A woman, before she becomes pregnant, does not pay much attention to breast care. Polish women are rather satisfied with their breasts, which is confirmed by the results of the Polka and Aesthetic Medicine survey conducted by the TNS OBOP research institute on behalf of WellDerm and Croma. However, during pregnancy, breasts change so much that it is worth taking special care of them. How to do it?
But duringpregnancyand after giving birth, everything changes. Rarely,pregnantor a newly-minted mother has nothing to complain aboutbreasts . A cause for concern is that the breasts are getting "flat, pendulous and much less plump than they used to be."
Breasts - why do they fall?
The problem of future mothers is also the fact that the breasts lose their shape and flatten during pregnancy. This is because the breasts do not support any muscles - this is the task of the skin, which, however, is only able to hold them up to a certain point. What can help? Exercise is the most effective. They can be performed daily, are simple and effortless (see a few exercise suggestions on the next page). Cosmetics also have a lot to show off. It is true that the creams will not lift the sagging breasts, but they can prevent it from falling further, because they make the skin more elastic, moisturized and strengthen the skin that supports the breasts. They usually contain substances that improve blood microcirculation, tighten the skin, and stimulate collagen production. You can also do a lot by massaging your breasts with alternating warm and cool water in the shower every day. The bust and the skin around it like coolness - it makes the skin tighter and the muscles around it contract, making the breasts rise a little. How to do such a massage? We pour a stream of warm water on the breasts once and cool water once (for about half a minute). This massage should last about five minutes and it is good to do it twice a day. Perfectly stimulates blood circulation, but the water cannot be too cold or too warm.
Breasts - provide them with good scaffolding - a perfect bra
A purchase that is impossible not to think about during pregnancy is a new bra. It will not only properly support the enlarging breasts and prevent them from falling, but also relieve the shoulders and back, which is importantin the second and third trimesters, when the belly is already large and heavy. It is worth starting to wear it from the moment the one you are wearing it no longer fits (usually around the 4th month). What to pay attention to when shopping? First of all, do not be influenced by the current size. Before looking for a bra, measure your body circumference under the bust, tight and on the exhale. Round the result down (to the next five), and then subtract 5 cm from it (for example: if you are 88 cm under your breasts, round the result to 85 and subtract 5 cm - your bra size under the bust is 80). This is necessary because the fabric from which the bra is sewn at the bottom is elastic, so it can stretch - a bra with a circumference exactly like that of the body under the bust will not support the breast. Then, loosely measure the circumference of the breast at the nipple level, while wearing the bra and then without it. Take this larger result into account. The dimensions - under the bust and at the nipple level - write down on a piece of paper and take it with you to the store, where you will find the correct bra size using the manufacturer's table. An ideal pregnancy bra must have wide, softly lined shoulder straps with adjustable length, three rows of hooks and eyes on the back, and reinforcements sewn around the cups. It should fit snugly against your body, but not put pressure anywhere - especially under the breasts. When trying it on, make sure it has enough space at the back for the fastener, as the circumference under the bust increases with the belly. The bra may have underwires, because - if the size is correctly selected - they do not constrict the milk ducts and do not hinder the proper flow of blood and lymph in the mammary glands. They are even recommended for large breasts, because only such a bra has a chance to properly support them. When buying a seamless bra, make sure it does not stretch too much under the bust, as it will not provide adequate support for large breasts.
Breasts grow and hurt
Hormones have an influence on how the breasts look during pregnancy and how they “behave” when they are pregnant. A few days after conception, the breasts may become sensitive - just like before menstruation, but the only difference is that the sensitivity lasts much longer. In the 5th-8th During the week of pregnancy, due to the effects of estrogen, the areola around the nipples becomes darker, the nipples become tender, and blood vessels may show through the skin. Around the 10th week of pregnancy, the breasts become swollen and painful to touch. This is a signal that although the pregnancy will last a long time, the breasts have already begun to prepare for the production of milk. Under the influence of hormones, the lobes of the mammary gland located in adipose tissue begin to enlarge - just before or immediately after delivery, they will start producing milk. If you have sensitive,sore nipples, you can sleep in a bra even throughout your pregnancy. This will prevent the nipples from rubbing against the pajama fabric. The best bras for this purpose are bras made of a fabric that has the ability to wick moisture away from the skin,
e.g. Microfiber sports bras.
