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World Breastfeeding Week 2021: Breastfeeding Leads To Breast Sagging- How To Deal With It

World Breastfeeding Week 2021: Breastfeeding Leads To Breast Sagging- How To Deal With It

If you are breastfeeding your new-born child, you may notice your breasts sagging. On World Breastfeeding Week, we reveal a few tips to deal with this.

Written by Editorial Team |Updated : August 3, 2021 12:13 PM IST

Breast feeding is warmth, divine nourishment nurturing and love, all rolled into one. So, it is rightly said that 'Breastfeeding is a mother's gift to herself, her baby and the earth'. Many women avoid breastfeeding because they are concerned about the negative impact on the appearance of the breasts. This is not true. In fact, research has shown that breast feeding doesn't negatively affect breast size or volume and is not a risk factor for sagging breasts after pregnancy.

Causes of breast sagging while breastfeeding

Factors which contribute to the sagging of breasts during breastfeeding are -

  1. Your body goes through hormonal changes during pregnancy. Due to added weight of the bust stretching of cooper's ligaments (ligaments that help attach breasts to chest muscles and hold them in position) and loss of skin elasticity during pregnancy, you may notice a sagging of breasts after childbirth. The risk of sagging increase with each pregnancy and this happens irrespective of whether the baby is breastfed or not
  2. Women who have larger breasts are more vulnerable to the effect of gravity
  3. Multiple pregnancies increase the risk of sagging irrespective of breast feeding
  4. Smoking contributes to breast sagging as nicotine breaks down elastin (a protein which maintains elasticity of skin and helps the skin to stretch and recover)
  5. Other causes which can lead to breast sagging include ageing, collagen deficiency, estrogen deficiency, over exposure to sun, increased BMI and rapid weight loss

A few tips to help you deal with this

So, a bit of sag is inevitable but to maintain optimal breast health during pregnancy & lactation, following tips may prove useful.

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  • Increase in breast size can strain the supporting ligaments. A correctly fitting, supporting bra is important to counteract the effect of gravity and to provide support. After weaning the baby, breasts decrease in mass and size. A well-fitting bra is useful in maintaining breast shape.
  • Maintain healthy weight- slow weight loss after childbirth helps the body to adapt. Losing half a kg per week is adequate.
  • Eating a well-balanced diet with adequate protein, promotes healthy collagen production and keeps to maintain health of the skin.
  • Foods rich in antioxidants including fruits and green leafy vegetables help to detox and maintain the integrity and appearance of the skin
  • Boost estrogen production- Add soy, flaxseeds, tofu and other foods containing phytoestrogens to your diet to maintain volume of breasts.
  • Regular breast massage helps to increase blood flow and cellular growth
  • Stay hydrated- Drink 2-3 litres of water per day. Hydration keeps your skin healthy and plump.
  • Limit dehydrating beverages like tea, coffee, aerated drinks and alcohol.
  • Protect yourself from UV rays of the sun- wear high protection sunscreen to protect your skin and maintain skin's elasticity
  • Moisturize and exfoliate your skin
  • Include regular physical activity. Consider adding chest presses, push ups and strength training to your exercise routine.
  • Practise good posture
  • Wean off your baby slowly.

All the above factors help to maintain the appearance of breasts.

(This article is authored by Dr Lovleena Nadir, Rosewalk hospital)