Pregnant or Breastfeeding? Find 8 Tips to Keep Your Breasts From Sagging

What happens to the breasts after pregnancy and lactation varies from woman to woman. For some, breast size is forever increased, while for the majority of others, post-partum breast return to their original, or smaller size. This change in size and the resulting expansion and contraction of the skin surrounding the breast tissue can cause the whole upper chest area to sag.

According to Dr. William T. Stoeckle, “The problem with sagging breasts is usually a combination of two issues: 1. loss of volume to the breast and 2. loss of elasticity of the skin that holds the breast tissue up.” How each woman’s skin holds up to pregnancy is largely determined by genetics, but here are some techniques everyone can apply to help prevent sagging and restore breast skin after pregnancy:

1. Wear the right bra during pregnancy.
You may have to invest in a few different sizes in the course of nine months, so don’t buy a whole bunch in a single size. Instead, be prepared to be fitted each trimester, so that you are properly supported each step of the way. Also consider wearing a light support nighttime bra, to keep your gals in check as you toss and turn in your sleep.

2. Wear the right bra after pregnancy.
If you are nursing, you will probably want to purchase a few nursing bras for easy access. Be prepared for one set of measurements during nursing and a different one after you wean. Your “final” size may not be fully settled until a few months after you wean. Once again, a proper fitting will ensure that you are wearing the right size that offers good support. Sturdy sports bras should always be part of your exercise attire and this is also a great time to experiment with push-up bras and their cleavage-enhancing properties.

3. Gain a moderate amount of weight during pregnancy.
While hormones and milk production are partly responsible for the swelling of breasts, weight gain also increases the fatty tissue in breasts. It is currently recommended that normal weight women gain between 25-35 pounds in pregnancy, so try to stick to that range and minimize huge fluctuations in fatty tissue.

4. Lose the baby weight at a slow pace after pregnancy.
When it comes time to release those pounds back into the ether, go slow. Despite your hurry to get back into pre-baby jeans, your skin’s elasticity is challenged by rapid stretching in either direction. Slow and steady progress gives breast skin more time to recover and repair.

5. Moisturize
Plain cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil, or a wide variety of baby-safe, specially formulated skin moisturizers can aid the elasticity, collagen production and general resilience of breast skin. Combine moisturizing with a little uplifting breast massage to feel perkier instantly. The added bonus is that all that moisture can help to prevent and fade the appearance of stretch marks, too.

6. Exercise
The age-old theory about increasing bust-size by working out the upper chest muscles (such as when you do push-ups or press your palms together while pointing your elbows out to the sides) holds true: larger pecs equals larger-looking, more uplifted breasts. Strengthening your core and back muscles will also give you a big boost by bettering your posture and allowing you to hold yourself taller and appear less saggy.

7. Cold Water
A simple rinse of cold water after a steamy shower helps the skin around the breasts contract and lift. Generations of mothers and grandmothers have used the cold-water rinse as an instant, albeit temporary, breast lift.

8. Acceptance
Perhaps the most unexpected way to get your breasts back after a baby is to accept your new body as yours and therefore beautiful. For some women, the knowledge that they have birthed and nourished a child from their own body is enough to make them feel the saggiest of breasts are actually perky with purpose.

Source: mamiverse