Changing Breasts Size- During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Getting pregnant and deciding to nurse the baby are some life changing decisions of any woman’s life so it’s bound to have some lasting effects on the woman’s body as well, especially breasts. Becoming parents changes the perspective of life making everything shift so don’t be surprised to know that you might never get your pre-pregnancy breasts post-breastfeeding the baby. Breasts can go through a spectrum of changes, some effects can last for lifetime and some effects are just for the time being. Sometimes the effects are dramatic and other times some minor differences in appearance. Women who have low milk supply can benefit from lactation drinks and boost their milk supply but the breast can feel fuller, tender and larger so the changes are literally constant.

Changes in breasts can be accounted for by various factors like hormones, weight gain, genetics or milk supply. All these factors come together to determine the changes in the breasts during pregnancy, breastfeeding and after weaning off the baby. Some women don’t really have any noteworthy differences in their breasts and that’s nothing to be worried about.  On the other hand, if the mother notices any unusual changes or symptoms like pain, engorgement, fever or lump in the breasts then she must consult a doctor. As soon as the mother conceives a child it’s not just the body who gets to work, the breasts also gear up for the most important job- feeding the little one. So keep on reading in order to get an outlook of the journey your breasts are going to embark.

Changes in Breasts during Pregnancy

Your breast starts to change right from the time you conceive. The breasts display the same symptoms as it does in premenstrual syndrome like soreness and tenderness of breasts upon touch. During the course of the first trimester the veins in your breasts become more visible, bluer is color and larger in size. Darkening of the areola is also a way the breasts change during this time. Small bumps known as Montgomery tubercles may also appear on the area surrounding the nipple, as they help lubricate the pathways and also have antiseptic qualities that in future will support nursing.

As I move into the second trimester, the breasts will start to feel fuller and heavier as the milk ducts have started to develop. This would be a great time to invest in a larger bra as it will be your new best friend for the next couple of years. Around the 22^nd to 25^th week, the breast gets to work and starts producing the colostrum. Most of this milk will be reabsorbed by the body but you might encounter some leakage. Make sure you don’t rub your breast the wrong way (pun intended) otherwise it can increase milk supply or even lead you to premature labor.

In the last few weeks of the pregnancy, the child is now fully developed and almost ready to come out. So the breasts know that their part is soon to start which results in even heavier and pronounced breasts. Your areola will become darker, the shape of the breasts may also change significantly. As the whole body is being stretched, the breasts will also feel the pull and start to feel itchy or dry, so make sure to moisturize them to avoid stretch marks.

Changes in Breasts during Breastfeeding and After Weaning

Your breasts will continue to change while you’re nursing and may never be the same as before even after you wean off the baby, but trust me it’s all worth it. The most common thing to get used to as soon as possible is leaky breasts. Your breasts can start to leak when they’re too full, when the baby is hungry, when you’re really emotional or just out of nowhere! Breast engorgement is another thing that is part and parcel of breastfeeding the baby. It is a very painful place to be in, as breast engorgement can lead to mastitis and other complications. To avoid this, make sure to nurse the baby on demand and frequently pump the milk to make your breast feel normal and lighter.

If you feel that you need to increase milk supply to fulfil the need for the baby then try lactation cookies. But if you feel that your breasts are becoming smaller on some days and bigger on others, then it is just the milk production that is causing it. Finally when you decide to give up breastfeeding the baby, it may be after a week, a month or a year, the breast will start to come back to its pre-pregnancy days but they might never be the same.

Conclusion

Breast changes are attributed to various factors, if your breasts don’t feel the same as before, there might be some fat on them, they might also feel saggy or tender or have permanent stretch marks on them. But if you feel continuous pain or tenderness upon touch, please see a doctor as soon as possible.