What causes itchy breasts during pregnancy?

In the early stages of pregnancy, because the progesterone in the body will rise rapidly, women are particularly prone to breast swelling and nipple itching. When women experience these symptoms, they are actually very similar to the reactions before menstruation. Therefore, many women cannot judge whether they are pregnant or menstruating. At this time, you can buy a pregnancy test stick. So what is the reason for itchy breasts during pregnancy?

1. Physical changes in early pregnancy are all caused by hormones

After becoming pregnant, in order to ensure the development of the embryo and placenta, the mother's metabolic rate will be about 10-25% higher than that of ordinary people, the heart rate will also increase, and the breathing rhythm will be faster than before. These are all due to the effects of the "two people" in your body. At the same time, the expectant mother's breasts gradually grow larger, and the areola and nipples become more obvious due to the deposition of pigments. The blood flow through the breasts increases, and a network of blue vascular patterns appears under the skin. Vaginal secretions begin to increase, and some expectant mothers who do not pay attention to hygiene are more likely to suffer from vaginitis.

These early pregnancy symptoms in expectant mothers are the result of a sharp increase in progesterone. After successful fertilization, the mother's body will produce a large amount of progesterone, especially estrogen levels, which is conducive to thickening the endometrium and providing a rich environment for the tiny implanted embryo. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and progesterone are beneficial to embryo implantation. Progesterone can also thicken cervical mucus to form a protective plug to seal the uterus and prevent vaginal infection during pregnancy.

2. The nipples and areolas are so itchy that I can’t help scratching them

It has been more than two months since Xu Min gave birth, but she still feels scared when she talks about the itchiness in her nipples and areolas. She began to suffer from the third month of pregnancy, with prickly heat-like things growing around her areola, and this situation lasted for nearly three months.

reason:

Because the placenta and villi secrete a large amount of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, the mammary glands enlarge, and the small particles on the dark yellow areola around the nipple appear particularly prominent. Under the effect of progesterone, the skin of the entire pregnant mother will become more sensitive, and the friction from clothes will make people more likely to go crazy.

Treatment method:

Generally, there is no need to worry too much about this phenomenon. If the expectant mother feels uncomfortable, she can use clean water to clean the nipples and apply appropriate moisturizing skin care products. This can not only relieve itching but also prevent nipple cracking. It is worth noting that when applying, you should avoid the nipples and rub them on the areola and breasts to avoid stimulating the nipples and causing uterine contractions.