Can I ask a boob question?

kansasgrl

I'm a frequent lurker on this board, but don't post very often. What I'm wanting to know is:

 If you breast-fed, did you feel that breast-feeding alone changed your boobs or do you think it's an inevitable part of pregnancy? I'm thinking about EPing for baby #2 to try to preserve SOME "bounce." :-)

 If you EPed or didn't breastfeed at all, are your boobs the same or different that pre-baby? Thanks for any opinions you can offer on this matter!

brightning

I BF for 4.5 mos. I personally believe that breast changes are an inevitable part of pregnancy because your mammary glands expand and push everything else out of the way while you're pregnant, preparing to BF. And my boobs got waaaaay bigger when I was pg than they ever did when I was BF.

And wouldn't pumping be just the same as BFing, as far as your boobs are concerned? I never did that, so I don't know. GL!

aandaw012707

I couldn't BF at all, and my boobs still changed. They seem to sag a little more and they also got bigger. I think its an inevitable part of pregnancy.

acppa

I EPed and my boobs are flatter and less full than before DS.  

kada626

Between both girls, I have been bf'ing w/a little pumping for over 18 months(13 for my first & 6 for my 2nd). My boobs are a tiny bit softer than before pregancy. There really isn't much difference though. I'm still happy with how they look & feel, etc.

April37

I BF for 9 months and I'd say that my boobs are the same now as before I got pregnant.  However, I do not have big boobs so I can imagine it may be different for women with large boobs. 

SymphonyGirl

During pregnancy, I went from a C to an F and after then came back down again.  While I did breastfeed, I can't imagine that not doing so would have made a difference in the amount of "bounce" left to me after going through that dramatic a size change.  I think it's just part of pregnancy.  For what it's worth--I didn't feel saggy or flat afterwards.  I was in pretty good shape as far as "bounce" goes. 

cbc04

I breastfed dd for 2 months and then switched to EPing for 10 more months because she was having major latching issues....and my boobs definitely aren't the same anymore.  But I'm inclined to think it was the pregnancy and the first days just after delivery when my milk first came in and they got huge.  They never got that big again after my supply regulated itself.  I guess I'm not really sure what the difference would be on them between bfing and EPing -either way you still have the milk, the let down and the pumping or nursing part. 

On an aside, if I would have been able to continue BFing dd, I would not have chosen to EP.  It was Soooooo much work EPing 5-6 times a days for 15-20 mins at a time for 10 months.  Toting that pump with me everywhere I went and spending hours a day washing parts and pieces was a total pain.  The only reasons I stuck with it as long as I did was that I was fortunate to have an amazing supply, and to work from home so I could be hooked up a good part of the day and not have it be a big deal.  I think that most likely with dc#2 if I can't BF again I'll go to formula instead.  I don't know how I'd manage all that pumping with a toddler running around too.  Anyway, I'm certainly not trying to tell you what to do or anything, and I realize that everyone has their own reasons for making decisions and everyone has different experiences too.  I just wanted to put out there what my own experience was with EPing because personally, I don't think I really realized what I was getting into when I decided to make the switch. 

Good luck!

acppa

cbc04:

I breastfed dd for 2 months and then switched to EPing for 10 more months because she was having major latching issues....and my boobs definitely aren't the same anymore.  But I'm inclined to think it was the pregnancy and the first days just after delivery when my milk first came in and they got huge.  They never got that big again after my supply regulated itself.  I guess I'm not really sure what the difference would be on them between bfing and EPing -either way you still have the milk, the let down and the pumping or nursing part. 

On an aside, if I would have been able to continue BFing dd, I would not have chosen to EP.  It was Soooooo much work EPing 5-6 times a days for 15-20 mins at a time for 10 months.  Toting that pump with me everywhere I went and spending hours a day washing parts and pieces was a total pain.  The only reasons I stuck with it as long as I did was that I was fortunate to have an amazing supply, and to work from home so I could be hooked up a good part of the day and not have it be a big deal.  I think that most likely with dc#2 if I can't BF again I'll go to formula instead.  I don't know how I'd manage all that pumping with a toddler running around too.  Anyway, I'm certainly not trying to tell you what to do or anything, and I realize that everyone has their own reasons for making decisions and everyone has different experiences too.  I just wanted to put out there what my own experience was with EPing because personally, I don't think I really realized what I was getting into when I decided to make the switch. 

Good luck!

Ditto this! 

Josie22

I couldn't BF, and didn't last long pumping. Now, they look like deflated balloons...

I think the difference is from the milk making them bigger, and then the supply leaving.

brittneycc1982

Mine were the same after one baby and I didn't BF her.  With the second I EPed for a couple months and now they are yucky. I do have DD size boobs though.

eacabraham@gmail.com

My opinion is that you're best off making the feeding choice that's right for you, and then investing in some really good bras when you're done using your breasts to feed children. 

abpdjs

aandaw012707:

I couldn't BF at all, and my boobs still changed. They seem to sag a little more and they also got bigger. I think its an inevitable part of pregnancy.

ditto, i didn't bf but my milk did come in and when that happened my boobs got twice as big and than shrank down.  it is unavoidable.

PaigeC1981

acppa:

I EPed and my boobs are flatter and less full than before DS.  

This exactly.