Breast Changes During Pregnancy

When you become pregnant, not only is your body hard at work growing your baby, but it is also preparing your body for breastfeeding! One of the first signs of pregnancy you may experience is achy, sore breasts which is due to the surging progesterone in your body. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone prepare your breasts by increasing milk-producing cells and ducts to transfer the milk. You may notice changes as your pregnancy progresses like darkening areolas (this helps your baby find your breast at birth!), an increase in size/weight and more prominent veins due to the increased blood flow. You also may notice an increased size of bumps on your areola, called Montgomery Glands, which provide moisture for the areola and secrete a scent to help newborns find the breast. Finally, some women experience leaking of colostrum during pregnancy, but don't worry if you do not experience this as progesterone from the placenta usually prevents lactation from occurring before baby arrives. If you do leak and would like to save the milk, you can talk to your doctor about collecting the milk in syringes and freezing it for later use.

While it can be normal not to experience every change on this list, if you do not notice any breast changes at all in your pregnancy, I recommend speaking to a lactation professional in case there may be a hormonal issue that could impact breastfeeding. Schedule a 1-1 consultation with me for personalized support!