“Breast care during pregnancy should be started as soon as the woman discovers that she is pregnant and is designed to reduce the pain and discomfort of her growth, prepare her breast for breastfeeding and prevent the onset of stretch marks.
During pregnancy, breasts change to prepare for lactation, becoming larger, heavier and more painful. In addition, areola is darker and more sensitive and breast veins are more prominent, so it is important to take several precautions.
The main changes and care needed are
With weight gain, the growth of the abdomen and the onset of breast milk production, it is normal for the breasts to enlarge and hurt a little or become more sensitive. This sensation usually begins between the sixth and seventh weeks of pregnancy, but in some women it may appear later, depending on breast growth.
What to do to relieve: An excellent solution is to use a bra to hold during the day and night, as it helps to support the weight and volume of the breasts. The bra should preferably be cotton, have wide shoulder straps, hold the breasts, have no iron support and it is important that, as the breasts grow, the pregnant woman increases the size of the bra.
Starting in the third trimester, pregnant women will be able to wear a lactation bra to get used to it, as they should use it after the baby is born. Get more tips to reduce breast growth discomfort during pregnancy.
Due to hormonal changes and increased blood vascularity of the breasts, it is normal for areolas to be darker than normal. This new color should remain during breast-feeding, but will return to normal once the baby has stopped breastfeeding exclusively.
Some women have balls around the areola. These balls are actually Montgomery tubers, a type of fat gland much needed for breastfeeding to protect the mother’s skin. During pregnancy and lactation, it is normal for these small glands to be more prominent, which is not a cause for concern.
Rapid enlargement of the breasts during pregnancy can cause stretch marks that also cause itchy skin.
What to do to avoid stretch marks: You should apply a stretch marks cream to the breasts, at least twice a day, avoiding areola and nipple. There are good brands found in pharmacies or drugstores, but the application of sweet almond oil is also a good strategy. Learn how to make and use a homemade stretcher cream.
In the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, especially in the last weeks or days of gestation, if the woman presses the nipple correctly, you will be able to observe the presence of small drops of milk, which is actually colostrum, a very rich milk that has everything you need. the newborn must be fed for the first few days. After a few days, the milk becomes stronger and arrives in greater quantity, becoming whiter and less watery. Understand what colostrum is.
The vascularity of the breasts becomes more evident because with the growth of the breasts, the skin stretches a lot and leaves the veins more visible, which can have a greenish or blue color, being quite normal.
To prepare breasts for breastfeeding, pregnant women should
Another tip to prepare breasts for breastfeeding is to massage the breasts once or twice a day, starting in the 4th month of pregnancy, because the massage helps make the nipple more prominent for lactation, facilitating the aspiration of milk by the baby. To massage, simply hold the breast with both hands, one on each side, and apply pressure from the base to the nipple, about 5 times, then repeat, but with one hand up and the other under the breast. Learn more tips for preparing your breasts for breastfeeding.