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3rd Trimester
RDK24
member
Breasts aren't bigger/milk production
RDK24
member
Popping in from 2nd tri/July 2013 ...
Saw my doc today and mentioned that nearly all my old bras still fit ... I haven't jumped up a cup size or two like many women do by now (I'm 21 weeks). She said it's nothing to worry about but good studies do show that when this happens it can mean you'll have decreased milk production and it can be a challenge to breastfeed.
Just looking for some anecdotal evidence here ... did anyone have an increase in breast size come later? BTDT moms who've had this issue: were you able to successfully breastfeed? I am hoping to do so. TIA.This discussion has been closed.
Re: Breasts aren't bigger/milk production
Dude, do NOT stress over this. That is stupid advice for her to give. Chances are your milk bags will runneth over by about 3days postpartum. No need to worry until then.
eta: I bf until 20 months with zero supplementing and I don't remember a substantial boob grow
Layne-May 6, 2013
Callie-February 14, 2011
Ha thanks, good to hear. I've been feeling bummed all morning that I'm going to have a problem nursing. I know I've still got plenty of time left, just seems like most pregnant women have bigger boobs by now and mine are the same (they look a little different, but size-wise they're the same). Thanks again.
Just read your edit -- thanks, that makes me feel much better.
My boobs never got bigger until AFTER the baby and the milk came in several days later. Then they swelled up big time, then evened out.
With this pregnancy I'm 6 days away from my due date and still have small boobs. No worries....
Sounds like your OB has zero BFing experience. What she told you is simply not true.
Anyway, my boobs didn't change an ounce during pregnancy. Didn't even change after pregnancy. (Unless I was engorged) To this day I am in the same bra size I was in 4 years ago. DD was exclusively BFed until 6 and a half months and continued BFing until she self weaned at 32 months.
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
My BFP Chart
No correlation at all. I am small chested and a STM. First time, they didn't get bigger at all. Sucked. I thought I'd finally be all buxom. Nope. But then when my milk came in after DD#1 was born, they did get bigger due to the milk. And it went away again after nursing was less frequent.
I had great production, no issues, and nursed DD#1 until she was 22 mos and really only stopped because I was pg with this one (and she was half-self-weaning/down to one a day at that point.)
Your OB hasn't got a clue.
Take a BF class if one is offered--sounds like you could use some good info from an expert who knows what she is talking about. I had one through my hospital first time and it was great. Good luck!
Yeah, like others said, don't worry about this. I am a FTM, but everything I have read and learned in my childbirth class indicate that some women's breasts don't grow ahead of time and some do. The only thing my class instructor said is that women who have underdeveloped breasts and zero breast/nipple changes have a higher occurrence of supply issues.
No use in worrying about this issue now, your OB shouldn't have said anything like that. Count yourself lucky. . . it has been a huge pain to try to find bras to keep up with my inflating boobs. I wish that I still fit into my original bras.
::MyBlog::
***Twin fraternal girls born at 35w6d in 12/2008***
That's just bunk.
Mine didn't change one bit during pregnancy. With my first baby, I think I had enough milk to feed 3-4 babies. It was insane! I leaked all the time for the first 6 months and was regularly engorged.
To me, there is ZERO connection between larger size and milk supply / production / etc. I've met women three times my size in that department who had lots of problems and low supply.
SAHM to two sweet girls, both born at home; Baby #3 in 2013!
IGT (insufficient glandular tissue) has nothing to do with the size of your breasts. I am an E cup, but have IGT. I was only able to produce about a 50% supply with the help of a hospital grade pump, an IBCLC, and every supplement/med under the sun.
While it is true that lack of breast changes during pregnancy can be an early warning sign, there are many women who are able to EBF who have no changes. Diagnosing IGT is more about a group of characteristics, as opposed to one specific thing. If you have these characteristics, then I would be much more concerned and not just blow it off. An IBCLC, experienced with IGT, would be your best resource if you feel concerned after reading this:
https://diaryofalactationfailure.blogspot.com/2011/12/many-faces-well-not-faces-of-igt.html
My breasts are symmetrical, but very widely spaced, somewhat tubular in appearance, and with enormous areolas. I also had no changes in shape, size, or color during pregnancy. I also have PCOS, which puts you at greater risk.
I don't want to alarm people, but, with the increase in insulin resistance, IGT is on the rise. Experts believe that it affects about 5% of women. Also, most women with IGT are able to produce breast milk to some degree -- they just can't EBF.
I hope this helps.
I am a first timer too, but remember...
What matters is your milk ducts, not the amount of fat tissue.
Hmm, I don't know if this will be at all helpful to you, but my breasts did get significantly bigger with my first, and I had supply issues anyway.
I would take others' advice to not worry about it, since worry isn't going to help anyway.
All this. Size has nothing to do w/ production and I'd challenge anyone who drew a parallel. I've never seen or heard of a study that concludes that. You will (very likely) be fine!
Just another anecdotal success story. I was a nearly A with my daughter, and after I had her went up to a C. We EBF'd and continued nursing til she was 2 1/2. I am now about a B, and am 33w pregnant and still wearing my normal bras. I expect to get a bit bigger once the milk comes in, but seriously, I have tiny boobs, and I never lacked on the breast milk front; I expect similar results this time.
Thanks again, you all are so helpful. Hope to see some of you on this board when I make it to 3T and good luck to those about to deliver!
And just to be clear, my OB wasn't saying that size correlates to potential milk production issues, but a lack of change in your breasts while pregnant can correlate. But I'm going to put all that aside for now and not worry -- really appreciate all the input.
Married 1/2/99.
TTC since 4/09.
Diagnosed PCOS. Diagnosed Hypothryoid 11/09.
SHG & SA normal. PCOS Research study started 5/10.
Clomid/Femara cycle #1 - 6/10 = BFN
Clomid/Femara cycle #2 - 7/10 = BFP #1 - Missed miscarriage 9/2/10
11/12 - BFP #2 - 11/22 - m/c
5/1/11 - BFP #3 - Pre-eclampsia, IUGR & bed rest from 32w. DD born via induction 1/4/12.
Since your looking for anecdotal evidence:
My friend's breasts did not increase in size at all. She actually had a really hard time with morning sickness and so they actually got smaller when she lost weight. She gave birth to her twins last week and is successfully pumping every 2 hours with milk squirting everywhere if she's not careful!
Eleanor Gwendolyn