Pregnancy Boobs - What To Expect When You're Expecting (And After)

Beginning stages

Tender or swollen breasts, one-sided feeding preference, duct blockage, size fluctuation - and that is just pre baby. Rarely do we ever hear the truth about what happens to our bodies later in and after pregnancy. After pregnancy, will our breasts be altered forever? Our bodies are amazing and the science behind what is actually happening internally is beyond belief!

What really is happening?

When doing research about what is anatomically happening during pregnancy, I came across this piece on www.Parents.com by Cari Wira Dineen. This reading truly enlightened me, giving me a glimpse of one can expect during pregnancy. For starters, our bodies double in blood volume, going from 30% to 50%, to prepare for the fetus. Another common thing that happens is the development of hips. This is largely due to the pelvic bone separating to be able to prepare the cervix for a child. The areolas also darken to prepare for the baby's arrival because the baby only see contrast in their first few days of life (Motherly). The human body is an incredibly intuitive machine!

Along with these changes, our hormones begin to change. This hormone change may cause body hair to grow thicker but also can contribute to breast sensitivity. This sensitivity is due to lactation, increasing the breast in size. This, in turn, increases our bra size. In fact, breast tenderness is one of the first signs of pregnancy!

How are boobs changing?

It is no doubt that we may hear about breasts becoming larger during pregnancy, but did you know they can continue to grow even after pregnancy? This growth can be for hormonal reasons, or even the inevitable weight gain that comes with pregnancy. The average breast size is 150-200g. However, during lactation, this number more doubles which means your breasts gain about a pound during lactation! Regardless, continued growth is quite a common phenomenon after giving birth.

Rachel McAdams shows what it's really like to be a breastfeeding mother! Girlsgirlsgirls Magazine

What can we do?

The lopsided nature of our breasts, that is reality for many of us, may be enhanced by this growth. This lopsidedness may often be accompanied by sagging, especially during and after breast feeding. Some helpful advice? "The only way to counter the sagginess in breasts is to make use of a bra that can make them look great, as well as maintain a controlled diet...", according to First Cry Parenting.

Beginning stages

Tender or swollen breasts, one-sided feeding preference, duct blockage, size fluctuation - and that is just pre baby. Rarely do we ever hear the truth about what happens to our bodies later in and after pregnancy. After pregnancy, will our breasts be altered forever? Our bodies are amazing and the science behind what is actually happening internally is beyond belief!

What really is happening?

If you are like many of us, pregnancy brought a whole lot of interesting questions up about what was happening on our chests.  I came across this piece www.parents.com by Cari Wira Dineen. Did you know our bodies double in blood volume, going from 30% to 50%, to prepare for the fetus. The areolas also darken to prepare for the baby's arrival because the baby only see contrast in their first few days of life (Motherly). And my perky breasts were all of the sudden taking over my body.  Our hormones change and may cause body hair to grow thicker and can contribute to breast sensitivity. This sensitivity is due to lactation, increasing the breast in size. This, in turn, increases our bra size. In fact, breast tenderness is one of the first signs of pregnancy.  

How are boobs changing?

It is no doubt that we may hear about breasts becoming larger during pregnancy, but did you know they can continue to grow even after pregnancy? This growth can be for hormonal reasons, or even the inevitable weight gain that comes with pregnancy. The average breast size is 150-200g. However, during lactation, this number more doubles which means your breasts gain about a pound during lactation! Regardless, continued growth is quite a common phenomenon after giving birth.

 

Rachel McAdams shows what it's really like to be a breastfeeding mother! Girlsgirlsgirls Magazine

What can we do?

The lopsided nature of our breasts, that is reality for many of us, may be enhanced by this growth. This lopsidedness may often be accompanied by sagging, especially during and after breast feeding.

Finding a great bra that helps us feel comfortable is key in this process. It is important to lift your girls and not squish them. Let's be honest - comfort and ease are the two most important things when you are a new mom.  Nursing can be the most beautiful thing in the world . Wearing a bra with hardwire is not recommended but wearing one overall is recommended to help control them is. 

And then there is the child who favors one side leaving the other one engorged.  The left boob, exhausted, raw, wondering why the baby will not go to the other side.  It is a phenomenon that keeps many new moms up all night.  I was always wondering if the breasts would always be uneven. 

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that age, gravity and weight gain are all more likely to cause changes in a woman’s breast size than breastfeeding.  During the first few weeks of breastfeeding, you may feel some tenderness in your nipples, which may also become cracked and sore. 

Breastfeeding is just one of many incredible factors to determine what your breasts will shape into after the nursing is done like genetics, weight, health habits, and age.  Then there is the sagging.  Oh the sagging!  Nursing does not lead always to sagging but it can be one of the results.  Nursing bras do not always give you the support you need.  Make sure you find something that lifts the breasts from below  Once the system returns to its pre-pregnancy size after milk production stops, they can get back to perky.  Send us your tips!!