Visual Changes in the Breasts – As a pregnancy progresses, the nipples and skin that surrounds them (areola) become darker in color as a result of hormones that affect skin pigmentation. Veins in the breast may also become more prominent as the blood supply to the breast is increased.
This is due to the fact that a woman’s overall blood volume is increased to aid the baby’s development. Changes to the nipple and areola include the development of glands on the areola called Montgomery tubercles. These glands are sebaceous glands that become raised, bumpy and more obvious to the eye.
Their function is lubricate during breastfeeding, thus protecting the nipples from irritation, and also to keep germs away from milk before being ingested by the baby. In some cases, these glands can become infected. Medical attention should be sought if redness, swelling or pain is experienced around the nipple.
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Why do nipples get big and dark during pregnancy?
Is it normal for my nipples to get darker during pregnancy? A: Pregnancy hormones do some wild – and unexpected – things to your body, including causing your skin cells to produce more pigment. That explains why your areolas (the skin around your nipples) have suddenly become darker and grown larger.
You may also notice that this area looks bumpier than usual. That’s because of the growth of small glands (called Montgomery’s tubercles) that will eventually secrete an oily substance to protect your nipples from becoming dry and cracked during breastfeeding. Though they can seem odd at first, all these breast changes are completely normal and just a sign that your body is preparing to nurse your baby.
After you’re done breastfeeding, the color and size of your nipples will most likely return to normal. Copyright 2009 Answered by Parents.com-Team Thanks for your feedback! : Is it normal for my nipples to get darker during pregnancy?
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Can dark nipples lighten?
– Nipples naturally change in color over time and due to many different biological events during a person’s life. The color change is nothing to worry about, and the nipples will usually lighten again after the normal body changes have occurred. An individual should consult a doctor to rule out underlying causes and get treatment if nipple-darkening is accompanied by any other symptoms not related to normal events.
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What color will your nipples be if your pregnant?
Darkened Areolas or Dark Nipples – Some of the most common physical changes (and not just darkened areolas or dark nipples, but often darker areolas can be the most visible) to occur during pregnancy are seen in the breasts. Soon after conception expectant mothers begin to notice breast tenderness, swelling of the breasts, stretch marks, and darkened areolas (the skin around the nipples) or dark nipples.
Because of the increase in hormones during pregnancy, many women see their areolas darken or nipples darken, and continue to darken as their pregnancies progress. The color of your nipples and areolas may begin darkening or changing as early as the first or second week, and some women also find that their darkened areolas and darkened nipples grow larger in diameter, especially as the breasts begin to swell.
The darkened nipples may also grow in size or stand out more prominently. Darkening of the skin—known as hyper pigmentation—is also common in the external genitalia and around the anal region during pregnancy.
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Why are my nipples getting darker?
– You may first notice darkening nipples during puberty, At this time, your ovaries have begun to make the hormone estrogen. This hormonal change leads to fat accumulation within your breast tissue. As your breasts grow, your nipples may become raised and the areolae may become darker in color. By adulthood, your breasts should be fully developed.
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Are nipples more erect in early pregnancy?
Darker nipples – Skin changes are common during pregnancy. One of the first changes you may notice is the circle of skin round your nipples (areolas) getting darker (NHS 2019), This can happen from about halfway through your first trimester (Bharj and Daniels 2017),
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How soon after conception do areolas darken?
If you’ve noticed enlarged or dark areolas (the area around your nipples), you may be witnessing one of the first signs of pregnancy, But why does this happen? And should you be concerned? The good news is that this is usually completely normal and can occur as early as a week or two after conception.
Want to get the scoop on this surprising early pregnancy symptom? Read on to find out more about the causes of dark areolas—and when to seek medical attention. If you’ve suddenly realized that your areolas are looking different, you might feel concerned or confused. So what are the causes of dark areolas? Like many pregnancy symptoms and side-effects, dark or black areolas are most likely a result of your rising levels of hormones—namely, estrogen and progesterone.
These two hormones may increase the production of pigment in your skin. “Some scientists believe there may have been an evolutionary purpose for the growth and darkening of the areolas, which was to help the newborn baby find the nipple easier and facilitate latching,” explains Temeka Zore, MD, a California-based ob-gyn and reproductive endocrinologist with Spring Fertility in San Francisco.
It’s also not just dark areolas that you might begin to see in early pregnancy—the area immediately surrounding your areolas may begin to darken as well, almost resembling a web, which can make the areola look even bigger, says Sara Twogood, MD, an ob-gyn at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Some women may also notice bumps (resembling goose-bumps) pop up on the perimeter of their areolas. These are called Montgomery tubercles, sometimes also called Morgagni tubercles, and they become more visible during pregnancy and breastfeeding because your breasts get larger, Twogood says.
- Those Montgomery tubercles are your friends! They help lubricate your nipples, which will be welcome when baby latches on to nurse.
- Their purpose is to secrete oil during breastfeeding to decrease bacteria transfer to the baby,” Zore explains, “and to provide lubrication to your areola and nipples, which may become cracked or dry during breastfeeding.” It’s important to know that there are a few other causes of dark areolas that have nothing to do with pregnancy.
Some people experience darkening nipples as a result of taking certain oral contraceptives or during menstruation. It’s not common, but this could also be a sign of Paget’s disease, a rare form of breast cancer. It never hurts to reach out to your doctor if you experience darkening nipples or any other troubling symptoms.
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