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 1 to 24 of about 78.
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michelle007 - 5 days ago.
Ambar, my areola's are almost all brown (dark brown). This is normal, I had it with my first pregnancy and this time almost my whole boob is brown, not very pretty is it? I can't stand it! LOL! It will go away one day, I can't remember how long it took, but it did go away. I have olive complection (sp?) and maybe that is why. I hate it! Plus my boos are soooooo Big!!! I am out of my G cup and now in a I cup, normally I wear a 34DD, so I am huge, not sure if I want to breast feed with these monsters!!! LOL! Good luck! OH!!! Keep them baby's lubed up, maybe you won't get stretch marks:)

ambar - 6 days ago.
Okay so I noticed that areola on my breasts are getting darker, but I also notices that my breasts are getting darker, like blotches of darker skin. It almost seems as if they were dirty. I know weird. Has this happened to anyone else. I don't know if they are stretch marks, they don't really look like stretch marks. I know its weird but I am so nervous about them being stretch marks. My husband says they aren't, maybe he is just trying to be nice.

Mellissa.Dowd - 13 days ago.
I just have a basic question i was wondering.. what the fluid looks like that leaks out of the breasts and if its ok for it to start at 6 months?

chloesmommy24 - 15 days ago.
I noticed a small lump in my breast near my areola. i have a dr appt next week and i will be asking about it. has anyone had anything like that before?

mybabyismyheart - 19 days ago.
Wow reading through these message I think perhaps I've been spared the worst...til I breastfeed I guess. I seriously was a 42D before I became pregnant and almost 5 months later am a 44D...that's it. Sometimes they tingle a bit at the nipples, but I've yet to experience any soreness as described by so many of you. My only real concern is that they don't get any larger as my back hurts and honestly they annoy me a bit as it is.

shoveland - 19 days ago.
Hey ladies! So I never knew I was pregnant when I had my bachelorette party on Aug 22. The doctors said that I concived on the 15th of Aug. Which idk how when I was with no one on that date. Anyways... Can your BB hurt really bad like cant even be touched a week after you become pregnant?

FLORIDAMAMA - 20 days ago.
My breasts started out a full C cup and I am 27 weeks pregnant and I am busting out of a F cup. This is my first pregnancy and just want to ask if this is normal and how much bigger they will get. I am going to nurse and I was told they will get bigger when my milk comes in but this is getting crazy. They also started leaking and when I go out my maternity tops are always wet. should I start wearing a nursing bra and use some pads. Any help would be appreciated. The good part is my husbands loves the new puppies and can't keep his hands off of them.

singlenewmommyrosy - 32 days ago.
Im 21 weeks and me and babys dad had sex. I dont hurt much when he sucks on them or in general. But its weird he told me that they tasted sweet and now I feel very weird about that. Like If he shouldnt do that. I dont know should I feel like this?

roosa - 32 days ago.
kylasmommy, I would say yes. Some women can actually experience leaking for the rest of their lives, particularly when stimulated.

kylasmommy - 32 days ago.
I stopped breastfeeding in June and my breasts are still leaking a bit...is this normal?

newmommy36 - 45 days ago.
hello everyone. i am in my 13th week and i do not have tender or sore breast anymore. it makes me nervouse because that was the main symptom for me. They look bigger but of course Ive gained weight. Anyone else experience loosing breast tenderness or soreness?

babynguyen2 - 45 days ago.
My poor breasts are in bad shape, my doctor thinks that cause they are so big and just basically hang, that I have injured them. I stopped breastfeeding my 14 month old daughter a month ago and am still having problems like leaking and having pain just on the nipple. Its like milk and collosum (spell?) sorry tmi, cause I'm 20 weeks preggo again. Doc says I have to bind them to get the problem to stop, but its had to bind 46 DD breasts, let alone be comfortable with them and being pregnant again! I'm so worried that I will continue to have problems and I won't be able to nurse my son, did any of you ladies have anything like what I'm having? Please let me know if everything turned out good in your cases, I need hope to get me through the next 20 weeks!

