What Happens to Your Breasts and Nipples After Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?

Following pregnancy and breastfeeding, there are several changes that can affect your breasts and nipples. Whether they occur and their severity vary depending on a number of factors.

• Common breast and nipple changes include:
• Increased size of both the breast and nipples
• A change in position, perhaps sitting lower on the chest
• Stretch marks
• Darkening of the areola
• More visible veins

For many women, changes to their breasts after breastfeeding and pregnancy can lead to self-consciousness and a loss of confidence. This may result in them feeling less comfortable participating in activities such as swimming or not wanting to wear revealing clothing around the chest.

There are a number of non-surgical and surgical solutions which can address post partum breast and nipple concerns, restoring confidence and quality of life at a time women want to be focusing on their family. 

Why do Breasts and Nipples Change After Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?

Changes to the breasts and nipples begin very early on during pregnancy. Before milk is even produced, increases in the hormones oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin cause the milk ducts to expand and blood flow to the breasts to increase. This results in the size of the breasts increasing and the veins becoming more visible.

Throughout pregnancy, your body produces the hormone relaxin, which loosens the joints and tissues to create more space within the body. This enables the growth of the baby and also prepares your body for childbirth. Relaxin also loosens the Cooper’s ligaments which support the breast tissue. This expands the space within the breasts to allow for milk production. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the breasts can increase by two to three times in size.

Hormone changes also prepare the nipples for breastfeeding. This includes increasing the size of the nipples and the colour darkening.

The loosening of the ligaments and skin, and the temporary increase in breast size to allow for milk production can result in the skin becoming stretched and the breasts changing position. Many women feel they have droopy breasts after breastfeeding and that their breasts look deflated, especially if they have had multiple pregnancies. 

Can You Prevent Changes to the Nipples and Breasts after Breastfeeding and Pregnancy?

Unfortunately, many of the changes that affect breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding are natural, and it isn’t possible to prevent hormonal changes that are necessary to enable crucial elements of pregnancy.

Every pregnancy and breastfeeding journey is different, and some women will find that their breasts respond differently to changes affecting their breasts and nipples after breastfeeding. This can depend on several factors including:

• Age
• Genetics
• Weight changes
• How many times you have been pregnant
• Original breast size
• Lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet and smoking

Although you may not be able to prevent changes to your breasts and nipples, such as saggy boobs after breastfeeding completely, there are steps you can take to limit how severely the changes affect you. 

Wearing the right bra

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, your breast skin and tissue is more delicate and prone to damage. Wearing a bra which isn’t the right size or type for pregnancy and breastfeeding, may mean your breasts aren’t properly supported which may exacerbate breast sagging after breastfeeding.

Wearing a well-fitting supportive bra will also prevent pain and discomfort to your nipple after nursing. You may need to change your bra size multiple times during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and it can take 3-6 months following stopping breastfeeding for your breasts to settle into a consistent size, shape and position.

Looking after your breast skin and nipples

Keeping your skin moisturised throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding will help to maintain the skin’s flexibility, which may help to reduce the amount the skin stretches.

Some women also find that their experience dry skin and nipples which can be uncomfortable and may make breastfeeding difficult. In some cases, a breastfeeding nipple may also crack and bleed. If you are experiencing nipple damage from breastfeeding, speak with your midwife or a breastfeeding specialist who will be able to guide you on the appropriate treatment. 

Be patient

Although it can be difficult to be kind to yourself, it is important to remember that the changes you are experiencing are natural and part of pregnancy and breastfeeding. It can take 3-6 months for your boobs after breastfeeding to settle into their final size and shape. During this time, you may notice further changes in size and shape which take time to resolve on their own. 

Does Bottle Feeding Prevent Breast and Nipple Changes?

Although bottle feeding means that you aren’t producing milk for as long as if you are breastfeeding, your body will still go through the same hormonal changes, resulting in the skin stretching and the breasts increasing in size. Therefore, bottle feeding may not prevent breast and nipple changes.

It is important to speak to your midwife or a breastfeeding specialist about different feeding options and what will suit you and your baby best. 

How To Treat Breast and Nipple Changes After Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

There are many non-surgical and surgical options which can address the changes affecting your breasts and nipples after breastfeeding and pregnancy. Before you make any decisions about any treatments or procedures, speak with your midwife or doctor to ensure you have fully recovered from pregnancy and childbirth. You may also need to have stopped breastfeeding for a certain amount of time before some procedures are suitable.

Exercise

Exercise may help restore breast shape and position for women who are experiencing minor skin stretching or breast sagging following pregnancy or childbirth.

By strengthening the underlying muscles, the chest will become more toned, which can lift the breast position.  

