Patient's question:
I am currently weaning the baby, and my breasts are especially full. I don't know how many days it will take for them to soften. It's very uncomfortable. An elder sister said it won't be long before they soften. Please ask, how many days does it usually take for breasts to soften during weaning?Doctor's answer:
After a woman becomes pregnant, due to the action of a large number of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and placental prolactin, the breasts become fuller. After childbirth, as the levels of various hormones in the body decrease, pituitary prolactin is no longer inhibited, and the mother begins to breastfeed. The secretion of pituitary prolactin, in turn, suppresses ovarian function. Under normal circumstances, the breasts will soften within 7-10 days. If they remain firm, it can be regulated by taking breastfeeding medication or massage. This is a normal phenomenon. The return of milk is a slow process, and it takes about a week for the breasts to soften.