Let’s have a look at our lady lumps a little closer, and really understand what’s going on in our bodies and why these changes are all fabulous, albeit a little uncomfortable/awkward at times.
1. During pregnancy
Your hormones are having a party and your breasts are ready to join the celebration!
Your increase of blood flow through the tissue of the breasts makes them swollen and tender and for a small breasted woman, you might be welcoming this! For the fuller breasted woman, this may just be your worst nightmare. Swollen, tender boobs usually last through the entirety of the first trimester of pregnancy.
Your best chaperone to this ‘party’, will be a well-fitted maternity bra. Don’t be afraid to move in to these bras earlier than expected, as the changes happen quickly in pregnancy. You’ll be much more comfortable if those gals are firmly supported! So, look for cleverly designed bras.
Your skin on your breasts may begin to display blue veins, the increase in blood flow becomes obvious. Your breasts may even be itchy, due to the skin beginning to stretch a little to accommodate all of these changes.
Your nipples will get darker and bigger too and you will develop Montgomery’s tubercles (these are the oil producing glands that look like little bumps on your areola). You might not have been expecting these gate-crashers!
Don’t forget your breast pads - your boobs are likely to be leaking during those last few months of pregnancy.
2. Early breastfeeding - when milk supply increases
A few days after your baby is born, your boobs will become even fuller and heavier! This is when you look in the mirror - at the boob-job that’s been performed on you over night.
This increase in size and shape is caused by an increase (again) of blood supply and highlights your milk ‘coming in’. As your breasts increase in size, the ligaments that support them may stretch. It’s this stretching that may lead to slightly saggier breasts. Contrary to popular belief, this change will happen regardless of whether or not you choose to breastfeed your bub.
If you’re worried about the stretch of these ligaments at all, the best thing you can do is support yourself with a comfortable and well-fitted bra.
Maternity bras that use anti-bacterial fabric is just common sense. Because our breasts are warm and our nipples are leaking nourishing, moist food product, it’s the best breeding ground for nasties. Eradicate the likelihood of these, by buying well.
3. Supply balance (after intro of solid food)
Once you’ve been feeding for around 15 months, your breasts will stabilise a little and will most likely appear, similar to that of their pregnancy state. When you return to your pre-pregnancy weight, your breasts will probably return to their pre-pregnancy size too.
Your breasts may not be quite as perky as they were before, particularly immediately after you've stopped feeding. But the good news is that the fatty tissue will gradually replace the milk producing tissue in your breasts and will leave your breasts feeling fuller again.
You might be dreaming of ditching your feeding bras at this stage but in fact you’ll still need them, even if you’re down to five or so feeds (with the intro of solids).
It can be hard to imagine just how much our breasts will morph along the journey into motherhood. So, raise a glass to those ‘faithful friends’ who do us proud! And, no matter the change, embrace them as best you can!
Hugs into the ether...
LucyLou