Your breasts change a lot when you’re pregnant, so keep them healthy with these simple home remedies for breast care during pregnancy!
Pregnancy is one of the most life-altering events in a woman’s life, both emotionally and physically. And it’s not just about the belly growing every month or the constant fatigue – pregnancy also affects the breasts. In fact, you may notice breast changes even before you know you’re pregnant!
Breast tenderness is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy, along with others. As your pregnancy progresses, your breasts change significantly, getting ready to produce milk to feed your baby. Yes, the breasts are amazing, and it helps to learn more about them!
Know Your Breasts
Breasts are made of glandular tissue, ducts, blood vessels and fat. When it’s time, the glands produce milk, which is delivered to the nipple and areola via ducts. The outside of the breast has the nipple, surrounded by dark skin called the areola. The areola has tiny bumps on it – these are the Montgomery glands, which release fluid that moisturizes the nipple and also helps a newborn baby identify its mother.
Breast Changes During Pregnancy
The breast changes during pregnancy are triggered by hormones. When you become pregnant, estrogen and progesterone increase, and are responsible for all the changes that follow.
Estrogen increases the growth of duct cells in the breasts while also increasing the secretion of the hormone prolactin. Prolactin is directly responsible for producing milk, which in turn leads to enlargement of the breasts.
Progesterone encourages the glands to produce milk in the breasts. Estrogen stimulates the growth of the breast duct cells and generates the secretion of prolactin, another hormone. Prolactin stimulates breast enlargement and milk production.
Breast Changes in the First Trimester:
- Breasts feel tender and swollen
- You may feel an ache up until the armpits
- Nipples become larger and more sensitive
- The areola becomes darker, and tiny bumps appear
- The veins on the breasts become more prominent
Breast Changes in the Second Trimester:
- Breasts feel heavy and full
- Tenderness in the breasts reduces
- You may notice lumps in the breasts, which are often harmless, due to clogged milk ducts or fibroadenomas
- If you had fibroadenomas before pregnancy, they may become bigger
Breast Changes in the Third Trimester:
- Breasts get heavier and denser
- Nipples become large and protruding and may change shape
- Nipples and areola become much darker
- As the breasts grow, stretch marks may appear
- Small amounts of milk may leak from the nipples
Breast Changes after Pregnancy
Once the baby is born, progesterone and estrogen levels come down while prolactin increases. Prolactin signals the body to speed up milk production, which is usually visible about 72 hours after childbirth. The breasts may feel very full and engorged. You may also leak milk if you have an oversupply.
Over time, the breasts become less full and heavy, but they may not go back to your pre-pregnancy shape. Even your nipples may have changed their shape permanently, but they will get lighter in color when you stop breastfeeding.
So now we know that our breasts have a very important job to do once the baby arrives! Breastfeeding is a wonderful journey, but it does have its challenges. You can make this easier and much more pleasant by following a few simple tips for breast care during pregnancy.
10 Tips for Breast Care During Pregnancy
1. Wear a supportive bra
The first and foremost tip for breast care during pregnancy has got to be about supporting your girls properly, especially since they’re going to get heavier with time! It’s a good idea to go to a professional and get fitted for a new bra towards the end of the first trimester or whenever you start feeling uncomfortable.
When choosing a pregnancy bra, make sure the cup is large enough to cover the entire breast without compressing the nipples or breast tissue. There should not be any bulges on the sides or in the middle. The bra should be firm and well constructed with wide straps so that it provides adequate support to your growing breasts. If you exercise, make sure you invest in a supportive sports bra.
Choose bras made from soft, breathable fabrics, and avoid anything with an underwire as it will dig into your skin and breast tissue. Try multiple sizes and brands till you find the right bra for you. Getting the right support also ensures that you don’t end up with back pain during pregnancy due to the weight of the breasts.
2. Wear a sleeping bra
If you’re used to sleeping braless, you may find that this becomes uncomfortable as your pregnancy moves ahead. This is particularly true for women who have large breasts, and the tenderness can affect a good night’s sleep.
Fix this with a soft-cup sleeping bra, which is different from a regular bra you’d wear during the day. Sleeping bras are often softer, have less support and offer more movement. Many of these also work well as nursing bras, especially if they have an overlap pattern.
