Weeks after weaning her only child, Bisi Komolafe, a perky 30-year-old Ibadan-based entrepreneur and brand influencer, stood in front of her bedroom mirror.
Her breasts—once firm and her favourite physical feature—had sagged and shrunk. “It was gone,” she said quietly, her voice tinged with disbelief.
|
|
Years earlier, she joked about her mother’s drooping breasts. “My mother would say, ‘Don’t worry, your turn will come,’” she recalled. Two years after giving birth to her son, the reality has hit her.
She noticed the changes toward the end of her pregnancy in 2023. “Seeing it drop, touching my body, I was uncomfortable. I wasn’t happy,” she said.
|
|
|
|---|
Breast sagging
Breasts— aside their physiological function of milk production for breastfeeding, enabled by the mammary glands and milk ducts, is a significant organ that gives an anatomical uniqueness that defines the feminine upper physique, Victor Fayomi, clinical supervisor of Renew Aesthetics, based in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, told PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr Fayomi said the breast’s anatomical features include lobes, lobules, ducts, nipples, areolas, fatty tissue, and lymphatic nodes.
The breast also plays a role in female sexuality. A vital part of a woman’s reproduction is breast development, according to the Johns Hopkins Medicine organisation.
Breast development occurs in certain stages during a woman’s life: first before birth, again at puberty, and later during the childbearing years. The breasts also change during the menstrual cycle and when a woman reaches menopause.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, women’s breasts undergo significant development due to hormonal changes, which prepare the breasts for lactation.
Aside from breast awareness, other physical experiences include loose skin, physical fatigue, stretch marks, hair loss and weight fluctuation. All these and more can influence how a mother perceives her body.
Who takes the blame?
Many women of childbearing age often express surprise at the extent of physical changes in their breasts, with some suggesting that the change occurred after breastfeeding.
For instance, in an Instagram post, @fabmum, I lamented how my breasts had ‘fallen’ after breastfeeding. The post garnered almost 100 comments, with the engagement mostly from women suggesting that breastfeeding could be the primary enabler. A couple blamed ‘exclusive breastfeeding.’’
However, this newspaper’s findings indicate that this is not true. Like other organs, the breasts respond to pregnancy hormones, including oestrogen (sexual development and reproduction), progesterone (which prepares the body for pregnancy), and prolactin (breast milk production).
These changes in preparation for breastfeeding include increased glandular tissue, fat, and blood supply.
This development increases the breast size during pregnancy until weaning, when it reduces to about the size it was pre-pregnancy.
Furthermore, during pregnancy and lactation, the breasts become firmer, and “may lose their firmness after weaning due to the stretching of breast ligaments,” Qudus Lawal, an expert in obstetrics and gynaecology, told this newspaper.
Breast ptosis (sagging) is commonly attributed to factors such as ageing, genetics, multiple pregnancies (the more pregnancies a woman has, the greater the chances that her breasts are going to fall) and fluctuations in weight, rather than breastfeeding, Mr Lawal said.
Chinny Obiwanne, a lactation consultant based in Ireland, said other factors contributing to breast sagging include breast size and smoking. Ms Obiwanne explained that the bigger the breasts, the more support they need — if the ligaments cannot hold the weight, they will naturally begin to sag since gravity pulls them down more.
The comments on my Instagram post, however, show that women have different experiences with their breasts after childbirth.
A commentator, @gwennie_e_ _, said her breasts stayed big after childbirth. Another said her breasts and shoe size increased with every child she had.
Wardrobe shifts and self-perception
In the case of Lois Ugbede, 28, an Abuja-based researcher, every childbirth meant getting a new and smaller bra size. After Mrs Ugbede had her first child in July 2021, the “drastic” change in her breasts after weaning pushed her to read about the bodily changes she was experiencing.
She said the knowledge she gained from online content and keeping fit through exercise helped her remain confident in her body.
Unlike Mrs Ugbede, who joined a women’s health group on social media, Bisi Komolafe and Omolola Babatunde also experienced shock at the changes in their breasts after childbirth but did not seek or join support groups.
While Mrs Komolafe said she never discussed it with anyone because it concerns her “private parts,” Mrs Babatunde, a mother of two, said she only discussed the development with her husband and a few friends in similar situations.
Mrs Babatunde, a Lagos-based entrepreneur selling female shoes and bags, said the overall physical changes she experienced after childbirth discouraged her from taking pictures of herself.
“I used to be slim. I have been trying to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but it has been hard.”
She described a disconnect between her self-perceived image and what she saw in the mirror, stating that they “do not tally.”
Before her first pregnancy, she recalled weighing about 75 kg; now she weighs over 100kg. After she had her second child in October 2023, her breasts shrank further, and she recalled telling herself, “You know the drill.”
Meanwhile, Ms Ugbede has found a support system in online‘mum groups’, where lactation consultants and doctors educate women on the different phases the breast goes through during and after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Beyond the baby bump
Motherhood, though frequently described as a profoundly beautiful journey, is without exception accompanied by significant physical and emotional transformations
Women undergo physiological transformations to nurture and support the developing life within, leading to a spectrum of physical and other experiences.
In the case of the physical changes in the breasts after weaning, Mr Fayomi, a general practitioner with a wealth of experience around female health and wellbeing, explained that after childbirth, oestrogen and progesterone levels drop. However, the prolactin, a milk production hormone, and oxytocin, which is responsible for milk letdown for the newborn to suckle, increase production.
“After the baby has been weaned, prolactin and oxytocin levels drop, breast milk production stops, thereby leading to a reduction in the sizes of the alveoli and lactiferous duct complex. This, in turn, leads to the reduction in size of the breast,” he said.
