How to Reshape Your Breasts After Breastfeeding?

The breasts are held in shape due to the attachment of Cooper ligaments to the muscles. As a mother, you may want to improve the shape of your breasts once you have weaned off your baby. After looking at those pre-pregnancy images, you may want to look your best and will do everything possible to get back in shape. Once you start breastfeeding, your breasts may sag, and they won’t have the wonderful shape you loved. But there is no need to worry. In this article, we shall help you understand ways to reshape your breasts post the weaning period of your baby. Reshaping the breasts can help restore their firmness, symmetry, and youthful appearance, boosting self-esteem and enhancing body confidence. It allows women to regain a sense of physical and emotional well-being, embracing their post-breastfeeding bodies with pride. Here is what you can do to improve the shape of your breasts after breastfeeding.

Why Do Your Breasts Sag After Breastfeeding?

New mothers often associate saggy breasts with breastfeeding; however, that is not true. It is the end of pregnancy which causes the breasts to start sagging. The additional weight that new mothers put on during pregnancy for enlarged milk ducts starts reducing once the breasts start shrinking. The breasts are deflated, combined with a reduction in the pregnant woman’s body weight. Apart from breastfeeding, there could be other reasons leading to the saggy appearance of your breasts.

Easy Ways to Reshape Your Breasts After Breastfeeding

There are various ways to change the shape of your breasts after breastfeeding, and some of them are discussed below

1. Shower

Take alternate showers, but not a shower every alternate day. The key is to change the temperature of the water when you shower. This is a simple technique to gradually improve the strength and tone of the breasts and infuse them with life. Using this technique of alternating hot and cold water continuously during your showers can stimulate blood circulation, especially in your breasts. This will cause them to perk up and stay firm. However, this technique will only have a temporary effect and will not permanently reshape your breasts.

2. A Proper Bra With a Proper Posture

Sagging of the breasts is what most women feel bad about once they wean their child from breastfeeding. All it takes to help reverse the changes is to use the right supportive bra and hold yourself properly right from the initial stages. You might have to replace your old bras with newer ones, or even opt for sports bras to get better support and shape. Furthermore, as you constantly hold and feed your child, your posture changes and is slightly bent forward. Correct it, and also correct your breastfeeding technique.

3. Massage Your Breasts

Breastfeeding provides a lot of stimulation to your breasts, but weaning leaves them with barely any stimulation at all. Massaging your breasts can help your breasts counter that in a better way. The various techniques ensure that your breasts receive stimulation from all directions, causing the blood circulation to revitalise and support the breast tissues in their repair and regrowth. Using olive oil or almond oil can cut down the sagging effect, and the massages can infuse strength in the muscles, helping them hold themselves together.

4. Natural Breast Creams

One of the popular ways most women use to counter the changes in their breasts post the breastfeeding stage is natural creams and supplements. Made from fenugreek or palmetto, these creams are known to have some interesting properties that affect the skin and muscle tissue in various ways. Applying these on a regular basis tightens up the skin effectively and results in a texture that is smooth and firm breasts. Additionally, fenugreek cream is known to work wonders in keeping the shape and size of the breasts intact. In any case, it is best to talk to your doctor before you begin using them.

5. A Proper Diet

Your diet during pregnancy, and while you were breastfeeding would be different from the diet you must be following now. Whatever you eat, you must remember to include food in your diet that improves the muscle tone, make your skin supple, and combat the elastic skin by tightening it. For this, you must include food items that are rich in Vitamin B and Vitamin E, as they improve skin tone. Apart from that, you must cut down on the consumption of animal-based food items that are rich in fats. These can add weight to your breasts but reduce their suppleness.

