Breasts

Is it normal for breasts to be tender during pregnancy?

How the Breast Changes during Pregnancy
Breastfeeding is the final stage of breast development for women who have children. Recognizing and understanding breast changes can encourage a mother about breastfeeding.

During your pregnancy your breast will get about 10% bigger. the following breast changes are normal:

Breast Changes that are Normal during Pregnancy:

The breasts feel tender and fuller because pregnancy hormones are stimulating the milk making parts of the breasts to grow.
The areola (the dark skin around the nipple) is darkening and getting larger so it will be easier for the baby to find the place to eat when he is first born. Newborns like to look at dark circles more than any other shape.
The Montgomery glands enlarge and become more visible as bumps on the areola. These glands make a fluid that cleans and lubricates the nipple and areola. This fluid smells like amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds the baby in-utero) so the smell of the breasts will be familiar and attractive to the baby. Newborns have a strong sense of smell.
The blood vessels in the breasts are easier to see through the skin. The skin is stretching as the breasts increase in fullness. The breasts need a good blood supply because nutrients are drawn from the blood stream into the milk.
Breastmilk may start leaking from the breasts during pregnancy. Even if their breasts do not leak, all moms produce colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk and it is thick and yellow.
By the time a mother is about four months pregnant, her breasts are ready to make milk in case the baby is born early.

`Red Flags` (or Possible Causes of Concern) during Pregnancy:
If either of these red flags is noted, refer the mother to a lactation specialist or her health care provider for a breast and nipple assessment.

The mother has not noticed any breast changes during pregnancy.
Her nipple(s) are flat or inverted (turned inside), either at rest or when stimulated. Women with flat or inverted nipples can still breastfeed, but they may need extra help at first.

How to Care for Breasts during Pregnancy
There is no need to prepare the breasts in any way for breastfeeding. Advise mothers to use warm water only to wash their breasts because soaps may cause dryness. Women should not `toughen up` their nipples. A breastfeeding mother needs at least one comfortable nursing bra. If she buys a bra in the last three months of pregnancy, she should make sure it has a cup adjustment that will allow her breasts to increase one to two cup sizes and can be adjusted around the chest.

What is Engorgement?
After birth, most women will experience some breast fullness and firmness when their mature milk comes in at 3 to 4 days. This is normal. As milk production increases, blood and lymph fluids accumulate in the breast. If the baby is nursing frequently, effectively, and as long as he wants, this fullness will decrease significantly in 12 to 48 hours. Read more in the article on Engorgement.

Leaking Breasts
Most breastfeeding mothers will begin leaking milk at about 3 to 5 days after birth when the mature (white) milk comes in. Mothers leak the most in the early weeks of breastfeeding. At about 2 to 3 months after birth, the mother`s breasts adjust to making milk and leaking decreases. Some women leak milk for as long as they are nursing.

Treatment for Leaking Milk

Wear absorbent cloth bra pads.
Apply gentle pressure to the nipple. This can be done with the forearm or heel of her hand through her clothes.
Wear clothing that will hide wet spots, such as print clothing, vests, fleece and sweaters.
Breastfeed more often, if possible.
If separated from the baby, pump milk when breasts become full.
Have an absorbent cloth ready to catch the milk leaking from the other breast during feedings.

Comments: Breasts

Comments 76 to 85 of about 85.
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saharalu - 439 days ago.
is there anything I can do after pregnancy to re 'lift' my flattened breasts? pregnancy and breast feeding did a number on them and I want them back to their old selves.

JaniceH - 454 days ago.
Hi. I am in week 10. This week I have noticed that I am incredibly quick to irritated and super sensitive emotionally. I thought today how I missed my calm self. Then yesterday my breasts started hurting. Both entire breast hurt so much. I've been so tired from week 6, but when will my stomach begin to show? I hear of others already showing, but not me.

Dustins Mommy - 471 days ago.
My nipples have been really dry for the past few weeks, I am 21 weeks now and sometimes they get so dry the get sore! Anyone know what I should do?

melodilove - 475 days ago.
This may be tmi but has anyones skin on the nipple peal? I haven't leaked yet but is this normal?

ashleyt - 475 days ago.
Please help me. I am strictly pumping (for babies milk) and have been for 3 weeks. I pump about 4-6 times per day. Yesterday when I got finished pumping I started to have a HORRIBLE shooting, stabbing pain in my left breast that didnt go away for about an hour and a hlaf afterwards. (IT WAS AWFUL!!!). The rest of the day, after pumping, it didnt come back but this morning, it came again. I also have a tiny white spot on the nipple tip now, it looks like a little dried milk that I could squeezeout, but I cant. The baby has no white in his mouth and the only symptom of thrush that he has is very bad gas. Does anyone else on here have the same problem? Any advise?

Happyfam - 486 days ago.
Joscelyn - my nipples itch like mad!!!! I was near driven insane the other night after swimming. My theory on it is that they are dry. I notice that lotion helps, but only for a short time... body oil is the only thing that has helped the itching for me, so far. I apply a body oil when I'm still wet from shower, then dry off gently with a towel. My skin stays soft and and itch-free all day. :) Ahhhh, finally!

Joscelyn - 494 days ago.
Does anyones nipples itch? Or is this just me?

mamiebugg - 497 days ago.
Dezzi...you can't say for sure. Mine are fairly even and one side when i pump my milk produces almost twice the amount of the other. One one side I will get 3 oz and the other 6 oz or 2 oz and 4oz just depending on the pumping session.

Dezzi - 497 days ago.
k, well no one answered my question...lol...so I am going to ask it again....lol I am quite lop-sided, and the smaller one doesn't seem to get as full feeling as the bigger one. I had surgery here 4-5 years ago on the small one to remove a non-cancerous tumour. Can anyone relate? Will it work and produce liek the big one after the baby is born?

misz-cashis-april09 - 503 days ago.
i have a sort of like embarrassing question but here it goes anyway.lol i think i might have the flat nipple thing described on this page.. i mean when im cold or if my nipple is touched then it goes into the normal. but if im neither cold or stimulated my nipples are pretty flat, not like completely flat but kind of. i thought this was normal. but is it not? is anyone else like this too?