What does breastfeeding do to your body?

Dear woman, during your pregnancy, birth and maternity leave, a lot happens to your body. Among other things, to your breasts. In a time when society and social media focus on a culture of perfection, I often get asked what breastfeeding does to the body - including the breasts. Because with various advertisements for so-called perfect breasts, it is easy to be disappointed when you look in the mirror and your breasts do not look like the ones on the bus advertisement you just waited in line behind.

Dear woman, know that you are perfectly imperfect. We all are. No two women are the same, except for identical twins 😉 And… The models from various perfection advertisements are also ordinary people like you and me.

Many people believe that breastfeeding causes sagging breasts. This is a myth. It is during pregnancy that the changes occur in the breasts. They grow - some more than others -, the areola (the colored area around the nipples) in some women becomes darker and larger and the nipples grow. It is hormones that are the reason why the breasts are now preparing to be able to feed your child for many months. And it is hormones that make you produce exactly the milk that your child needs - regardless of its age. But the fact that breastfeeding causes breast changes is and will remain a myth.

Breasts are designed to, and can withstand, being filled to the point of bursting and almost emptied (a breast is never 100% emptied) during breastfeeding over and over again for months - and even years.

When the baby sucks in the hours, days and weeks after birth, a message is sent to the brain, which in turn sends a message to the uterus to contract, thereby minimizing bleeding from the place where the placenta was attached. A completely ingenious mechanism from the hand of nature!

All the many breastfeeding moments also help to support your bonding with your child. When you breastfeed, you produce the hormone oxytocin, which is our love hormone. This promotes the experience of connection both ways between you and baby. Once again, a stroke of genius on the part of nature!

Breastfeeding also increases your metabolism as a new mother. That said, I am regularly confronted with the myth that breastfeeding = the same as losing weight. It is true that feeding a child 24-7 requires energy. Specifically, a woman who is fully breastfeeding burns around 500 calories per day. This is equivalent to about an hour's bike ride. On that front, breastfeeding can be equated with physical activity. But at the same time, the breast-feeding hormone prolactin increases your appetite. As a breastfeeding woman, you need nutrition to be able to make delicious milk for your child. Nature is wise and will always strive to support survival - both yours and your baby's. And let's be honest - and realistic: The food that is eaten on maternity leave with a baby is not always healthy and in nutritious portions. Most people have too few snacks during the day, meals are left half-eaten or for a snack every now and then. The peace of mind to prepare

and eating a whole, healthy and nutritious meal is simply rare. So breastfeeding is not the same as shedding those extra pounds of pregnancy. (You can read about Weight loss during breastfeeding )

On the other hand, there is a total win on another front: Several studies show that breastfeeding or having breastfed reduces the risk of developing various types of cancer, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, reduces the risk of postpartum depression due to the oxytocin hormone, and there is also some evidence that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is reduced.

Breastfeeding affects your body both during the individual breastfeeding session, during the breastfeeding process and for the rest of your life - even 20 - 30 - 50+ years after you've breastfed. Now that's brilliant!

Really good breastfeeding!