Breast Tenderness

One of the most common pregnancy symptoms is the changes that begin to occur in your breasts that cause tenderness. From the very beginning of your pregnancy term, your breasts begin to change and prepare for the arrival of the baby. All of the changes are normal, except for something such as bleeding from your nipples. If that’s the case you should seek medical attention. As for all the other changes, don’t panic, it’s apart of the natural preparations every woman goes through once conception has happened. Lets break down each part of your breast and discuss what changes are occurring and why.

Breasts
Besides tenderness, you notice you breasts begin to increase in size due to the milk glands growing and preparing to make milk for the baby. Also, as your breasts increase in size, you’ll notice veins that begin to show. Again, this is normal.

Nipples
Nipples also increase in size. They become more prominent and later in the pregnancy stages you might encounter leakage, called colostrum. Colostrum could leave a crusty substance on your nipples. This too is normal.  The colostrum is usually clear with a yellowish tint in color. If the colostrums is red or reddish, it means blood is present and you should contact your doctor.

Areolas
Your areolas will grow larger and become slightly darker in color. The change of the color helps the baby to distinguish nipple from skin, making the latch-on rate much more successful. You may also notice small bumps on the surface of your areola. These bumps are called Montgomery’s tubercles. They are harmless and actually provide an antibacterial shield. The oil produced from them keeps the nipples healthy. At this point, you should only rinse them with water and not soap to ensure you don’t wash away your body’s natural defense against germs.

Remember, these changes will not happen over night, only gradually as your pregnancy term carries on. In the early stages of pregnancy, when most women are still unsure whether or not they’re pregnant, breast tenderness is just another possibility for it. Many women experience breast tenderness as their menstrual cycle approaches, disguising the possibility of actually being pregnant. It will only take a positive pregnancy test, or word from the doctor to, coupled with other pregnancy symptoms such as a missed period that will conclusively determine your pregnancy.