Keeping Abreast

Watch out for these anatomical changes during and post-pregnancy...

- Dr Amit Gupta

Changes in the breasts are one of the earliest signs of pregnancy, and these changes continue during and after pregnancy. Most of the alterations are due to the fluctuation of hormones, estrogen and progesterone in your body. These hormones are responsible for preparing your breasts for lactation. Estrogen promotes the growth of duct cells in the breasts, and secretes the hormone prolactin. Prolactin causes breast enlargement and milk production. In addition, progesterone also supports the growth of milk-producing cells. After giving birth, the estrogen and progesterone levels in a woman's body decrease, and prolactin levels increase. This allows lactation to occur. Breast changes are a completely normal symptom of pregnancy, and they can occur as early as the first week, and last till the baby is born.

Let us understand how the breasts change through the various phases of pregnancy:

FIRST TRIMESTER

The first trimester is the first three months of expectancy, or weeks one through 12. Some of the changes in your breasts in the first trimester include:

PROMINENT BLUE VEINS

During this phase, your body starts to grow to meet the needs of the developing foetus. This causes the veins, that are now carrying an increased amount of blood, to become more prominent and visible. It is normal to start noticing the veins in your breasts and stomach turn larger and bluer in this period.

BREAST ENLARGEMENT