“Repeated cycles of breast engorgement and reduction following multiple pregnancies, childbirths, breastfeeding and weaning, in addition to the stretching and weakening of the Cooper’s ligament, usually result in breast ptosis (sagging, drooping, or descent).”
Many women react to these changes differently.
It’s been almost two years since Mrs Komolafe had her son. She sometimes wears a bra to bed to improve her nude appearance, she said.
In the case of Janet Dada, a mother of three, after noticing the changes in her breast, she was reluctant to have sex with her husband.
“I wasn’t ready to open my body for my husband,” she said. “I just wanted him to have sex with me without looking at my body.”
But her husband noticed her hesitation and asked her. When she opened up to him, she said he laughed and said, “It’s not a big deal. It’s part of life”
The realtor said her husband searched online and found an exercise routine.
“Once it is 6:00 p.m., I make sure I don’t eat so much again,” Mrs Dada said. “I exercise one hour in the morning and at night and do 5,000 steps. It will take about six to eight months before you start seeing changes if you do it regularly. Although I did not get my pre-pregnancy breasts back, it is better. It became puffier with the exercise.”
Body image perception and childbirth
Often overlooked, childbirth has profound effects on women’s body image. And this could directly impact a woman’s mental health, self-esteem and general well-being.
As milk production slows down and eventually stops, the breasts may shrink to their pre-pregnancy size or slightly smaller.
If the breasts appear less firm or saggy after weaning, it could impact a woman’s body image and make her uncomfortable.
A woman’s perception of her body image can also impact her breastfeeding experience and decision to breastfeed.
An article on ‘Perception of the Body Image in Women After Childbirth’ shows that women are often under pressure to return to their pre-pregnancy body. They are surprised at the extent of physical changes and frustrated with the slow recovery after childbirth.
“Some women may feel a disconnect with their postpartum bodies, while others may embrace the changes as symbols of their motherhood journey,” the article reads.
“Societal expectations and pressure can exacerbate these feelings. The pervasive notion of ‘bouncing back’ after childbirth can create unrealistic expectations, leading to feelings of inadequacy and negative body image among new mothers.”
According to Cat Meridith, a breastfeeding counsellor and author of Breastfeeding Blueprint, a website focusing on breastfeeding, the initial and crucial step in cultivating a healthy and positive body image during the breastfeeding period lies in fully accepting and embracing the inevitable physical changes accompanying this process.
Ms Meridith said it is vital to acknowledge that these transformations are not mere aesthetic alterations but rather profound evidence of the remarkable journey and capabilities inherent in motherhood.
She said viewing these changes through the lens of accomplishment and purpose, rather than as imperfections, can significantly shift one’s perspective.
She urged mothers to embrace self-care rituals like relaxing baths and mindfulness.
“Invest in comfortable, flattering, and breastfeeding-friendly clothing to boost confidence. Focus on the functionality of your body’s ability to nourish and bond with your baby through breastfeeding, shifting away from appearance-focused thoughts. Challenge negative body image with positive affirmations and appreciate your body’s work.”
Maternal healthcare coverage
Nigeria has policies and programmes that support breastfeeding and maternal health.
Some of these initiatives include the Labour Act, which mandates breastfeeding breaks for nursing workers, providing at least 30 minutes twice a day for breastfeeding, and the National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding, which promotes exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond, ensuring mothers have the necessary support.
However, to improve breastfeeding support and maternal health in Nigeria, an expert reiterated that policymakers need to encourage a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers that reduces stigma and promotes a culture of acceptance through collaborative efforts.
They also advocate that public awareness campaigns to promote positive body image after childbirth, reduce stigma, and promote self-acceptance could be launched through strong collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers, and civil society organisations.
Also, media representation and public discourse that showcase diverse postpartum bodies, promoting a culture of acceptance and support, should be normalised.
Alternative routes
Ijeoma Mbagwu, a mother of three based in Ojo, Lagos, told PREMIUM TIMES that nothing could be done about her “fallen breasts.” Regardless, she remains in love with herself.
The entrepreneur who deals in clothes has experienced four childbirths and plans to have one more child.
Also, Mrs Komolafe has come to terms with the changes she experienced in her breasts, stating that seeing her child hale and hearty brings her joy.
Meanwhile, there are solutions for women who might want to improve their breast appearance in terms of contour, volume, and curve.
Mr Fayomi said that in the practice of aesthetic surgery, the available options are breast augmentation and breast lift.
Breast lift (mastopexy) surgery is considered for individuals whose breasts are perceived or assessed as saggy but have sufficient volume.
While for breast augmentation surgery, the volume is not perceived to be optimal by the patient, hence, it is supported with either unprocessed fat or synthetic breast implants.
READ ALSO: PT Health Watch: What you should know about oral and anal sex – Expert
Also called augmentation mammoplasty, women (not necessarily mothers) might opt for this to reconstruct the breasts after a mastectomy, to enhance physical appearance, adjust uneven breasts due to surgery or other conditions.
However, there are potential side effects associated with aesthetic breast procedures, Mr Fayomi said.
“These side effects include post-operative pain, initial swelling that resolves, the possibility of infection which is extremely rare with an aseptic approach to the surgery and use of antibiotics, loss of sensation in the nipple is also a possibility, but extremely rare, and of course reactions to anesthesia for which antidotes are available,” he said.
According to lactation consultant Ms Obiwanne, women can improve the appearance of their breasts through specific breast-firming exercises.
“Start exercising. Sometimes, when we exercise and exercise our chest muscles, because they become firmer, they can cause a little lift of the saggy breasts for some,” she said.
