Pregnancy & Birth

What happens to your breasts during pregnancy

Be prepared for the many changes.

We all know that your body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy, but there are some things that people forget to tell you.

Here, we focus solely on the breasts – these are the main changes to be prepared for…

1) Your breasts will become sore and tender

Thanks to rapidly increasing levels of oestrogen and progesterone, breasts become extremely tender during pregnancy – particularly during the first trimester.

To help ease discomfort, try wearing a well-fitting maternity bra, avoid underwired bras, and wear a cotton bra to sleep in.

2) Your breasts will get bigger

Women commonly find that their breasts grow by at least one or two sizes during pregnancy – just think of it as a free, albeit temporary, boob job.

Your breasts may start to grow as early as week six, and this growth will continue to the end of the pregnancy, although it’s likely they’ll be as big as they get by the end of your first trimester which is when to go shopping.

It’s certainly worth investing in some maternity bras (which can also double up as nursing bras if you’re planning on breastfeeding). Your ribcage expands to make room for the baby too, you may find that you need to shop for a bigger band size as well as a bigger cup.

3) Your breasts will be itchy

Due to the growth of your breasts, your skin will stretch – and it may become very itchy as a result.

Take a little time each day to gently massage your breasts with a cream or oil that’s especially for pregnant skin; the more moisturised they are, the less likely they are to feel dry and itchy.

Avoid using soap directly on the areola and nipples. This can dry the skin and wash away the protective oils secreted by the Montgomery glands.

4) Your nipples will change colour

Around week six of your pregnancy, you will notice that the areolae – the area of your skin around the nipples – starts to darken in hue. This will continue throughout pregnancy (women with darker hair and complexions generally experience more noticeable changes).

This is due to an increase in hormones and natural pigmentation, and is believed to be nature’s way of making the nipples easier for babies to find during feeding.

5) Your nipples will become bumpy

There are lots of little bumps on your areolas already, but you probably haven’t noticed them before.

During pregnancy, these bumps, which are a type of oil-producing gland called Montgomery’s tubercles, may become much more pronounced. Many women describe them as looking a lot like goosebumps.

Don’t worry, it’s all part of the package; your breasts are going through these changes in preparation for nursing your baby.

6) Your nipples will get MUCH bigger too, and erect

During the middle months of your pregnancy, the nipples and areola can double in size – and may actually stay this way after your baby is born.

The nipples will also become erect, and the skin thicker and stronger, to prepare them for nursing – and this is a good thing, believe us, since babies are NOT gentle with the nipple.

7) Your breasts will become veiny

As you progress through your pregnancy, you may notice that bluish veins become much more visible under the skin of your breasts. This is known as ‘marbling’. This is due to the increased blood supply to your breasts.

The effect may be less noticeable on darker-skinned women or those who are overweight.

8) Your nipples may begin producing a thick and yellow discharge

As you reach the 16th week of your pregnancy, you may notice that your nipples are producing a thick and yellow discharge which crusts up a little when it dries. This is usually colostrum, a sweet, sticky and highly-nutritious fluid that will feed your baby until your milk comes in a few days after delivery.

Colostrum contains sugar, protein and antibodies – in fact, all your newborn’s nutritional needs.

Simply pop a breast pad inside your bra to avoid an embarrassing wardrobe faux pas when the leaking occurs.

One of the most common triggers for leakage is sex!

9) You may notice blood in your bra

Around the 16th week in your pregnancy, and beyond, you may notice that your nipples occasionally leak blood. This is due to the increased number and sudden growth of blood vessels.

You may also notice drops of blood in your bra; this usually occurs when the sticky colostrum dries, temporarily ‘gluing’ the nipple to the bra and causing the skin to rip away.

REMEMBER: Although bleeding nipples can be normal during pregnancy, do check with your doctor or midwife at your next check up.

10) You may notice lumps in your breasts

It is important to check your breasts for lumps regularly during pregnancy, as breast cancer is usually oestrogen dependent (meaning pregnancy can greatly accelerate the growth of abnormal cells).

However, it is worth remembering that all of the hormones shooting around your body during pregnancy can cause some lumps to form. The most common ones are cysts (fluid-filled sacs), galactoceles (milk-filled cysts) and fibroadenomas (fibrous tissue).

Get your lump checked out by your GP, who will be able to tell you if it needs treatment or not.

11) Your breasts can develop stretch marks

Many women develop stretch marks on their breasts during pregnancy. This is caused by the collagen beneath the skin tearing as it stretches to accommodate your enlarging breasts.

Try using a special stretch mark cream regularly, and keep your breasts moisturised – not everyone gets them so it’s worth rubbing in that cream!

12) You may develop a sweat rash

You may find that, towards the end of your pregnancy, you develop an uncomfortable rash around your breasts. This occurs because a higher-than-normal proportion of your blood flow is going to your skin and mucous membranes and their blood vessels have become dilated to accommodate it.

Try getting fitted for another bra, ideally cotton, and talk to your midwife. If it’s summer it can be even worse, so stay cool with loose-fitting clothing.

Via Closer

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