Such a sensitive topic is not only of concern to many women, but also to husbands. After all, it is related to the intimacy between husband and wife and the self-confidence of women, so everyone is very concerned about the perfection of the Sagging breast shape.
For those who fear marriage and childbirth, the mere thought of the wreckage of breastfeeding is enough to dissuade them from breastfeeding. They often believe that breast shape changes are “breastfeeding’s fault.” However, having witnessed the breastfeeding journey of over 6,000 breastfeeding mothers from pregnancy to weaning, lactation coach Sasha can responsibly confirm that breastfeeding affects nipple shape, but it’s not the root cause of sagging.
1. Causes of sagging breasts before pregnancy
1. The breasts are large, with insufficient glandular tissue, loose skin and connective tissue, especially loose suspensory ligaments .
2. Gravity
3. Aging, unstable hormone secretion, atrophy of breast glandular tissue, etc.
2. Different types of breast sagging
Many people say, “My breasts are sagging,” but they don’t know whether they really have sagging breasts or are “forced to sag.” Let’s compare this picture to see what your condition is, so we can have a better understanding and tailor improvements to our condition.
Regenerate this image for a medical lesson and reference, Image have Chinese lables. Regenerate it the same image with english lables. Its just for medical lesson purpose
Thanks for clarifying, Muhammad. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to regenerate the image due to safety restrictions—it likely involved anatomical content that’s flagged even in educational contexts.
If you’re preparing a medical lesson, I can help describe the image in detail or create a labeled diagram using text that outlines the degrees of breast ptosis in English. Would you like a formatted reference chart or a written description you can include in your materials?
Sure , that will be more easy
Perfect, Muhammad. Here’s a clear reference chart you can use for your medical lesson on breast ptosis:
🩺 Degrees of Breast Ptosis (Sagging)
| Profile Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Normal | Nipple is positioned above the inframammary fold (horizontal reference line). |
| Mild Ptosis | Nipple is positioned slightly below the inframammary fold. |
| Moderate Ptosis | Nipple is positioned further below, near the lower contour of the breast. |
| Severe Ptosis | Nipple is positioned well below the inframammary fold, pointing downward. |
You can look at the position of the breast projection and the breast cloud in the picture , and compare it with the outer edge of the base of the breast (the red dot and the balance line), to know whether you are sagging “appearance” or “actually” physiologically. This is very important.
According to the comparison between the position of the milk cloud and the outer edge of the root of the milk cube, it can be divided into:
1. Normal milk formula
Stand naturally, with your breasts above the parallel line of the red dot, and straight up.
2. Slight droop
Stand naturally, and keep the breast projection cloud level with the red dot horizontal line.
3. Moderate drooping
When standing naturally, the milk cloud is 1-3cm below the horizontal line of the red dot, showing a downward trend.
4. Severe sagging
When standing naturally, the breast projection cloud is seriously below the red dot horizontal line, the distance exceeds 3cm.
The core is to compare the relative positions of the milk cloud and the red dot horizontal line.
You who are smart can tell at a glance whether you are “really sagging” or are being “deliberately said to be sagging” by someone with ulterior motives!
3. Changes in milk formula during pregnancy
1. The breasts become larger and heavier
- During pregnancy, due to the changes in hormone levels, the breast tissue of the pregnant woman will further grow and develop, and the pregnant woman seems to have experienced another “puberty”.
- A small number of pregnant mothers will not experience significant changes in breast milk.
- The increase in milk production or the extent of the increase has no obvious relationship with postpartum lactation ability.
- The size of breasts is related to genetics, nutrition and development.
- The fullness of breast milk depends on the fat content in it.
2. The color of the milk cloud becomes darker
- The originally pink and soft breasts become increasingly rough due to hormone fluctuations.
- The area of the milk cloud becomes larger and the color becomes darker, with a significant color difference from the skin surface of the milk square.
- The closer it gets to delivery, the more prepared the breast milk production becomes.
- The bumpy ” Montenegro gland openings ” on the milk cloud release a smell similar to amniotic fluid, making it easier for newborns to successfully “find their way” to their mothers as soon as they are born.
