How much did your breasts grow?!

Karenpreggo · April 2016

FTM here. I havent noticed any change in my bra size since getting pregnant, EDD end of May. Im a 36C, maybe a little smaller actually since pregnancy - or my belly is causing an optical illusion. I ordered 2 nursing bras - one in a M that fits a 36C (a range, 36C is toward the top) and one in a large where 36C is the low end of the size range. They came in the mail yesterday and I cant imagine the large will ever fit - it looks massive on me! Do I hang onto it until my milk (hopefully) comes in or exchange for another medium now? STMs, how much did your breasts change with nursing?

mmemartinez · April 2016

I'm probably not a good example
because my rib cage and my breasts get bigger when pregnant. After the baby came my ribcage went down but not my breasts. They are bigger when the milk comes in. So it's hard to say, especially since you didn't have any size change. I personally would hang on to it if you can wait a bit and exchange it later if you need to.

Dasha420 · April 2016

How much did my breasts grow?

How about NONE! Those suckers better produce milk is all I'm saying.

proudparent2b · April 2016

My breasts are still the same size too! I've been debating either buying a cup size up or waiting until my milk comes in. Since you have options at both sizes, why not just hang on to both and not remove the tags so you can decide once your milk comes in?

Bellodomani · April 2016

I would keep the larger one- in my experience by about 8 weeks your milk supply regulates and your breasts end up about the size they were in late pregnancy, but you'll want something comfortable to wear during the early days of engorgement. For me, I go from about a 30C not pregnant, to a 32D pregnant, to a 32DD or larger in the early days of nursing. And then until my son was about 8 or 9 months and eating more solids, I settled in at like a 30 or 32D.

And then I weaned and my boobs turned into like sad ziploc bags half full of pudding. Can't wait for that again!

Karenpreggo · April 2016

Dasha420 said:

How much did my breasts grow?

How about NONE! Those suckers better produce milk is all I'm saying.

THATS EXACTLY MY WORRY. They've been an inconvenience my whole adult life and now that they could have a real use, if they dont.... argh.

tripledaggerWed95976 · April 2016

Mine went from B cups to C cups in my first trimester, they haven't grown since. I am 11 days post partum and breastfeeding and still a 36C

artteacher19 · April 2016

Karenpreggo said:

Dasha420 said:

How much did my breasts grow?

How about NONE! Those suckers better produce milk is all I'm saying.

THATS EXACTLY MY WORRY. They've been an inconvenience my whole adult life and now that they could have a real use, if they dont.... argh.

We took a breastfeeding class with a lactation consultant from our hospital, and she assured the group that breast size has no indication or correlation to milk production! So I wouldn't worry too much. Mine haven't really changed much either, but I'm pretty big at 36D as it is.

mello13 · April 2016

With DS I went from a B to a C. With this round I went from a C to a D to a DD with engorgement. I'd hold on to the large in case you need it.

kbrands7 · April 2016

Mine have been ridiculous through pregnancy and nursing; it's fairly standard for the women in my family though. When I was pregnant with DS, I started as a 34B. Third trimester I was a 34DD, then by the time my milk regulated (about 6 weeks in or so post partum) I was a 34DDD. I weaned while pregnant this time and temporarily decreased to a 34DD then. Now I'm at a full 34G. I'm expecting to be an H when my milk regulates this time.

It's different for everyone, but I'd suggest planning on a fairly stretchy bra for at least the first month as your size my change more. Also, even with each feeding, each breast can potentially go from being over-full in the cup size before feeding, to barely filling the cup size after feeding.

khochanadel · April 2016

Mine did not change during pregnancy or now that I am nursing twins. Been able to wear my 34B bras this whole time. That was the one symptom I was looking guard to.

ayeshaohara · April 2016

im so jealous of everyone. I went from F cup to K cup by the end of pregnancy. My nursing bra is enormous. I'm not kidding I probably went up about 3 cups when my milk came in...I'm dying. I'm pumping 200ml in one sitting currently! (Oh and I'm a 34 back size)

kbrands7 · April 2016

@ayeshaohara I sympathize! I had similar growth and output (though I started smaller). That much growth can really mess with your back muscles and your wardrobe! The larger cup/smaller band bras are much more difficult to find too.

proudparent2b · May 2016

@ayeshaohara I'm naturally a 36H, although my bump is so big now that my breasts actually look small for the first time ever. I'd be surprised if I don't hit a K cup by the time my milk comes in.

gamommyx3 · May 2016

@proudparent2b @ayeshaohara @kbrands7 my back hurts just reading your posts...

