I remember waking up one morning in college and my breasts seemed to have grown overnight. While other women my age would’ve jumped in excitement of having larger breasts, I, on the other hand, quickly learned that it was a feature of mine that was a straight up inconvenience. While I was spending my time purchasing expensive bras at upscale department stores, some not so bikini bikinis, and larger sized clothes just to cover up my breast area, my friends constantly reminded me how “lucky” I was to have such a feature to flaunt.
As a mother of two, I was fortunate enough to be able to breastfeed both of my boys. Just like other prenatal and postpartum women, my breasts inflated during pregnancy then deflated after breastfeeding. However, the literal weight of breastfeeding soon started to become a discomfort for me while breastfeeding my first son, Finn. It was during this time that I experienced more pain in my back and neck. I felt as if my posture was poorer than it had ever been, and I felt like I had heavy sandbags that seemed to droop all the way down to my belly button. After consulting with a plastic surgeon, I was advised to revisit the idea of a breast reduction after my husband and I were finished having children.
As the next few years went by, I became comfortable with tolerating the pain. I had grown accustomed to this feeling as “normal.” It was during this time that I really established a workout regimen at Pure Barre Athens. This was a workout that I enjoyed, gave me the results that I was looking for, and provided a low impact workout for me – my breasts didn’t excessively move during these workout classes. I got used to the underboob sweat that I left each class with, but I was just thankful to have found the perfect workout.
After becoming pregnant with our second child, Whit, I experienced all the prenatal and postpartum growth again. Except for this time around, my breasts couldn’t tolerate anymore the heaviness that came with producing milk. About 8 months into breastfeeding Whit, I threw in the towel. I couldn’t take the pain or the weight anymore. As a mother who wanted the best for her children and who was focused on breastfeeding both, I soon learned that I had to take care of myself. In order for me to be the best mother to my children, and the best wife to my husband, my needs had to come first for once.
I made a consultation appointment with Dr. Parker at Parker Plastic Surgery; this consultation could only occur a certain amount of time after breastfeeding ceased. My patience was tested as I waited for that initial appointment, then eagerly kept pestering insurance to see if my surgery had been approved. During these weeks of waiting, I would ask myself if I really needed to have the surgery performed. Do I really want to be cut open and have scars? Are my breasts really that bad or am I just being a wimp? Other women would love to have bigger breasts – am I taking for granted the way I was designed? 34H isn’t that large of a size, is it?
After weeks of praying about the situation, one morning I woke up with peace – peace from the Lord that provided comfort and guidance on my next steps. At this point, the pain was such a nuisance that I was coming home each day, ripping my bra off, hoping that it would make me feel better. I was beyond ready to get this issue taken care of. My surgery was scheduled; I made sub plans for my students at school, ensured my children were taken care of for two weeks, and I prepared meals so that my husband didn’t have to worry about it in the midst of my recovery. I honestly felt like I was going on a two week vacation!
My surgery was performed without complications. Dr. Parker removed one pound of very dense breast tissue from each breast. The recovery was hard: the drains that had to be emptied were uncomfortable, it was hard to sleep, and the worst part – I wasn’t able to help out or hold my children for two weeks. As a person who does not like being waited on, the feeling of being helpless for my family really challenged me. During my recovery time, I was overwhelmed with the amount of visits from family and friends who brought food, sent flowers or simply stopped by to keep me company. It was during this time that I felt more loved than I could have ever imagined, while I was starting to feel the best that I could have ever imagined.
As I stand on the other side of surgery, I remain thankful for the peace that was so freely given to me to make one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am pain free! I never imagined that at the end of the day, after work, caring for my family, and working out, that I could feel like a million bucks. I am enjoying my new wardrobe options, and feel more confident than ever in my proportioned breast size to the rest of my body. I know that in life we are going to experience pain; however, I didn’t realize how much pain I was experiencing until I wasn’t experiencing said pain anymore.
Being on the other side and seeing other women with larger breasts, it takes me back to the pain that I was feeling. If you are considering a reduction and want to discuss my experience or your questions/concerns please don’t hesitate to email me here. Would love to be of support to others!