Breast changes during pregnancy & breastfeeding

Stages Of Pregnancy

During pregnancy two things happen which both affect your bra size and fit, your rib cage changes and your breast tissue increases.

Early pregnancy

Possibly the first visible sign of pregnancy for many women is an increase in their bust size, often before they notice much change in their belly. This is due to the natural pregnancy hormones sending signals to the breasts to start preparing and growing extra breast tissue, ready for feeding, and may also be accompanied by breast tenderness and heaviness.

The other change in size you will notice is an increase around the ribcage as the baby grows and starts to push your internal organs up out of the way of the expanding womb.

Late pregnancy

Towards the end of your pregnancy, you may notice that your breathing becomes easier as your baby starts to drop down lower in your pelvis - your midwife may say that your baby is partially or fully engaged. This often happens around 37-38 weeks with a first pregnancy, but may be later, or not until during labour for a subsequent pregnancy or if you have a longer body.

This is an ideal time to buy your nursing bras as a snug fit around your back now, on the loosest hooks, will be a good fit once your baby is born. Do leave some extra room in the cups though to accommodate breast pads and the increase in size once your milk "comes in" around 2-5 days after the birth.

Post natal

After the birth your rib cage will start to decrease in size, getting back to around your pre pregnancy size within a few months, unless you put on excess weight during pregnancy.

Once your milk supply is established, your cup size won't vary much until you start weaning your baby, so at least six months following the current guidelines on when to introduce solid foods.

Even then breastfeeding is likely to still be your baby's main source of nutrition (and of course comfort and antibodies) until your baby is around a year old, with some mums carrying on, at least partially, until their second birthday and beyond.

Once you and your baby start cutting down on breast feeds (or on expressing) you will find that your cup size starts to decrease, back to around your pre pregnancy size, unless of course you become pregnant with a new baby when the cycle starts all over again!