear a bra that kept the bouncing to a minimum during gym. She really loved swimming because at least everything floated nicely in the pool. There are a lot of advantages to being smaller breasted (maybe a bit less pinching during mammograms), and there are quite a few wonderful push up bras that can give you plenty of va va va voom when ever you want it.

Hey Danielle!

I am also a small chest woman, starting with A cup before pregnancies, so you can imagine that I also have some issues seeing my breast come smaller or less perky after my first pregnancy. I nursed for about 9 months, my breast were back to a "normal" look for about 2 months after I weaned my son, then they looked much more smaller and deflated, like you are saying.
My mom had the same issue too. I remember seeing her when I was young and how her breast looked empty. She was a really skinny person, as I am. But as she reached her late 40s, she had hormonal changes and started to gain a little bit of weight (maybe 5 pounds) but it did all the difference in the world, she now has a nice full small breast, rather than a deflated type.
So as I am also pregnant myself (due end of sept)
good luck and don't beat yourself about this. I know lots of guys out there who LOVE small chested women... ;-)

First off I have to say I think it is great that you choose to breastfeed despite the fact that it may mean a sacrifice of some of your confidence and that your husband may have to learn to appreciate your new body. I was prewarned that I may have a change in shape, size... etc. after I breastfed, but I felt the breastfeeding was more important to me than those things. I know my body is going to change as time passes anyways. Unfortunately our society floods us with images from magazines, tv and such placing an emphasis on outer appearance and the use of womens breasts/bodies for marketing and to attract a mate.

http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1501574/Breastfeedin...

However they hardly mention breastfeeding to you until you see a prenatal physician :D They feed us the idea that confidence is built the way a plastic surgeon creates and sculpts a 50 year old womans body to look like a 25 year old. I hope you are able to come to love your post pregnancy body, and that your husband will as well. It will continue to change, my Mom nursed all 4 of her children and in her 50's she may not have the body she had when she was 25, but her breasts are actually fuller and more perky now than they have ever been in her life. She has even shocked her doctor in that sense. I do not anticipate the same to happen for me, after nursing my first child mine seemed less full and less perky, but I am still going to nurse my next one as well. I hope your confidence returns even if it means that your breasts do not :D and that you know you have so much to offer. Do what YOU NEED to help boost your confidence. I hold this scripture close to my heart: Proverbs 31:30. God bless!

My youngest is 8 now, and even though I had some deflation at first, I am larger after two than I was before having children. As far as perkiness, you just need to have good supporting bras throughout, and you will be fine. It worked for me.

The same thing happened to my mother and aunt. They got larger (eventually) with each child.

Godspeed and congratulations!

Hi Danielle,

I did not lose weight, but I did have MAJOR deflate. It took me several months for them to perk back up and fill back in, but they never really went back to the way they were prior to pregnancy/nursing. I think the weight loss added to the deflate really did a number on your body, and your emotions. I have seen women who, once nursing and babies were done, were able to get their breasts back through proper diet, exercise and time.

Just wanted to say to all my breastfeeding sisters...you all are awesome! I am breastfeeding my sweet 11 month old boy and I did so for my 7 y/o girl. I loved seeing their little eyes close with delight whenever they latched on. I would not give that up for the world. I would LOVE to have my boobs look as perky as they did before my pregnancies and before BFing but I prefer my lovely children to my vanity. I never knew how awesome my boobs were until I fattened up my two little yummies with the milk from my body. What a beautiful experience.
My boobs did sort of rebound a little between kids after I gained a little weight back. The issue really is the lost elasticity after the constant ebb and flow of milk (which constantly changes the boob size throughout the day) and the support system for the milk which really causes the droop. The natural fatty lobules get replaced with a system of ducts and eddy's and the fat get sacrificed to making your milk rich and fatty for baby. Nature is perfect in it's design.
anyway...you are all an inspiration. Danielle, take heart; your boobs are a perfect just as they are and have served you well. Congrats on the coming addition.

Dear Danielle-

I was probably a small 'b' cup before I had children...I have 7 kids...and breastfed ALL of them. My mom is convinced I spent so many years breastfeeding and preggers so I would have cleavage!!

Any how, after breastfeeding was finished the final time...I only needed two bandaids...lol.

HOWEVER...now that I am peri menapausal, I now have very NICE 'c' capacity! Go figure!!

Not to worry!!

Michele/catwalk

I too had the same problem. I have 3 girls and nursed them all. The last I nursed until 17 months. I am a small woman 5' and 100lbs so as you could imagine while breastfeeding my breasts looked fabulous! No that they've deflated, I again have lost another cup size. They look so tiny and shriveled. The sad thing is that I am 29 and my husband has made the comment that my breasts look like what he has seen on national geographic. You will adjust but if you're like me you will always wish you had your pre baby boobs back. Victoria's Secret sells great push up bras that at least when you are dressed your breasts look full and beautiful. Good luck.