6. Specific Body Exercises

No matter what you eat, your breasts won’t return to their normal shape if you don’t exercise. Doing the right exercises is the easiest and most convenient way to get your breasts firm and in shape naturally. Technically, breasts are simply layers of fat, so you can’t shape them directly. However, various muscles underneath them work to hold them up properly and keep your posture upright. Those are the muscles that need to be worked upon, which will consequently improve your breasts’ visual appeal. It is best to opt for exercises focusing on your core and chest region, such as push-ups, dumbbell pullovers, and chest presses. Start with light weights and build your strength gradually. Get a good gym trainer and talk to your doctor before starting these exercises.

7. Surgical Enhancement Techniques

This should ideally be your last resort and chosen only if you are unhappy with how your breasts look. Even so, it is highly recommended to use every other natural method mentioned above for a substantial period of time and opt for surgical enhancement if their results are not up to the mark. Due to medical advancements, there are better enhancement methods that give your breasts a natural feel and look even after the surgery. There can be numerous surgical procedures and a clear choice of choosing shape and size you’d like. Make sure you research the procedure well and choose an experienced plastic surgeon before proceeding with the surgical enhancement.

8. Cold and Hot Compresses

Using cold and hot compresses on your breasts can help stimulate blood circulation, tone the skin, and promote breast tissue rejuvenation. Cold compresses can help tighten the skin and reduce swelling. In contrast, hot compresses can increase blood flow and promote collagen production, improving the breast tissue’s elasticity and firmness. Start by applying a cold compress, such as a cold towel or ice pack, to your breasts for a few minutes, then after some time, switch to a warm compress, such as a warm towel or a heating pad, for a similar duration. 

9. Chest Wrapping or Binding

Chest wrapping or binding is a traditional technique that can help reshape the breasts naturally. It involves using a supportive cloth or bandage to wrap around the chest, providing gentle compression and support to the breast tissue. This method can help lift and tighten the breasts, reducing sagging and promoting a more desirable shape. Select a soft and stretchable fabric or a specially designed chest binding garment to do this. Wrap the cloth or bandage around your chest, ensuring it’s snug but not too tight to restrict circulation or cause discomfort. You can wear it for a few hours each day, gradually increasing the duration as your breasts adjust to the pressure.

Are There Any Long-Term Benefits of These Breast Reshaping Methods?

Natural techniques can start showing their effect over a few months and take their time to reach their peak. The choice of going ahead with a particular method to make your breasts firm and in proper shape depends on your willpower and the amount of time and money you are willing to invest.

Exercise, creams, and dietary changes can help shape your breasts properly. Your breasts may not return to the shape that you had before your pregnancy, but these methods would improve the stretched and saggy breasts after breastfeeding. However, if you are particular about your body image and willing to go the extra mile, opting for a surgical enhancement might be the right choice.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to understand the costs that come with the freedom to choose how you’d want your breasts to look. The effect of breast augmentation on a consecutive pregnancy and any effects on your body, as well as a repeat procedure, would all have to be considered before making your final decision.

While the chance of your breasts returning to the way they were before is nearly impossible. There is a good chance of them reaching a state that is pretty good for your age and your body. Knowing how to get fuller breasts after breastfeeding naturally can help you get started on the right note and help you get into those gorgeous dresses to show off your amazing body again.

References/Resources:

1. Anatomy, Thorax, Breast; NIH; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519575/

2. Rinker. B, Veneracion. M, Walsh. CP; Breast ptosis: causes and cure; NIH; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20354434/; May 2010

3. Normal changes in your breasts; the women’s the royal women’s hospital; https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/breast-health/normal-changes-in-your-breasts

4. Physical Changes and Concerns; PH18publications; https://apps.sd.gov/ph18publications/secure/publications/newbeginnings-week13-21.pdf

5. The Breast During Pregnancy and Lactation; FIGO; https://www.glowm.com/section-view/item/304#

6. What causes saggy breasts?; https://www.cadoganclinic.com/ask-the-expert/body-and-breast/what-causes-saggy-breasts

Also Read:

Common Breast Changes After Delivery
How to Deal with Breast Engorgement?
Breast Pain After Stopping Breastfeeding