The good news is breastfeeding does not cause saggy boobs.
BUT the bad news is pregnancy is the culprit. Many ladies have the misconception that breastfeeding causes breasts to be saggy, deflated and nipples to be misshapen. This is actually not true. Research has shown that it is pregnancy and its related hormonal changes that results in breasts to sag.
Other causes that cause saggy breasts include:
Genetics - skin elasticity and stretch marks are normally a matter of genetics and skin type
Ageing -the loss of skin elasticity due to ageing is the most common cause of saggy breasts
Gravity - gravitational pull takes its toll, especially on women with larger breasts
High body mass index - fluctuations in weight can cause unnecessary stretching of the breasts.
Menopause -a drop in the hormone estrogen, which occurs normally during menopause, may be associated with a decrease in tissue collagen.
Smoking -carcinogens in cigarette smoke cause elastin to break down in the body. Elastin fibres are responsible for skin elasticity throughout the body.
Now that we know the causes of saggy breasts, what can we do to prevent it? We may not be able to avoid our breasts from sagging, but there are some things we can do to reduce/delay it.
These include:
Practice good posture – You can strengthen the muscles that hold the breasts up and work on your posture.
Maintain a healthy weight – Eat a well-balanced diet, get a little exercise and try not to gain or lose weight too quickly so that your skin has time to change too.
Drink plenty of water – keep your skin healthy and hydrated to try to preserve its elasticity.
Don't smoke – try to quit smoking. The health benefits of quitting smoking are endless.
Exercise – by exercising your pectoral and back muscles, you will build the strength required to hold your breasts up, making them appear more toned
Wear a good supportive bra.
Unfortunately, when sagging sets in, the only way to reverse it is by breast lift (mastopexy/mastoplasty) procedure. Generally, I will only recommend this when the woman has completed her family as pregnancy will cause the breasts to sag again.
Drop me a message if you have any questions, and to find out more about breast care!