During pregnancy our breasts are the first to notice changes. It is our body preparing to feed the new life that is being created within us. Your breast will not be the same during pregnancy, during lactation and during weaning. You will observe changes in them that you should know to know when they are normal or there may be a problem.
Changes in your breasts during pregnancy
The first signs of pregnancy are usually first noticed in the breasts. The moment the fertilized egg nests in the uterus, progesterone levels drop, beginning the transformation of our breasts into organs for breastfeeding.
The first changes you will notice will be that both the breasts like the nipples are much more tender and tender, some women even get to hurt. They also grow a lot, and can even be twice the size before you got pregnant.
After 12 weeks, your breasts will no longer fit into your usual bras. You will have to opt for pregnant bras, which are very comfortable. From the second trimester you will notice how your halos have gotten bigger and darker, and the little bumps we have (called Montgomery tubers) are more noticeable. As the weeks go by they will get bigger and heavier. The milk will be ready before your baby is born, you can put absorbent pads to avoid stains.
To prevent stretch marks on your breasts during pregnancy, hydrate them well with a specific cream throughout pregnancy. Although the appearance of stretch marks is also determined by genetics, if we take care of ourselves we will do that they will be much less than if we do not take care of ourselves.
Changes in your breasts during lactation
A Pair of 2 or 4 days after delivery you will notice how the milk rises. The breasts become firm and they feel full. It may take a little longer if your delivery was by cesarean section or you had a traumatic delivery. If you notice that your breasts in lactation become excessively hard and are too full, it may be due to a congestion. This is when your body produces more milk than your breasts can handle. It is something temporary, to alleviate it make sure that your baby latches on well to the breast, massage them while you breastfeed so that they empty better and breastfeed in different positions.
If your baby has few feedings or with more rigid schedules, the engorgement. It happens when your breasts produce more milk than the baby suckles. When one or more lobes of the breast are inflamed, the mastitis, which may or may not be accompanied by infection.
During the first 3 months of breastfeeding it is normal to feel full breasts before each feeding. This sensation will be lost with the passage of time but this does not mean that you produce less milk but that you may be losing some of the fat tissue from the breast. By 15 months, your breasts should be the same volume as before pregnancy or less, regardless of whether you breastfeed or not.
If you feel that your breasts are hot, red, or very sore, you may have an infection. Go to your doctor as soon as possible so that he knows how to assess it and treat it as soon as possible. Also go to your doctor if you feel itchy or flaky on the breasts, as it may be eczema or a bacterial or fungal infection.
Your breasts after weaning
When we stop breastfeeding, this it will go back to its previous state little by little, reversing the lactation process. In about 3 months you should be back to your pre-pregnancy state. The moment you get pregnant, the whole process will start over.
Because remember ... your body is a precise machinery whose changes are necessary to bring to this world the life that is brewing within you. Knowing them will be very useful to know what to expect and not be scared before these changes.