hugging rock inkster
10:16 am - 04/16/2012

breast changes after baby
I've been curious about this and don't know who I can ask since not everyone is as open about stuff like this as I am.

I'm curious whether those who do not breastfeed after having a baby end up with the same changes in their breasts as those who do. I'm talking about them feeling super empty and being more floppy than they were before, as well as some sagging (I know that varies between people and can happen without breastfeeding as well). I guess I'm curious if it's the changes that happen during pregnancy and the initial engorgement before the milk goes away that causes them, or if it's the constant filling and emptying of breastfeeding that does. If it's the former, and your milk never comes in, are they the same as they were before being pregnant?

(this is not intended to be a discussion on the merits of either method of feeding, I'm just curious on a purely physical standpoint)
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sonarafaey 16th-Apr-2012 10:03 pm (UTC)
I had a baby 9 months ago, and he is not breastfed (not by choice, tried to breastfeed but we had a lot of trouble and I did not have the support or resources to get a lot of the help we needed). My bra cup size is the same as it was pre-pregnancy, but my breasts are now very saggy, soft and empty feeling. Like others have said, I think breast changes have more to do with genetics and pregnancy itself, and not necessarily do to breastfeeding (or lack of it).
hungry_worm 18th-Apr-2012 01:43 pm (UTC)
Hah! Finally histology class pays off! I think the change of texture comes from the actual changes of structure in the breast. When you look at the cells under the microscope, during pregnancy an under the accompanying hormonal influence, the breast's (Mamma) milk ducts proliferate, and the whole duct system is "fine tuned" and modified (i.e. tubular ends getting larger to make the whole milk storage etc. possible). So even if you don't bf long or at all, it doesn't get completely re-structured, and while the changes receed, there's still different tissue left compared to a "virginal", uninitiated mamma.

I wasn't that good in histology, so I don't know the details, but I'm sure interested people can get much more details through google.

Edited at 2012-04-18 01:45 pm (UTC)
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