This article was professionally consulted by Dr. Nguyen Dinh Toi - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
Pregnant women, in addition to fatigue due to morning sickness and hormonal changes, also have more than normal growth in the chest area, especially during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Knowing how to care for and clean nipples during pregnancy will help protect the baby's milk supply as well as avoid the risk of blocked milk ducts, mastitis, and breast abscesses for the mother.
1. How to care for nipples during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the mother's breasts will grow larger than normal, due to the simultaneous stimulation of the pituitary gland, the placenta produces milk, estrogen, progesterone to prepare for breastfeeding. In addition, during the last 3 months of pregnancy, the mother's nipples have many changes such as: the nipples enlarge, turn black, the areola becomes darker, the nipples often secrete drops of yellow liquid called colostrum. Colostrum contains a lot of nutrients and minerals, is a golden food for young children. Therefore, to protect the source of nutrition for the child, the mother needs to pay attention to the following methods of nipple care during pregnancy:
Not only during pregnancy but at any stage, choosing the right bra is an important factor in protecting and caring for women's breasts. During pregnancy, the breasts will increase in size to prepare for breastfeeding. Therefore, the bra size that mothers usually use will no longer be suitable. Mothers need to choose a bra with a larger size, with a soft, airy material, and a soft inner surface to avoid causing nipple irritation.
To properly clean the nipples during pregnancy, mothers need to bathe and clean the breasts regularly, using warm water and a soft towel every day to clean the nipples, removing dry secretions and accumulations around the nipples. Limit the use of soap to clean the chest area because it can easily dry and crack the nipples. When bathing, when the skin is soft, you can also gently squeeze the nipples to release a little colostrum to help the secretions clear and prevent clogged milk later.
If you see that the nipples on one or both sides are retracted, you need to handle it promptly to avoid affecting the baby's ability to breastfeed later. First, clean the nipples and breasts, then pull up and down, left and right, gently pull the areola skin down, then do it in the opposite direction. Do this many times, 5 minutes each time.
In addition, mothers should also regularly massage the breasts to stimulate blood circulation, promote milk secretion.
If the mother has a lot of milk flowing continuously to the point of wetting the shirt, causing discomfort and bad odor, pregnant mothers should regularly change bras, use gauze or soft cloth inside the bra, and clean the breasts.
It is important to note that strong impact on the breasts and nipples should be avoided in the last months of pregnancy. Improper massage can cause uterine contractions leading to premature birth.
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2. Is early colostrum secretion a dangerous sign?
Colostrum secretion during pregnancy from the 6th month onwards is a very normal phenomenon. First, the mother will see white streaks appear on the nipples, this sign indicates that the mother is preparing to secrete colostrum. A few days later, the mother will show signs of real milk secretion, colostrum is yellow and sticky. If colostrum secretion is too early when the milk is secreted earlier (from the 5th month onwards), you should go to the doctor. It could be a sign of hormonal changes in the body.
If there is blood in the colostrum, you should not worry too much, this could be due to the rapid growth in the number of blood vessels, concentrated around the chest area. This does not pose any health risks. However, if there is too much blood in the colostrum, the nipples are tense and painful, you should go to the doctor immediately.
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