Breast growth during pregnancy begins between the 6th and 8th week of pregnancy due to the increase in the fat layers of the skin and the development of mammary ducts, preparing the woman’s breasts for breastfeeding.
Normally, the breasts reach their largest volume around the 7th month of pregnancy and, therefore, it is normal for the bra size to increase one or two sizes and for the woman to begin to feel pain and discomfort in the breasts. To avoid discomfort, it is important that women have a bra that is the right size and has wide straps to ensure support, as well as avoiding bras that contain iron, as this can hurt the breasts.
How to reduce discomfort
It is normal for breast enlargement during pregnancy to cause discomfort in women, so it is important to choose a bra that is comfortable, has wide straps, ensuring good support, and is not iron-clad, as it can tighten and hurt your breasts. Furthermore, it is recommended that it has a clasp to adjust the size and that the breasts are completely inside the bra. See more tips on how to properly care for your breasts during pregnancy.
Colostrum, the first milk to breastfeed the baby, begins to be produced around the 3rd to 4th month of pregnancy and in the last months of pregnancy, a small amount may leak from the breasts, which is why the pregnant woman can now buy bras from breastfeeding products that are also great to use during pregnancy. If colostrum leaks from the breasts, the pregnant woman can use breastfeeding discs to avoid getting her bra wet.
Other breast changes during pregnancy
There are other breast changes during pregnancy, in addition to breast growth, such as:
- Itchy breasts as they grow;
- Stretch marks on the breasts due to skin stretching;
- Prominence of the veins in the breasts;
- Nipples larger and darker than normal;
- Pain and discomfort in the breasts;
- Appearance of small “dots” around the areola;
- Irritation in the inframammary fold or between the breasts.
These changes do not always happen and vary from pregnant woman to pregnant woman. If the breasts do not grow as much, it does not mean that the pregnant woman will not be able to breastfeed, as breast size is not related to the success of breastfeeding.