Beautiful Bre - 49 days ago.
mochas4me- after my first baby my breasts were like yours. but after so long they went back to normal. you know.. more perky i guess would be the word. i just had my second baby and so i couldnt tell you yet how they will be. but i hope they go back to being somewhat perky! im only 20 so i hope they dont stay sagging you know!! i will let you know though

mochas4me - 50 days ago.
i'm looking for encouragement from someone. my poor breasts got huge during pregnancy (I went from a D to F which I didn't know existed). I breastfed my daughter for 11 months and now she is 16 months old. they are totally deflated, saggy, loose etc. I am probably a C cup now. the D bras are big. eventually we will have another baby and I was hoping someone could tell me that they experienced the same thing with the first one but after the second their breasts filled out a little more (after all the nursing was over of course). anyone? or do they really just get worse with every child?

dayzahnise - 62 days ago.
My breast have gotten huge.I went from a 36c to double D's. My husband is so happy. I'm waiting for them to start leaking

milo-star - 65 days ago.
I am almost 8 weeks and my tits hurt like crazy, i don't mind since they are getting bigger :)

KCity - 68 days ago.
Dayzahnise, I'm experiencing the same thing... My breasts were tender, and that was one of the first symptoms I noticed before I even found out I was pregnant... Now I've reached 10 weeks and the tenderness seems to have vanished. I'm not sure if it's different bras that I'm wearing that seem to be a little more comfortable or not, or maybe that's just what happens with some people at around 10-ish weeks?

michelle007 - 72 days ago.
I am 23 weeks and my BB's hurt so bad! When I got Pregnant I was a 34DD and my BB's got much bigger about 18 weeks and spent $60 a piece for 2 bras a size 34G (OMG) and since then I had to buy a extender and now I almost can't fit in that! I have not gained alot of weight. I can't afford to buy new bras and not sure what I going to do! I feel like they might explode! LOL! Any idea's?

dayzahnise - 72 days ago.
In the beginning of my pregnancy my breasts were very tender. After the 10th to 12th week everything was fine. Now for some reason at 20 weeks they are becoming tender again and I don't know why.

Bri - 75 days ago.
sarah grogan - Completely normal. It also doesn't mean anything. Some women start leaking early in the second trimester and others never leak. It doesn't say anything about how breastfeeding will go though. If you are leaking badly then go out and buy some breast pads. They'll help with the nice little dots on the front of your shirt.

sarah grogan - 75 days ago.
hey all.. im 26 weeks pregnant and iv notice some leaking from my breast - this normal?.. first pregnancy so im new to all this :)

Shellie77 - 75 days ago.
Im currently 34 weeks and have seen little changes in my BBs. They have not grown or gotten any firmer. The areolas do seem a little darker and the mont. glands seem more pronounced. I have no soreness except for some slight sensitivity in the nipple. HOWEVER - Every now and then, maybe a few times a month, I get a HORRIBLE pain in my nipples like someone is twisting them off! I cant find a way to soothe the pain except trying to forget about it and wait it out. It usually takes about 10-15 mins to stop and they are very sensitive afterwards. Its the nipple only, and the pain almost brings me to tears. What in the heck is causing this and are my BBs broken since Im this far along and have had no other changes?

One step at a time - 81 days ago.
try wearing a supportive tank top at night I too am in my first trimester and have found that it helps alot at night.

gene-jeaniesbean - 82 days ago.
Anyone else having a burning sensation in their nipples? It's soo annoying and painful and how do you find relief or do you just deal with it? I'm in my 1st trimester. Thxs in advance.

campimama - 93 days ago.
Don't worry ladies-they will go back to more normal a while after baby is born. One day you'll look in the mirror and realize that your nipples look like they used to. They may not ever get back to the 'perfection' that you once loved, but that's the price of mommyhood :)