Pregnant breasts before stretch marks
In the first half of pregnancy, the breasts can grow by up to 300 g, which means they will be larger than before. This is good news for women who have always wanted more breasts. But such a rapid growth rate does not always match the skin's capabilities, which results in stretch marks. There is probably no woman who has not heard of them. Their direct cause is stretching and cracking of collagen fibers, which together with elastin form a kind of mesh supporting the skin. But hormones are also involved, specifically cortisol, which the adrenal gland produces more during pregnancy. It interferes with the work of collagen-producing cells, which makes the fibers weaker and break when the skin on the breast begins to stretch. At first stretch marks are red or pink, then they fade away. Can they be prevented? Dr. Dorota Kwiatkowska, a dermatologist from the Skin Clinic in Warsaw, believes that you can try.
However, it is best to start prophylaxis before getting pregnant, because strengthening collagen fibers so that they do not break is a process that takes time. There are several ways to prevent stretch marks. The first is cosmetics that prevent stretch marks. They will only be effective if used regularly twice a day for a long period of time. It is best to apply them gently, in a circular motion from bottom to top. We start from the armpit towards the sternum, then move the hand up to the neck and further towards the collarbone. It is important to avoid the warts, because their stimulation causes the release of oxytocin and may cause contractions. Another method is beauty salon treatments, especially those from the series for expectant mothers. A beautician may suggest a skin firming treatment based on algae, microelements or plant extracts. Cooling masks are also recommended, as they solidify on the skin, tighten and moisturize it.
Nursing bra
You can buy a nursing bra up to a month before your due date. When choosing it, also take into account the circumference under the bust - but the one you had before pregnancy, and add two sizes to the cup size, because this is how your breasts will grow when lactation starts. One bra is not enough, you'll need a few to change. For the first month of puerperium, when the breasts are still very sensitive, it is worth having a non-wired bra, then you canbuy a bra with underwire. When breastfeeding, bras with detachable cups work best. Not necessarily white - you have to wash them often, and white quickly turns gray.
The first milk appears in the breasts
In the third trimester, a yellowish liquid - colostrum - may leak from the breasts. It contains a large dose of immune cells and ingredients necessary for a child in the first days of life. Sometimes it leaks earlier, but that doesn't mean it will run out later. Only wear breast pads to keep your blouse free from stained. Dried colostrum must not be scraped off, so wash your breasts several times a day with warm water. You should see your doctor if you start to see a blood-colored discharge from your breasts, your nipples are red and sore, you feel a lump or you have breast pain. I recommend professional treatments in the office to my clients. One of the methods is the ICOONE treatment. It involves a special type of drainage massage. The device allows us to choose a program that shapes the selected part of the body, and one of the programs has been developed especially for young mothers. The treatment is performed with the use of two massage heads. Each of them has rollers with numerous micro-holes that stimulate fibroblasts by means of vacuum. The treatment allows you to effectively tighten loose skin, reduces lymphatic edema and shapes. I also recommend the Senum Bioline Jato treatment. The cosmetics used for it allow you to create an invisible coating on the skin - a "shield", which gives the effect of a "natural bra". Thanks to this, we can firm the breasts and carry out a gentle lifting. However, in order to restore your breasts to their former appearance, you need to focus on long-term action, and a series of treatments in the office should be supported with home care with cosmetics that moisturize and firm the skin of the bust.
Remedies for flat nipples
Your nipples are retracted and you suspect this may be the cause of later feeding problems? Don't try to force them out - it's better to ask your pregnancy doctor to see if the nipples are really flat. If so, your gynecologist may recommend:
- Hoffman's exercises - grab the nipple with two fingers and stretch it gently in opposite directions, vertically and horizontally; repeat the exercises 2-3 times a day, 10 times
- correction pads - they are put on the breasts from the third trimester of pregnancy, first for 2-3 hours, gradually increasing this time to 8 hours a day
- nipple lifting device (costs PLN 200-300) - it is used before the planned pregnancy, during the first two trimesters and at the beginning of the puerperium.