Mom Boobs are a Thing, Here's How I Found the Literal Best Support

I’m a new mom. I feel like this sentence starts many of my conversations these days. There are so many things that I am learning (and unlearning) as a result of becoming mama. It feels like, nearly every week, I encounter a new motherhood hill to climb. Recently, I became obsessed with my new boobs and, not in the way you’d think. I was concerned with how much they’d changed and how that change would affect my lifestyle.

To me, the female body is one of the many wonders of the world. Our bodies literally shift organs, bend and stretch to make room for a growing being, that our bodies “make from scratch”. Wow. 

While pregnancy was a beautiful process, watching my body change stressed me the F out at times. With each day that my body morphed into a new version of itself, I would look in the mirror and exclaim something like: “This is the biggest my boobs have ever been in my life!’, “This is the heaviest I’ve every weighed in my life!”

Month after month, my belly stretched. My feet swelled. My skin changed. My hair thickened. And, my boobs grew…THREE TIMES. Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?! I knew to expect a change in my, then, small C cups, but I was completely blind to the fact that pregnancy and nursing would require me to change my bra size four times. The three times I experienced a large change in breast size were:

• Weeks 10-12— I experienced a slightly fuller bust line that showed up around the same time as my “pregnancy glow”.

• Weeks 24-26 — My skin began to stretch (and itch!), I noticed that my breasts began to feel heavier.

• After birth — My milk came in around 3 days postpartum, my breasts were they largest they’d been and filled to the brim with milk.

“To me, the female body is one of the many wonders of the world. Our bodies literally shift organs, bend and stretch to make room for a growing being, that our bodies “make from scratch”. Wow.
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According to parents.com, the amount of fatty tissue and blood flow to your breasts increases in order to help the milk ducts and mammary glands grow. By just six weeks into pregnancy, many women's breasts have grown a full cup size or more…with all that increased blood flow and expanded glandular tissue, your breasts begin to swell. This explains my several periods of growth. The increase of my hormone & fatty tissue production and water retention impacted the size and volume of my breasts. Hello, science. 

I began pregnancy at a 34C. By month three, I was wearing a 34DD. By month six,  a 36DD. Month nine? A 38DD and growing. 

Initially, I was freaked out by my breast size and the amount of milk—I was producing 60 + ounces of breastmilk per day! After speaking with a few mom friends, I learned that my body would begin to take cues from my baby’s requests for milk and my supply would “even out”. Luckily, my milk supply did just that. After about 3 months, baby’s requests for milk were at a steady 5-6 times per day, during her waking hours. My body caught on, my breasts stopped growing and my bra size finally stayed the same for longer than a few weeks. 

Although my breast size evened out and nursing became easier, I’d refused to buy any more bras after I reached a 38DD. I was over it. I resorted to nursing sleep bras, all day, everyday. Hey, they were comfortable and made the area accessible for baby feeding. 

Just as I was beginning to feel humdrum about my postpartum body and uncomfortably large breasts, I received a sweet Instagram message from Fleur at Atollo lingerie. She invited me to try Atollo via a free virtual bra fitting. If she only knew how much I needed it! #Godsend

I was beyond excited to sit down and chat with a professional. I had so many questions. How do I know if I’m wearing and buying the right size? Will my breast size change again after nursing? How many bras do I actually need to own ? (I tend to be an over-shopper).

During my fitting with Fleur, I learned so many new things about undewear. Things I felt I should have known, being a bra-wearer for 20 years now. Fleur answered all of my questions about bra-fit and helped me learn my actual bra size: 30G. My mind was blown because, number one, I’d been wearing the wrong bra size and, number two, there was hope (and support) for my larger size. After the call, we chose a balconette or balcony bra for me to try at home. Balconette bras give lovely shape and great support for large breast sizes, according to Fleur. Here’s the exact bra I chose.

I received my Atollo bra in the mail last month and I’ve worm it oncer per week since. The verdict? Amazing. I got the bra in two sizes, a 30G for regular days and a 30GG for days that my breasts are a little fuller, because I am still nursing. The balconette bra gives me such a nice shape and great support. My favorite thing? I can fit my shirts again! For a while, because I was wearing the wrong size, and spilling out most of the time, I couldn’t wear many form-fitting shirts. 

I am honestly grateful to have found a company that aided me in solving my “Mom Boobs” problem. I feel like myself again. Supported, comfortable and able to wear anything in my closet without feeling insecure. 

Are you a new mama? Are there any new “motherhood hills” that you’re climbing? Let’s talk. 

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