Ok, well this is my first post on any board of this kind, so basically I'm going to just spill my guts. I'll appologize in advance if I ramble. =)

I'm 35 years old and a 34A (probably less than A). I'm 5'6" and 110 lbs, I have always been a "skinny" girl. My friends have always hated that I don't gain weight. They were disgusted that I lost weight so quickly after my last baby.

I have two children, 9 years and 13 months. (Yeah, they are really spread apart.) My oldest has special needs and requires my constant care, which pretty much means I have to be healthy all the time. It took us 5 years of trying to concieve to actually get pregnant with our 2nd baby. After trying everything but invitro and going through two surgeries for endometriosis (sp?) I finally got pregnant the old fashioned way, without medical assistance. I am not sure if I am finished having children or not. Perhaps one more, but that would be it for me.

I just stopped nursing my youngest 4 weeks ago. I have always been small busted and it has never really been an issue for me. The first week or two after I stopped I did not think my breasts had changed, but now... Well now I am so sad when I look at myself naked in the mirror. My breasts are just completely deflated.

I have been looking at information I can find on the internet, but I don't know what to believe. It seems the only information out there is put out by the people selling the products. I am very reluctant to believe anything I see on those sites because I feel like they are only trying to sell a product. It seems to me that most every herbal pill out there has generally the same ingredients including plant estrogens. Probably just in different doses (I'm guessing).

Surgery is not an option for me. It's too expensive and I can not afford to be incapacitated. One thing I found suggested buying the herbs yourself and excercising your pecks. I'm fine with doing the excercises if it truely is the only way to increase my size a bit. But I know that excercise is not a permenant solution, unless I plan on keeping it up indefinately.

I don't want to be stripper big. I'd settle for getting back what I lost. I loved the way I looked while I was nursing, but I don't need to be that size to be really happy. I just would like a little shape back.

So here are my questions and concerns.
Is there anyone here that has had success with any type of natural enhancement that is lasting? I do not want to waste my time or money on a temporary solution. I would be perfectly happy with an additional PERMENANT half inch to an inch increase. I have seen plenty of women saying they have grown anywhere from 1/2 to 5 inches. But most of them say they are still taking the herbs. I have yet to find anything saying that someone got lasting results. Although I have seen claims that some products give lasting results with minor fullness loss. I'm pretty sure the loss of fullness is why I'm here in the first place. hehe

Finally, I have some concerns about the effects of plant estrogens on my body with my history of endometriosis. I have an appointment with my Gyn on Thursday and I am planning on talking to her about all of this. I would really like the input of some women who have used these herbs and their long term results.

I am very skeptical of "snake oil salesmen" but I value the honest input of real women.

Hoping to find the elusive "miracle pill".
FingersCrossed

Hi there,

Yep, you got the same response from your doctor that I got from mine. You would think that some doctors would want to expand their horizons & be a little more open minded to the use of herbs for NBE. It wouldn't hurt them to get off their high horse and try to learn something.

I'm not sure whether to advise you to continue to look at herbs or not?

I tried the Brava system & I really can't say if it would work or not b/c I was only able to wear it for two nights for about 8 hours each b/c I couldn't get used to sleeping on my back.

Have you thought about taking protein shakes for weight gain? It would also help if you are doing any exercising. Are your chest muscles still sore from the exercises? And, always feel free to ramble, I'm sure there'll always be someone here to listen!

Have you considered exercises to help give you a bit extra. I know it's not going to give you anything hugely dramatic, but some things obviously may not be suitable for you, so why not give exercises a go. I think it's a more serious option than most people imagine. By the way, don't worry about rambling, we are all here for similar reasons and you could be asking questions that others may want to know too. Also if you never ask you would never know and it's good to be able to know about others experiences and things. Good luck with your quest and also with the little one lol.

Welcome to the forum, Fingers X'd !

There are success stories out there.... it just takes time, trial & error, and encouragement. I gained on herbs myself, so natural breast enhancement does work... and the more knowledge you get, the better. I have had growth that remains, even after my period!

The exercise idea might be good for you though, since you're not sure about taking herbs.

Once again, welcome aboard!

