After pregnancy, the nipples are dark and big

Pregnancy is not an easy process for every pregnant woman, because during pregnancy, she will always face various accidents. For example, after pregnancy, because the exposure level in the pregnant woman's body changes, many changes will occur in the body. A small number of pregnant women will obviously feel that their nipples are larger and darker. So why do nipples become big and dark after pregnancy?

According to the physiological changes of the human body, women's progesterone will be secreted in large quantities during their menstrual period, and melanocytes will also secrete large amounts of melanin due to the stimulation of progesterone, so the areola and nipples will darken and deepen during the menstrual period. But this is a normal change during pregnancy. There is no need to worry. It will gradually disappear after delivery.

Not only will women's nipples and areolas turn darker after pregnancy, but other parts of the body will also turn darker during pregnancy. For example, we often talk about melasma, which is a problem that troubles every woman. Women will develop chloasma of pregnancy on their faces 3 to 5 months after pregnancy, which will gradually fade away after delivery. If melanocytes are not activated only by hormones, external stimuli such as ultraviolet rays will also greatly increase the number of melanocytes. The appearance of pigmentation such as chloasma and freckles is due to the presence of melanocytes under the skin that can produce melanin. Therefore, as the pregnancy progresses, pregnancy spots, mainly pigmentation and freckles, will appear under the eyes.

The reason why this happens to women during pregnancy is that there are melanocytes under the skin that can produce melanin. Due to the influence of estrogen and progesterone, the number of activated melanocytes will increase greatly. Therefore, as the pregnancy progresses, pregnancy spots mainly composed of pigmentation and freckles will appear under the eyes. At the same time, obvious pigmentation will form in areas where melanin is more concentrated. The white line in the center of the abdomen will turn brown. It is also common to see melanin around the nipples, areolas, and armpits.

How to take care of your breasts during pregnancy

During pregnancy, your breasts enlarge rapidly in preparation for breastfeeding after your baby is born. Proper breast care during pregnancy can help your breasts develop and unclog the milk ducts, thereby promoting lactation after delivery. At the same time, breast care during pregnancy can improve skin elasticity and prevent breast sagging. Breast care during pregnancy should focus on breast support, cleaning and nipple care to protect the breasts.

1. Choose the right bra to support your breasts

During pregnancy, under the stimulation of hormones in the body, the mammary ducts proliferate, the mammary alveoli develop, and the breast tissue grows and enlarges. The nipples are easily erect and sensitive to stimulation. Pregnant women often experience discomfort such as tenderness, bloating, and heaviness. At this time, wearing a suitable bra can achieve satisfactory results. First, wear a bra to support the breasts and avoid contact between milk sand and underwear, which may reduce discomfort. Secondly, wearing a bra can maintain a normal and beautiful breast shape. Since the breasts have no voluntary muscles, the shape of the breasts during pregnancy is likely to change if they are not supported by a bra. A suitable bra should be able to be tightened or loosened at will; as the bust increases, the bra size needs to be adjusted accordingly; the correct position of the bra to support the nipples should be at the level of the nipple line between the elbow and the shoulder, to prevent the weight of the breasts from pulling the bra towards the back.

2. Breast cleaning

Cleaning the breasts not only keeps the milk ducts open, but also helps increase the toughness of the nipples and reduce the occurrence of complications such as nipple fissures during lactation. During the colostrum appearance stage, colostrum tends to form scabs on the nipples, which should be softened with ointment first and then removed with warm water. If you use soap or alcohol to clean your nipples before giving birth, the oil secreted by the sebaceous glands around the nipples that protect the skin will be removed, and the nipples will become too dry and easily cracked and damaged. Therefore, pregnant women who plan to breastfeed are not recommended to use soap and alcohol to clean their breasts. Breast care should be done in exposure to sunlight and air. Pregnant women should prepare a clean towel and warm water to clean their breasts every day. Be careful not to cause irritation or soreness to the nipples when scrubbing. In the last three months of pregnancy, rubbing the nipples with a dry towel can strengthen the nipples and help prevent nipple cracks. Pregnant women can also be instructed to place a small amount of oil on the thumb and index finger after washing the breasts and then gently rotate the nipple with the thumb and index finger for 30 seconds to evenly apply the oil to the entire nipple.

3. Nipple care

A normal nipple is cylindrical, protruding from the breast plane in a knot-like shape. People with flat or slightly inverted nipples often naturally protrude after giving birth. If the nipple is inverted, it may cause difficulty in breastfeeding after delivery, or even make breastfeeding impossible, milk stasis, and secondary infection leading to mastitis. Therefore, for those with inverted nipples, efforts to correct them should be started during the 5th to 6th month of pregnancy. The human method is to place the thumbs of both hands near the sunken nipple, press down on the breast tissue, and then gradually push outward toward the areola. Do it 4 to 5 times every morning or before going to bed. After the nipple is slightly protruding, use your fingers to gently lift it to make it more prominent. You can also use the cupping method to suck it out, or buckle the outer tube of a 5ml empty syringe on the nipple, use a rubber band to connect another 5ml syringe, and use negative pressure suction to help the nipple protrude. Each time you wash your breasts, dry them with a soft towel, pinch the base of the nipple with your fingers and gently pull outwards, and knead the nipple for a few minutes. If you persist in this process for a long time, you can overcome inverted nipples and make them protrude.