How do breasts change during pregnancy?

Breasts are a female's secondary sexual characteristic. However, the body will undergo great changes during pregnancy, and of course the breasts will also undergo some changes. Especially in the early stages of pregnancy, there will always be swelling and pain. As the breasts grow larger, milk will be secreted. However, many inexperienced women often do not know whether these symptoms are normal. Let's take a look at how breasts change during pregnancy.

Breast changes during pregnancy

From the moment the fertilized egg implants, the breasts change accordingly as hormones in the body change. This is a function that nature has given to humans to adapt to the need of breastfeeding after childbirth. At the same time, the degree of breast development during pregnancy also determines the amount of milk secreted.

Entering the second month of pregnancy, the breasts gradually swell and become very soft, and due to the hypertrophy of the mammary glands, lump-like things appear in the breasts; then, the blood vessels under the skin of the breasts become obvious. The nipples will gradually become larger, the color of the areola will become darker due to the increase in pigmentation, and the protrusion of the nipples will become obvious.

Throughout pregnancy, your breasts continue to grow, doubling to tripling in size. The breasts may feel swollen or painful, but the pain will gradually disappear. If it is uncomfortable, you can use hot compresses and massage to relieve it. After 5 months of pregnancy, squeezing the breasts can produce thin colostrum. At this time, you should pay attention to the cleanliness of the nipples.

During pregnancy, if you find symptoms such as acute redness, swelling, heat and pain in the breasts, bloody nipple secretions, nipple cracks and skin ulcers, you should seek medical attention immediately for diagnosis. Breast disease during pregnancy should not be taken lightly.

Breast care during pregnancy

Colostrum can usually be squeezed out from the 5th month of pregnancy, and this milk will usually form a scab on the nipple. At this time, you should pay attention to the cleanliness of your breasts and perform appropriate breast massage after cleaning. If you persist until the baby is born, you will be able to breastfeed smoothly.

How to clean and massage breasts during pregnancy

Cleaning

Scrub your breasts with warm water every day. If the nipple scabs are difficult to remove, you can apply some vegetable oil first, and then wash them with clean water after the scabs soften. At the same time, frequently scrubbing the nipples can enhance the toughness of the nipple skin and prevent postpartum nipple skin rupture.

Heat

Using a hot towel to apply heat to the cleaned breasts can soften the lumps caused by breast enlargement and make breast massage achieve better results.

massage

Use the palms of both hands to gently massage around the breasts for 1 to 3 minutes, then use five fingers to gently squeeze and knead the breasts about 10 to 20 times. Daily massage can ensure the patency of the milk ducts and promote breast development.

Maintenance

Use a mild moisturizing lotion to massage the cleaned and massaged breasts again, focusing on the nipples. Pinch the nipples with two or three fingers and twist them gently. Cover your fingers with lotion to fully moisturize the nipple skin. This will make the nipple skin strong and avoid cracking during breastfeeding. But avoid excessive stimulation that may cause uterine contractions.

Special reminder: Be careful when washing your breasts with soap

Some medical experts point out that during pregnancy, the secretion of the sebaceous glands on the breasts of women increases, the sweat glands on the areola also enlarge, and the nipples become soft. The increase in secretions of sweat glands and sebaceous glands also acidifies the skin surface, causing the stratum corneum to soften. If you always use soap or other cleansing products to wash these secretions from the nipples and areola, it will be detrimental to women's breast health. Therefore, to keep the breast area clean, it is best to choose warm water for washing.

Choosing the right bra

During pregnancy, the breasts will generally increase by two or three cup sizes, but the breasts expand from the lower part outward, which is different from the proportions of ordinary cups. Therefore, it is best to choose a special maternity bra and replace and adjust it at any time as the pregnancy changes at different stages.

A suitable bra can provide reliable support and support for the breasts, ensuring smooth blood circulation in the breasts; this is beneficial for promoting milk secretion and improving the breasts' disease resistance, and can also protect the nipples from abrasions.

The above is an introduction to how breasts change during pregnancy. After understanding it, we know that each person's physical condition is different, and the reactions and body changes during pregnancy are different. In addition, you must take good care of your breasts during pregnancy, wear comfortable cotton underwear for pregnant women, and do regular prenatal check-ups.