Table of contents:
- How do the mother's breasts change during pregnancy?
- How are the breasts of the mother after giving birth?
- How to deal with swollen breasts?
Before giving birth, the mother's body is ready for the presence of the baby. The mother's breasts begin to enlarge in preparation for breastfeeding the baby. Maybe for some of you, this causes discomfort because the breasts feel bigger and heavier. But, for the sake of the baby, this is not a problem right? You just need to accept all the changes that happen to you, and remember that soon you will be a mother.
How do the mother's breasts change during pregnancy?
The mother's breasts begin to enlarge at 6-8 weeks of gestation, but this may vary between individuals. Enlarged breasts due to increased fat tissue and blood flow to the breasts, this happens to help the growth of the milk ducts and mammary glands. This enlarged breast makes the veins visible on the skin surface of the mother's breast. In addition, the nipples and dark areas on your breasts will also get bigger.
Due to the increasing size of the breasts, some of you may feel breast pain. Increase the bra size one to two numbers above may be necessary to provide comfort.
Stepping on an older gestational age, some mothers may experience a leak in the breast, which is colostrum (first milk) discharge from the mother's breast. This is normal. It is better to put a cloth on your breasts to overcome this.
How are the breasts of the mother after giving birth?
Your breasts will still get bigger after you give birth. An enlarged breast size is a sign that your breasts are producing a lot of milk that is needed by the baby. After giving birth, the hormones estrogen and progesterone decrease and the hormone prolactin, which is a hormone that produces breast milk, begins to be released and over time its production increases. In addition, blood flow increases to the breasts to help them produce milk.
After the placenta is detached and leaves the body, the body begins to release the hormone prolactin. This prolactin hormone will then signal the breasts to produce milk. Breast milk production is also stimulated by the baby's suction, therefore you are strongly advised to breastfeed the baby immediately after the baby is born.
If you breastfeed your baby immediately after giving birth, your breast size will begin to return to normal within two to three days. The first time you breastfeed, your baby will get colostrum which is good for building the baby's immune system.
If your milk has not come out after delivery and so you have not breastfed for a few days, your breasts will become swollen because milk continues to be produced but cannot pass, feeling heavy and painful. It is better if you continue to breastfeed the baby, try to breastfeed the baby 8-12 times a day even if only a small amount of milk comes out. This still helps to minimize breast size, at least the milk produced by the mother's breast is released and the milk is replaced with a new one. If breastfeeding has not helped to restore your breast size, you can compress your breasts with warm water to trigger the milk to flow out.
If you plan not to breastfeed your baby, your breasts will also become swollen because the milk that is being produced is not expelled, which builds up in the breast. You may also feel uncomfortable with your large, heavy, and painful breasts. That's why you should breastfeed your baby. It is recommended that you breastfeed your baby until 6 months of age because breast milk is the best food for babies.
How to deal with swollen breasts?
Normally, your breasts will begin to shrink a few days after you breastfeed your baby. However, if your breasts remain swollen even after breastfeeding, you can do the following:
- Breastfeed as often as possible, at least 8-12 times a day. This is very important to do to relieve the swelling of your breasts. Give your baby breast milk whenever he asks for it, even in the middle of the night.
- Make sure the baby empties your breast while feeding before switching to the other breast. Also, don't limit the time your baby feeds.
- Also, make sure that your baby is nursing in a comfortable position so that he is latching on well and that milk passes out smoothly.
- Gently massage your breasts while breastfeeding to help the milk pass.
- Express your milk by hand by massaging the breasts or you can use a breast pump to help lighten the breasts. Spend a little, because if you expel too much, your breasts will produce more milk and may make the swelling worse.
- Compress your breasts with warm water before you breastfeed, and compress your breasts with cold water after breastfeeding.
- Compress your breasts with cold cabbage leaves, this may help reduce the swelling of your breasts.
- Wear a bra that makes you comfortable, not too tight. We recommend that you wear a special bra for breastfeeding.
- To reduce pain, you can take acetaminophen after you finish breastfeeding. We recommend that you consult your doctor before taking the drug.
