Saggy breasts - silly question

[kumber]

Currently in tri 2 but am getting asked more and more if I'm going to breast or bottle feed. I've been torn from day 1, I really don't know which way to go. I know breast is best in terms of antibodies, bond with baby, etc., BUT the thought of whipping my breast out in public, even in a designated space, makes me so, so uncomfortable. I'm a very prudish person and would honestly prefer to bottle-feed when out and about, at least that's how I feel currently, this may change when bump arrives.

My real concern though is saggy breasts. All the woman in my family that have breastfed, and this includes both blood relations and married-in relations, have all ended up with saggy breasts bar two. The relations who have bottle-fed have remained perky. The thought of saggy breasts make me want to cry, I'm already well-endowed for my body size and really don't want them to be any worse. Even worse would be OH seeing them - we've been together almost 18 months now and I still cringe every time I get my baps out, pregnant or not! I would really struggle to be intimate with him if they went all spaniels' ears on me.

I feel like I'm being so silly with this, can anyone reassure me that the chances of my breasts going saggy is slim?? Or do they normally go saggy for most women?? Help!


Edit -- also just noticed my signature has disappeared, how weird.

.

 

[Pregnot]

I think the saggy breast thing is any pregnancy it's not just coz u breastfeed
your boobs will grow with the pregnancy hormones so regardless of wether u fb or not if ur going to get saggy boobs youl get them regardless.

 

[kumber]

So they're down to pregnancy then? This would explain why some women in my family have saggy breasts and some don't!!

 

[Pregnot]

Yes saggy boobs from Bf is one if then myths there are plenty of people with saggy boobs who haven't bf and plenty that have bf

My boobs are 30 jj and hVe been 'saggy' for years because of the weight of them naturally there's no way they could hold themselves up I bf now and they are no more droopy than they were before just have to get a proper bra when I've finished bf

I think they might have lost abit of fullness at the top but again that's down to weight gain and loss during and post pregnancy.

But bf itself will not be a direct cause to saggy boobs the baby sucks from areola and nipple and doesn't swing off your boobs well not until they start sqeeuzing them like bag pipes about 4 months anyway haha

 

[kumber]

Thanks Pregnot, I feel a bit better about that now, that's something I can cross off the list of cons to bf! Trying to make a list of the values of both, but probably won't decide until I have Riley in my arms as that will probably change how I feel about everything!

 

[Pregnot]

It defo will I was undecided all through pregnancy bought full tommee tippee set as I think I was of mindset that il try bf but prob end up bottle feeding

As soon as he came out I saw him sucking on a towel all I could feel was I need to feed my baby! Everything went out the window after first week that was it I was doing it loving it and didn't want to stop.

There were some days I thought omg how do people get anything done but then u get over it when baby gets weighed and he's thriving off ur milk I got a real sense of pride and achievement from it.
Nearly 6 months now and I don't intend on going much past 6 months because going away for a week without him etc but I am glad I did it and would do it again in a heartbeat

 

[kumber]

We've also bought full set just in case but mom is a health visitor and has said she'll help me with getting him latched on, which has made me feel a bit better because she knows what will work for me better than a mw would.

I think at this point I want to give it a go and ideally want to do a mix of bf and bottle, if only so OH can take over some of the feeds (and the thought of getting a boob out in public makes me cringe!), but I'm trying not to think on it too much and just waiting to see how it goes. Still have a way to go anyway til bump is here so there's plenty of time to think over it more, but I'll get in some lansinoh or whatever that cream is called so I'm prepared for all eventualities!

 

[Belfast girl]

well for sprog no 2 we have been feeding for nearly a year now and am happy to report that I still pass the pencil test!!!

 

[kumber]

Thanks Belfast girl, hopefully I will still pass the pencil test if I bf!

 

[Kirsty.Y.84]

To be honest I think it's to do with how much your breasts grow and whether you get stretch marks.
My breasts got covered in stretch marks during pregnancy and I definitely do not pass the pencil test now! I was a very pert B cup before pregnancy, but stretch marks are obviously damage to the skin so once its stretched that much then its unlikely to go fully back to normal.
I know lots of women that didn't get stretch marks but did breast feed and theirs aren't saggy x

 

[kumber]

Thank Kirsty, I feel a lot more reassured hearing about all of you ladies' experiences, it's helping me be a lot more open-minded than I was before!

 

[Jajis]

I felt really self-concious at the idea of breastfeeding in public before I had my son. Have to say it mostly disappeared once I had a small person dependent on me to feed them! At first I went to a bumps and babies type group so there were other mum's feeding too. It was then that I realised that unless people are actually staring at you as you latch your child they really aren't going to see much, if any, skin.

Some options if you do want to breast feed but don't manage to overcome the uncomfortable feeling about feeding in public:

1) buy a cover - I never had one, but I know they're available and it might make you feel more comfortable

2) express breast milk and give that when you're out and about - it's a faff compared to giving it straight from the boob, and you probably wouldn't want to do it until breastfeeding is established, but it is an option

Good luck, whatever feeding method you choose!

 

[ClimbingRose]

Kumber just butting in here to say I fully support breast feeding in public if thats what a mum wants to do, but myself I wouldnt want to wap my baps out either, I remember a woman I know breastfeeding in a restaurant and she had this great garment that she sort of draped over her shoulder and over baby, or might have been put on over her head. NO idea what they are called! But I barely noticed she was breastfeeding, just looked like she was giving her baby a cuddle and had covered them over with a blanket. THink thats what i'll do!

Edit: sorry just saw jajis covered the covers!

 

[kumber]

Thanks ladies A cover is definitely something to look in to, although I'd feel so bad for Riley having to eat his meals covered up! This advice is great though, it's really helping me make an informed decision and I'm doing my best to keep an open mind.

 

[Seabrook]

Your whole body is going to change, almost no part of it will be the same again, I'm afraid! Unless you work incredibly hard afterwards and perhaps have lots of money for surgery like the celebs.

My boobs haven't so much gone saggy but they definitely aren't as full or pert as they used to be. My belly is not the same and of course down there is not the same either! Things we do hey.