Breasts are an exceptional part of the female body. We all love to take good care of them; we want them to be healthy and look beautiful. What causes changes in our breasts during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and how can sagging and deformation be prevented?
With pregnancy, breast tenderness and enlargement begin. However, there is no connection between saggy boobs enlargement during pregnancy and excess milk production. In other words, there is no rule that milk production will be high in the breast that grows too much during pregnancy.
With the effect of increasing hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin) during pregnancy, growth increases, and milk production begins in the milk ducts. However, again with the inhibition of these hormones, milk secretion does not occur. These hormones are withdrawn from the blood with birth, and milk secretion begins.
The oxytocin hormone secreted from the brain also makes contractions in the muscles around the sacs, transmitting the prepared milk in the mammary canal and giving it out. The most important factor that stimulates oxytocin is the baby's sucking. Even the crying of the baby can cause it.
Benefits of Breastfeeding:
May reduce the risk of breast cancer: Breastfeeding is a factor that can reduce the risk of breast cancer. The longer the breastfeeding period, the lower the risk of breast cancer. Women who have been breastfeeding for at least six months have a 5% lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who do not breastfeed.
May reduce breast tumors: Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast cysts and other non-cancerous tumors.
May reduce breast infections: Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of developing breast infections such as mastitis. Also, breastfeeding can help keep the milk ducts open and thus reduce the risk of mastitis.
Keeps breast tissue healthy: Breastfeeding can help keep breast tissue healthier and less dense. This can reduce the risk of breast cancer.
May enable earlier diagnosis of breast diseases: Breast tissue is softer during breastfeeding and, therefore, may facilitate earlier diagnosis of diseases such as breast cancer.
Causes of Breast Sagging:
It is natural for the breasts to sag after childbirth due to hormonal changes. However, the milk pressure on the breasts during breastfeeding makes the breasts sag less.
You can also help support the sagging breasts better by using natural and supportive corsets or bras. In addition, you can strengthen your chest muscles by exercising regularly.
Small But Effective Methods During Breastfeeding
Let's talk about what we can do step by step;
Avoid leaning forward and tilting your breast toward your baby's mouth while breastfeeding. A pillow that will raise the baby towards your breast will both make your baby comfortable and take a good measure against breast sagging.
Using a good nursing or sports bra to keep your breasts upright will provide the support the breast skin needs.
Consuming less animal food will help prevent breast sagging and be a good measure against changes in breast skin tone during breastfeeding. More whole grains, legumes, green vegetables, and foods rich in B vitamins (eggs, fish, and poultry) and vitamin E (nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables) help maintain skin elasticity and tone.
Altering between hot and cold water in the shower will improve your circulation and skin tone. Finishing your shower with cold water helps tighten your breast skin.
When you plan to wean your baby, doing so gradually will also help re-deposit fatty tissue within the breasts, returning them to their pre-pregnancy appearance.
Breastfeeding helps women lose their pregnancy weight, but if you lose this weight quickly, your skin will not be able to adapt to it, and sagging will occur.
You can have tighter-looking breasts with a proper back posture and exercises to strengthen the chest muscles during and after breastfeeding.
Is Non-Surgical Breast Lift Possible?
Let's look at the exercises you can do to strengthen the pectoral muscles, shall we?
Weightlifting:
This exercise strengthens your arms, chest, and back.
How to do it: Lie on a bench with both feet on the floor. Hold a dumbbell in each hand above your head. Raise your arms, so they are facing the ceiling. Repeat. Push up. Repeat the movements like this.
Push Up:
It's excellent for strengthening the arm, back, and core muscles that aid posture.
How to do it: Put your hands in front of your parallel, facing the floor. You can keep your legs straight or bend your knees. Lower yourself as low as you can, and then push back up. Repeat. Repeat the movements like this.
Chest Press:
The chest press is another exercise that tightens the arms, chest, and back muscles.
How to do it: Sitting at an angle with both feet on the floor, put weight on both hands. stretch your arms.
We must know that most of our breasts will never be the same after breastfeeding. It should not be forgotten that whether women breastfeed or not, their breasts change with age and are more difficult to recover.
Breastfeeding provides many benefits for mothers and babies. Breast milk contains all the nutrients necessary for the healthy growth and development of the baby. In addition, breast milk strengthens the baby's immune system and protects against infections. However, the breastfeeding experience can be different for every woman.
Every woman's body is different, so the breastfeeding process can also vary from person to person. While some mothers have no problems breastfeeding, others may experience problems such as decreased milk production, pain, or infection in the breast.
Therefore, it is vital to have regular breast examinations to maintain breast health during breastfeeding and to consult a healthcare professional immediately if any changes or pain are felt.
Why Breast Examination?
Breast exams are checks to detect any abnormalities or changes in the breast.
Women can also do these checks at home. Performing a breast self-exam can help women detect a severe disease such as breast cancer early.
Therefore, it is recommended that women have regular breast examinations throughout the breastfeeding period.
In addition, during breastfeeding, mothers should learn the correct breastfeeding techniques. Improper breastfeeding techniques can cause breast pain and infection. Therefore, knowing about breastfeeding and applying the proper methods is essential.
As a result, breastfeeding can be a challenging process for a mother, both physically and emotionally. However, taking care of breast health during breastfeeding is vital for a healthy breastfeeding experience. Therefore, it is essential to do regular breast examinations, learn the proper breastfeeding techniques, and consult a healthcare professional immediately when any pain or change is felt to protect the health of breastfeeding mothers.
Make the best choice for yourself for a healthier, stronger future.
How to understand that the breast (breasts) are saggy, and how is the test done?
Of course, breast sagging can be measured by putting a pen under the breast and a bowl under the breast, which is made in Anatolia.
For example, the upper part of the breasts should be slightly rounded, although not fully plump. If the breasts show a flatter appearance instead of a round shape, this is also a sign of sagging.
To test for floppiness, place your hands on your head and examine your breasts by looking at them in the mirror.
Determine the posture and appearance of the breasts as they are in their normal state. Next, put your hands on your hips and look in the mirror again.
If the breasts are lower than their normal position or have a saggy appearance, this is a sign of sagging.
However, the sagging test is only an indicator, and breast sag cannot be measured precisely. The degree of drooping can vary from person to person and can be caused by various factors.
However, solutions such as aesthetic breast surgeries can be considered when the breast reaches a certain degree of sagging. For example, a breast lift is a widely used aesthetic method.
What is a breast lift?
A breast lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure to correct breast sagging. Breast sagging can be caused by aging, breastfeeding, excessive weight gain loss, and in this case, loosening and drooping of the breast tissue and skin occur.
Breast lift surgery is designed to tighten breast tissue and skin and reconstruct breast size and shape.
Breast lift procedures may vary depending on the size, shape, and degree of breast sagging. The surgical procedure usually involves making an incision under the skin to reshape the breast tissue and correct the sagging of the breast. After the surgical procedure, the breasts are lifted higher and appear younger.
A breast lift is usually performed under local or general anesthesia and may require an overnight stay in the hospital. After the surgery, pain, swelling, and bruising are typically seen, and the healing process may take several weeks. In the postoperative period, it is essential to rest, take care of the wound, and use the medications the doctor recommends.
Breast lift is an effective solution to treat sagging breasts. However, like any surgical procedure, it has risks. Therefore, it is essential to consult a plastic surgeon to learn more about breast lift surgery and determine your suitability.