Breasts And Areolas When Pregnant And Beyond

Bigger, darker areola when pregnant and bigger breasts. But why? And what happens after pregnancy?

Some women notice these changes as a sign of being pregnant, while for others, any breast changes will occur way further into the pregnancy.

After pregnancy, many of these changes will be reverted, but not exactly to your pre-pregnancy look.

What To Expect For Breasts & Areola When Pregnant And Beyond

• Areolas before pregnancy
• Areola when pregnant - What to Expect
• Other breast changes when pregnant
• Why changes in the areolas?
• Your post pregnancy breasts

Areola before pregnancy

Areola when pregnant - What to Expect

As pregnancy progresses, hormonal changes in the body can alter the appearance of the areolas. They tend to become a darker shade than they were before pregnancy. The area may become larger for some women. The skin of the areola thickens to become stronger for nursing.

The nipple, which is located in the center of the areola, becomes larger and more erect, which will also help prepare the breasts for nursing. The glands of Montgomery tend to grow in size, these are the bumps in the areola.

Other breast changes when pregnant

Your breast are likely to grow bigger. Some women, who do not notice a major change to their areolas, will at least notice larger breasts, as the body prepares for breastfeeding. Breast soreness is a common experience for those pregnant. This may occur due to hormones in the first trimester. It can also be noticed again in the third trimester, as the breasts begin to enlarge for the upcoming milk supply.

Leaking is another common change of the breasts for pregnant women. The substance will likely be colostrum, a the very first breast milk needed by nursing infants the first couple days following birth. This fluid may be thicker and more yellow looking than regular milk. Breast pads can be inserted into your bra in order to prevent leaking through your clothing.

Why changes in areola?

When a baby is forcefully suckling the area every two to three hours, it can be too sensitive if it does not change to a tougher, thicker skin. The glands of Montgomery get larger in order to protect the breast from infections. The darkening of the area is to help the baby detect where to latch on. The enlargement of the nipples makes it easier for the baby to drink from the breast.

So it is all a matter of making breastfeeding as easy and safe as possible. The body is fantastic, don't you think?! This can maybe be a small comfort too, if you don't really like the new looks of your pregnant breasts.

Your post pregnancy breasts

Most women will notice their areolas returning their normal color, size, and shape when they stop breastfeeding. Those who do not breastfeed can see the changes revert faster than those who do choose to nurse.

For some women, the areolas never look the same as they did before. For many, the color may lighten, but it will not be as light as it was pre-pregnancy. If your dark areolas continue to stay dark way after your baby is born and you stopped breastfeeding, there are skin lightening gels like this one on Amazon available, that can be used also for breasts and private parts. Some people swear by them, others don't notice any change at all. I never tried myself. But if this is a problem for you, it might be worth a try. (But not while breastfeeding!)

An unwanted effect of this is that the breast tissue is being stretched. If you gain a lot of weight while pregnant, your breasts will become even bigger. Research has shown that pregnancy, rather than breastfeeding is contributing to saggy breasts post pregnancy. Certainly not a fun side effect of pregnancy, but unfortunately a reality. By keeping your weight gain under control and avoid smoking, you can do a lot to prevent some of the sagging. Avoiding to breastfeed is not going to help.

Here is a long thread with moms sharing their feelings about the appearance of their post pregnancy breasts.

You can also find an overview of different options for breast augmentation after pregnancy here.

Related Content

• Your post pregnancy body - what you (don't) want to know
• Saggy breasts and breastfeeding - what is the connection
• Moms share feelings about their post pregnancy breasts
• Weight gain during pregnancy week by week

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References:
MayoClinic (2011), Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
Joanne Stone MD and Keith Eddleman MD (2008) The Pregnancy Bible: Your Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Early Parenthood
Nilsson, L; Hamberger, L. (2004) A Child Is Born.
Soderberg, L. (2010) Mammapraktika. B Wahlstroms.

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