Your breasts really come into their own during pregnancy, swelling by as much as three cup sizes as the network of tiny milk ducts grows and prepares for the work of feeding your baby. If you’ve enjoyed having the extra cleavage, the bad news is that they will eventually collapse to their former size (or even a bit smaller), but if you breastfeed, this won’t happen until you stop. What’s worse is, when they do shrink, they’re likely to be a bit, well, saggy. So what can you do? We’ve checked out the best ways to get your boobs back in shape – and not a scalpel in sight.
Shoulders back…
Poor posture will have the effect of making you look hunched and hollow-chested. Unfortunately, pregnancy can play havoc with your posture, explains Richard Brennan, author of The Alexander Technique Manual. ‘A lot of damage is done during pregnancy when women start to stand and sit in unnatural ways. If they look after themselves during pregnancy, then getting back into shape after childbirth is much quicker and easier.’
Breastfeeding can cause problems, too. ‘Mothers often hunch over their babies when they’re feeding them and since this position is adopted for many hours a week, it can lead to tense muscles,’ warns Richard.
Try improving your posture by imagining a balloon attached to the crown of your head and exerting an upward pull, and at the same time a weight on your tailbone pulling downwards. The idea is to feel the lengthening in your spine created by the opposing pulls – and pushing your breasts out – then you’ll start walking taller straightaway.
Firm them up
It seems too good to be true – perter, firmer breasts just by applying some cream. So do they work? Creams can’t alter the shape or consistency of your breasts, but they can help keep the skin supple. Beauty expert Hilary Andrews says: ‘Bust firming creams and gels aim to firm the skin by restoring its elasticity – most of them contain ingredients that boost collagen and elastin production. But the massaging action you use to apply the creams also helps, because it stimulates circulation, which is always good for skin tone.’ Firming creams should be massaged into your breasts daily, using firm upward strokes.
If you don’t want to splash out on an expensive product, a budget alternative is just to massage your favourite moisturising cream into your breasts.
- Don’t use firming creams during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Lift and separate
The right bra is crucial. ‘If you’re breastfeeding,’ says Julia Mercer, a bra fit technologist, ‘you need a bra that’s supportive, comfortable and non-wired – wire can press on the milk ducts, leading to a blockage or even mastitis.’ Luckily, large department stores often offer bra fitting as a free service, so there’s no excuse not to get it right. Look for a bra with a high cotton content (for comfort), a supportive underband, and extra hooks on the back to accommodate the day-to-day changes in your breast size.
‘After you’ve stopped breastfeeding, your breasts may go down to about half a cup size less than they originally were,’ says Julia, ‘so don’t assume your old bras will fit. If you’re bottlefeeding, it takes about six weeks after the birth for your breasts to go down, so this is the time to get fitted.’ And beware, says Julia, the wrong bra can lead to back pain or – horror! – stretchmarks.
And stretch…
‘If you want to reduce sagging in your breasts through exercise, the mid-back muscles, which actually take the weight of the breasts, are the key,’ says Lynne Robinson of fitness organisation Body Control Pilates. ‘They pull your shoulder blades downwards, opening up the chest so your breasts appear to their best advantage.’ Working your pectorals, the muscles that lie beneath the breasts, can help a little, but since the breasts themselves aren’t made of muscle, exercising won’t make them bigger. ‘What you need are exercises that open up the chest so the shoulders aren’t hunched forward,’ says Lynne.
Top four quickie boob jobs
1 Spray your breasts with cold water just before you step out of the shower for an instant tingling tightener.
2 Invest in a push-up bra to give nature an instant helping hand (not recommended in pregnancy or when breastfeeding).
3 Wearing V-neck tops will help emphasise your assets. Add a long necklace to draw attention to your cleavage.
4 Apply a little fake tan to your chest and neck area to get you glowing with health.