3. Use cooling gel pads
When your breasts are sore and tender, and your nipples are extra-sensitive, it helps to apply some cooling gel pads on your breasts. These can be placed in the fridge so they’re nice and cool when you need them. Simply place them inside your bra and they’ll offer instant relief for the soreness and tenderness.
4. Massage the breasts
Massaging the breasts is an easy tip for breast care during pregnancy and can be done every day from around the second trimester onward. Use an oil like olive oil or coconut oil so the massage is easier and your skin doesn’t get dry.
Massaging the breast improves blood circulation, boosting milk production and unclogging milk ducts. Doing a massage regularly also familiarizes you with your breasts so you can spot any changes right away.
If you have inverted nipples, a massage can also help draw them out. Start your massage from the outer edges of your breast and move in circular directions towards the nipples. Be careful not to overstimulate the nipple – it could lead to premature labor.
5. Wear a nipple shield
If your inverted nipple condition is severe, you can get external help from a nipple or breast shield. You’ll know if you have inverted nipples if they lay flat when cold or stimulated. Inverted nipples can prevent your baby from latching on properly, leading to problems while breastfeeding.
Nipple shields are usually made of silicone and comes in different sizes so you can find your exact match. Simply place them in the right position and create a vacuum that helps draw out the inverted nipple. Wear it for short periods at a time till you get used to it, and then you can wear it for longer.
6. Moisturize the breasts
You’ve heard of people getting stretch marks on their abdomen, but it can also happen on your breasts! As the breasts grow, the skin stretches, leading to itchiness and dryness. Use a gentle body moisturizer after your shower so the skin is able to absorb all the moisture.
Pregnancy skincare is particularly important during winter, when the air is extremely dry. Don’t forget the nipples – moisturizing them can prevent future cracks.
7. Avoid soap
A lesser-known tip for breast care during pregnancy is to avoid soap on the breasts. Soap can be quite drying, stripping the skin of its natural oils and leaving it feeling parched and itchy. In extreme cases, the skin can crack, and it can lead to infection.
Don’t worry about not staying clean – all you really need to clean your breasts and nipples is plain lukewarm water. If you absolutely need something extra, go for an all-natural, moisturizing bathing bar that won’t be as drying as soap.
8. Keep the breasts dry
So you know how to clean and moisturize your breasts – the next thing to do is to make sure they stay dry! This is especially important in the later stage of pregnancy, when your nipples begin to leak small amounts of milk called colostrum.
As mentioned earlier, all you need to clean colostrum is warm water – no need of soap. Pat dry with a soft towel – don’t rub. If leakage is a constant problem, invest in soft breast pads that’ll absorb the moisture and keep the nipple and areola dry.
9. Learn about breastfeeding
While you’re learning about breast care during pregnancy, it’s a good idea to get educated on breastfeeding as well. Although breastfeeding is said to be a natural process, it may not come naturally to new mothers, so it helps to be informed beforehand.
Learn about how to get the right latch, different breastfeeding positions to try, common feeding challenges, and how to use a breast pump. Attend any prenatal classes online or near you, and find a lactation counselor in your area. These are experts who can make a significant difference to your breastfeeding journey.
10. Check your breasts every day
An added benefit of breast care during pregnancy is that you can instantly spot any changes in your breasts if you care for them regularly. Look for lumps, discharges, discolorations, pain or anything unusual. Yes, your breasts will continue to change, but if you feel like something is off, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.
While all women should spend some time and effort on breast care during pregnancy, there are certain categories of women who should take breast care a little more seriously. These are women who’ve had any kind of breast surgery, issues with breast development during puberty, and hormonal conditions like PCOS or thyroid imbalances.
Women who have lifestyle diseases like obesity or diabetes also need to take extra care of their breasts during pregnancy. We know this might seem like another chore to add to your to-do list when you’re already tired, but trust us – the effort will pay off when you’re nursing your little one and he latches on like a pro!
References:
Prerna is the founder, editor and owner of ‘Maa of All Blogs’, one of India’s Top Parenting Blogs. Besides being a certified Ashtanga Yoga instructor, she is also a fashion designer and economics graduate.
When she’s not busy running her home and business, she ensures she stays active – whether it’s running the half marathon, completing the Oxfam walk or climbing to the Everest base camp. Prerna enjoys wearing all her hats, and she does so in style!
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