Focus on weight and strength training, including exercises such as:

• Weighted chest press
• Bench press
• Incline or decline push-ups
• Cable crossovers
• Plank
• Cable row

Other interventions may be required in cases where the skin has stretched more significantly and the breasts are sagging more. 

Radiofrequency Microneedling

This non-surgical treatment can lift and tone the breast tissue by increasing collagen production and tightening the underlying muscles. Numbing cream is applied to the area. The skin is penetrated with small needles at the same time as radiofrequency (thermal) energy is applied. The combination of Microneedling and Radiofrequency stimulates the tissues’ healing responses, stimulating the production of collagen and new skin cells. This results in the toning and tightening of the skin, giving a lifted appearance to the breasts.

Radiofrequency Microneedling is an effective option for women experiencing minor-moderate skin stretching or breast sagging. For more extensive breast sagging, surgical options may be more appropriate. 

Breast Augmentation With Implants

For women who are concerned their breasts look deflated following pregnancy and breastfeeding, breast implants are an effective method to fill the space that has been left. This results in a fuller, rounder appearance. Breast implants are available in various shapes and sizes, and your consultant will be able to advise on the best option for you, depending on the results you hope to achieve.  

Breast Augmentation with implants is a suitable procedure for women who are concerned about having deflated breasts with stretched skin. This may not be the most appropriate solution for women who are worried about significant sagging. 

Natural Breast Augmentation (Fat Transfer to Breasts)

For women who don’t wish to have breast implants, Breast Augmentation can also be achieved through Fat Transfer. This involves fat being extracted from various areas of the body using Liposuction before it is processed and reinjected into the breast. This achieves a more natural result than breast implants but avoids concerns such as having to replace implants in the years following the procedure.

Fat Transfer to the Breasts is an effective solution for women worried about skin stretching and the breasts looking slightly deflated. However, the results will not be as dramatic as those of breast implants, and this is something you should discuss with your surgeon during your consultation. 

Breast Uplift (Mastopexy)

Breast Uplift is a surgical procedure which adjusts the position of the breasts, lifting them higher on the chest. The procedure involves removing excess skin and manipulating breast tissue into a more flattering, lifted position.

As a stand-alone procedure, Mastopexy does not change the size of the breasts, and removing the excess tissue may make them appear smaller. However, breast implants can be included in Breast Uplift – known as Augmented Mastopexy – to increase the size of the breasts as part of the same procedure.

Mastopexy is a suitable procedure for any woman who is concerned about having stretched skin or sagging breasts following pregnancy and breastfeeding and is a popular choice for addressing these concerns.

Nipple Reduction

Although some women find that their nipples after breastfeeding return to their pre-pregnancy size and shape, this is not the case for everyone. For women whose nipple after breastfeeding and pregnancy remain enlarged, Nipple Reduction is a straightforward procedure which can be performed under local anaesthetic. This results in smaller nipples, which are more proportionate to the rest of the breast.

Nipple Reduction can be combined with other breast procedures or be carried out as a standalone surgery, depending on your concerns and desired results.

Mummy Makeover

For many women, their breasts are not the only area which may be affecting their confidence following pregnancy and breastfeeding. Loose skin around the abdomen or cosmetic gynaecological concerns are also common. A Mummy Makeover is a bespoke combination of procedures designed to address aesthetic and functional concerns arising through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Popular procedures to include in Mummy Makeover include:

• Breast Augmentation
• Breast Uplift
• Augmented Mastopexy
• Abdominoplasty
• Labiaplasty
• Vaginoplasty
• Liposuction

During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss your concerns and develop the most suitable surgical plan to achieve your desired results. 

When Is the Best Time to Fix Breast and Nipple Concerns Following Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?

Although it can be very appealing to find solutions to your concerns following pregnancy and breastfeeding as soon as possible, you will need to consider a number of factors. Although getting pregnant and breastfeeding after breast surgery is safe, you may find that the skin stretches and the breasts sag again. For this reason, your surgeon will suggest making sure you have finished your family before undergoing any surgical procedures such Mummy Makeover.

Depending on the techniques used during your breast surgery, you may not be able to breastfeed following surgery. You should discuss this with your surgeon during your consultation, and they may suggest finishing your breastfeeding journey before undergoing any surgical breast procedures.

Your surgeon may also suggest waiting 3-6 months after you have finished breastfeeding before you have any breast or nipple surgery. Your breasts and nipples will still be changing shape and position in this time and it is important that your breasts have settled into their ultimate shape and position to ensure you achieve the best results. It can also take time for your hormone levels to settle and your nipple after nursing to return to their previous shape and size. 

In Summary

There are several natural changes which occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding and affect the breasts and nipples. Although they are often not preventable, there are a number of non-surgical and surgical options to address these concerns, resulting in an improved quality of life and increased confidence at a time when a woman wants to be focusing on her family. 

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