What causes hard areola during pregnancy?

After a woman becomes pregnant, her hormones change, which can cause changes in certain parts of her body. Some women find that their nipples and areolas become hard after they become pregnant. Many people are unable to determine whether this is a normal phenomenon or an abnormality in the body, and worry about health risks. So, what causes hard areola during pregnancy? Let’s take a look below.

It is normal for nipples and areola to become hard during pregnancy. Starting from the 5th week of pregnancy, expectant mothers will face many changes. The breasts begin to swell, the areola becomes larger and darker, and the blood vessels on the skin surface become crisscrossed. The breasts will become sensitive and may feel painful when touched, but this is normal for expectant mothers in the early stages of pregnancy. In order to reduce the discomfort caused by ordinary bras to pregnant mothers, try to prepare bras that can be used for both pregnancy and breastfeeding in advance, which is economical and affordable.

With the large amount of estrogen secreted during pregnancy, not only the metabolism of the whole body speeds up, but the milk ducts in the breasts also become thicker; this is why the breasts of expectant mothers will increase by about one cup size during pregnancy. But don’t think that the only good thing about pregnancy is that your breasts get bigger. During the sensitive period, the pregnant mother's breasts can only be viewed from a distance, because they will be very sore if touched lightly. Therefore, pregnant mothers should take good care of their breasts. It is important to note that they should not neglect the care of their nipples. In order to facilitate better breastfeeding in the later stage, pregnant mothers should use pure lanolin cream to soften the nipples in advance, so that it is easier for the baby to enter. If the nipples become cracked during breastfeeding, lanolin cream can also be used to repair the nipples.

When the expectant mother's body is ready for breastfeeding, milk may drip from her breasts, which may happen before delivery. Colostrum is generally slightly yellow, has a relatively thick texture and is rich in nutrients. It is important to note that expectant mothers should never squeeze it. Some pregnant women will produce colostrum around 37 weeks of pregnancy. When colostrum is secreted, most people will feel a hot flash in the chest. At this time, do not squeeze it, just wash it clean with water.

Precautions

Before pregnancy, expectant mothers are advised to go to the hospital for a breast examination so that any problems can be dealt with in a timely manner without affecting future breastfeeding. During pregnancy, you should go to the hospital for check-ups on time and do a good breast examination. This is a way of loving your child and caring for yourself.