3. Breast milk becomes painful and sensitive
- Intermittent painful stimulation
- Increased milk secretion on the milking surface
4. Causes of postpartum breast sagging
- During pregnancy and lactation, breasts become larger, excessive fat accumulates, and the frequent stretching and contraction of the skin’s connective tissue causes relaxation, and the suspensory ligaments become longer and longer.
- After weaning, the mammary glands atrophy, and the suspensory ligaments, which no longer have any elasticity or retraction ability, are unable to support the original upright shape of the nipples. The skin surface becomes increasingly loose, and under the effect of gravity, it will only sag.
5. Breastfeeding does not cause sagging breasts
in conclusion:
- It is pregnancy, not breastfeeding, that causes changes in milk formula after childbirth.
- If you don’t breastfeed, your breasts will sag.
- Pregnancy hormones cause your breasts to grow larger and your skin to tighten in preparation for milk production during labor and delivery. This doesn’t change whether you plan to breastfeed or not.
- In other words, no matter whether you breastfeed or not after giving birth, the hormone fluctuations during pregnancy will cause the milk to “expand”!
- Active breastfeeding can promote uterine repair, reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and help lose weight.
6. Methods to prevent postpartum breast sagging
1. Diet during pregnancy
A low-fat, low-sugar, high-protein diet, avoid greasy soups
2. Supplementation of collagen and other nutrients
Vitamin B and an appropriate amount of vitamin E can reduce the relaxation of skin connective tissue and the occurrence of weak suspensory ligament support.
3. Wear supportive underwear that fits the right size
Provide sufficient support for breast-feeding formulas and adapt to changes in breast-feeding formulas during pregnancy
7. How to adhere to breastfeeding and keep breast milk from sagging
1. Choose the right feeding method
❶ Deeply suck the breast, with chest against chest, belly against belly, and chin close to the nipple, so that the baby can absorb more milk and effectively absorb more milk.
❷ If the baby is shallowly latched and always holds the nipple in his mouth to feed, over time, the nipple will “slowly wither like a blooming flower” and be covered with white spots, white blisters, ulcers and other wounds.
2. Repair promptly after damage
❶Once edema or pain occurs, you should immediately use Muqing Breast Pads for “essence-type” remedies (without affecting breastfeeding).
❷ Otherwise, the damaged nipple will restrict the removal of milk, and the baby will pull it hard and drag it hard, thereby stretching the nipple skin and causing it to become loose.
3. Don’t feed for a long time
❶Some mothers who have little milk and want to increase their milk production blindly hang their babies on their bodies to feed them, thinking that this will “allow more milk to be removed and secreted.”
❷ In fact, hanging feeding will only lead to ineffective sucking; disrupt the baby’s normal routine of eating, sleeping and playing; make yourself tired; and cause nipple edema, which makes it even harder for milk to come out.
4. Stick to chest expansion exercises and raise your arms and swing them down
Simple exercises after childbirth can not only exercise the pectoralis major muscles, but also improve metabolism and make the breasts firm and shapely.
5. Wear professional “pregnancy and breastfeeding bras”
Since breast size increases by two cup sizes during pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is recommended that you choose a breastfeeding bra that is non-wired, supportive, elastic, and of the right size. It can support the breasts, relieve pressure on the suspensory ligaments, and reduce the risk of milk blockage and sagging.
6. Don’t wean abruptly
Cliff-like weaning will keep the mammary glands in a swollen state for a long time; the milk ducts will expand extremely; the nipples will be as large as possible; and then they will drop rapidly in a short period of time, causing the mammary glands to shrink rapidly, and the fat will not have time to fill back, accelerating the shrinkage and sagging.
7. Enhance skin elasticity
If your nipple skin is well-tended and stretchable, you can use Muqing Botanical Repair Cream to care for and prevent it from the beginning of pregnancy to increase moisturizing properties and friction. However, do not apply it during the second and third trimesters, especially avoid contact with the nipple.
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