I started at 38D & am now at 42DD. Curious to see what will happen if this baby ever decides to emerge.

mommar13 · May 2016

With DS, I went from a 34C pre pregnancy, stayed about the same throughout my pregnancy, then shot up to a 36F when my milk came in and stayed there the entire time I was breastfeeding. Then I went down to a 34B when we weaned. With this pregnancy I'm already up to a 36D/DD depending on the bra so I'm assuming that I'm going to be bigger this time when my milk comes in.

kitandcat · May 2016

B to a C! Most of it happened early on, so they actually feel tiny now because my bump is so big! I'm wondering what will change during breastfeeding and once all is said and done :-) I have a couple nursing bras that are a little big just in case!

katxattack1212 · May 2016

A to C this time, but with my first, B to D. I engorged like a crazy person, but was back down to a C shortly after.
I liked just stretchy bras that didn't have a set cup size. And...grab a couple extenders. You never know!

vinerie · May 2016

I lost some weight before getting pg and went from a 38 C to a 36C. While pg, my 38C bras have been fine. I don't feel any discomfort in wearing them, so I'm not sure what to do, either, about nursing bras. I bought all these new, pretty bras after losing weight...I sure hope I get to wear them again

rlworzalla · May 2016

I started at a 36B and am now a 36C. I think my belly makes them look smaller. DH said they really grew but I don't see it and compared to some of the stories here I apparently didn't grow much!

amberraysofdawn · May 2016

I went from a 36C pre-pregnancy to a 40B now. No idea what I'll be postpartum/when my milk comes in, but I'm holding onto a couple of 40Cs and 38Cs that I have on hand (the 38 band is too tight and the cups are a little too big right now; the 40 band fits great but it has even bigger cups).

buffythevampireslayer · May 2016

I was just fitted for a nursing bra. It's a 34L. There's a little "room to grow" for when my milk comes in. I didn't really know that size existed. Prior to pregnancy I was a 32E. I don't even know if you jump through all the letters from E to L? But I'm terrified about what is going to happen when my milk comes in!

ayeshaohara · May 2016

zasinger said:

I was just fitted for a nursing bra. It's a 34L. There's a little "room to grow" for when my milk comes in. I didn't really know that size existed. Prior to pregnancy I was a 32E. I don't even know if you jump through all the letters from E to L? But I'm terrified about what is going to happen when my milk comes in!

Basically exactly like me...your boobs are going to hurt and the only thing you can do is feed/pump to try and keep them not too full. I'm pumping every 2 hours currently

buffythevampireslayer · May 2016

@ayeshaohara I'm already pretty worried about that...all I can do at this point as make sure I have lots of help when it gets tough! The baby is due May 16th so we'll see how it goes when she arrives. I hope breastfeeding is going well for you!

ayeshaohara · May 2016

zasinger said:

@ayeshaohara I'm already pretty worried about that...all I can do at this point as make sure I have lots of help when it gets tough! The baby is due May 16th so we'll see how it goes when she arrives. I hope breastfeeding is going well for you!

It's been very tough to be honest. The best advice I can give you is to make your priority feeding your baby, not necessarily breastfeeding them. Have some premixed formula ready to go as well in case you run into trouble overnight where you're so engorged baby can't latch (happened to me). And even if you get a lactation consultant in the hospital, see one when your milk comes in too...I had no issue until my milk came in. I had to change my hold position twice to try and accommodate my size. Currently I primarily pump every 2-3 hours and put her on the boob 1-2 times per day usually in the evening when she's unsettled. It's working really well now. We're both less stressed this way!! I was worried too but I promise you'll find a way to make it work that suits you and baby! Good luck