(12-12-2008 07:47 AM)FingersCrossed Wrote:  Is there anyone here that has had success with any type of natural enhancement that is lasting? I do not want to waste my time or money on a temporary solution. I would be perfectly happy with an additional PERMENANT half inch to an inch increase. I have seen plenty of women saying they have grown anywhere from 1/2 to 5 inches. But most of them say they are still taking the herbs. I have yet to find anything saying that someone got lasting results.

I successfully grew on herbs and the results have lasted too. The breast growth I achieved on herbs occurred when I was 23 and 24. I'm now 28 and haven't lost anything since then, so I think it's fair to say the results have been lasting, although I took a maintenance dose of herbs for the first year.

Thanks for the news that herbs can work and give lasting results, though I still have to decide whether herbs would be right for me with my history. The information is great though regardless. In the meantime I have started some exercises and will see how that goes. I know I'm telling my age a bit, but I keep thinking of a "Laverne and Shirley" episode where they are doing pec exercises and singing "We must, we must, we must increase our bust." hehe

I have not really noticed any difference yet, but I know it takes time. There is a concern though that I am increasing other muscle groups that I don't really need/want to. I never really have been into exercising. Although I lift weights, in the form of two little boys, every day many many times a day. Which does keep my arms in good shape.

For now I am going to keep up the little exercises and hold out for a Brava system. I have seen their site and also the Brava "support" site. I do understand that not everyone will have results or the same results, but man there are some bitter women on there. I think people that have possitive results and good things to say generally do not go looking for support groups though. So I take all the negative comments with a grain of salt. To me the principal behind Brava does seem logical and seems to me like it would be effective. I know they use the same basic principal for surgical reconstruction.

I have not talked to the lacation consultants at the hospital yet (I've been out of town), but I plan on giving them a call and seeing if they have any opinions or recomendations. That should be a very interesting conversation since we fondly refer to them as the "nursing nazi's". hehe

I wouldn't worry about the exercises, they are commonly done and are harmless. Watch out for the Brava though, some women report various problems with that. I won't go on about it here, since |Brava has it's own section.
I'd be interested to hear what the lactation consultants say. Also, I meant to say earlier, in response to the topic title that there is just no such thing as a miracle pill that will work for everyone. Even those who got results have not taken anything that's bound to work for you.

How are things Fingers Crossed, are you still around? I wondered if you'd come to any decision about what you're going to do?

Hi Lil Devil and anyone else still reading. Well I got a chance to actually go by and talk to the lactation consultants and the woman that I spoke with was very supportive. She did say that there was nothing she knew of other than menopause or weight gain to naturally increase or give back the fullness lost from breast feeding. She had never heard of the Brava thing but when I mentioned herbs she grabbed a book she had and showed it to me. It's called The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D. She copied some of the pages for me to look over. This guy, Duke, says that fenugreek "just might enlarge women's breasts". Apparently he wrote an article summarizing research on fenugreek.

Duke also said that if his daughter wanted larger breasts he would encourage a natural approach first. He listed "several herbs that might prove helpful in providing a modest boost in size." Fenugreek, Fennel ("Don't use fennel oil, however. In pregnant women, the oil can cause miscarriage. And in doses greater than about a teaspoon, it can be toxic."), Saw palmetto, Wild yam and Cumin. He went into detail about each one, I'm sure a lot of you have read about these herbs. Duke also gave a recipe for a Bustea that he came up with.

In a saucepan, pour two cups of water over one cup of genugreek sptrouts. Add a dash or two of anise, basil, caraway, dill, fennel, licorice, marjoram and lemongrass. Bring to a boil, then let cool. Add lemon juice and honey to taste. Drink one to two cups a day.

Duke says this recipe "will give you a hearty dose of breast-enhancing herbs." He said suggested massaging powdered fenugreek into the breast is worth a try.

Anyway, if anyone wants more info you might look for this book. I'd be happy to post his summaries of the herbs if anyone wants them. Looking over the copied pages I have, I am thinking that she may have missed the end of this section in the book. I may have to try and find the book again and just check. =)

That book is in local bookstores and libraries in the U.S. I've read those sections. Provides little more than antedotes from stores of ladies who had results after they ate of or use the herbs he lists basically. They are all the same common ones we know like fenugreek, saw palmetto, etc. There's no real, "take this much for this long and expect this kind of breast growth" in there.