In the background consultation, some expectant mothers will ask: I am only 28 weeks pregnant, the baby has not yet been born, how come the breast milk is secreted? Is this normal?
During pregnancy, the level of maternal secretion changes significantly, including the breast, in preparation for breastfeeding, of which nipple discharge is one of the important features, which is mostly seen in the second and third trimesters.
What happens to breast leaks?
Breast milk production is caused by prolactin. This hormone causes the cells of the breast tissue to differentiate, which makes milk.
From the beginning of pregnancy, the pituitary gland of the expectant mother secretes more "prolactin" than before pregnancy, which can reach 3-4 times before pregnancy at 3 months of pregnancy.
But in fact, it is not that the human body contains prolactin, and it will secrete milk. Progesterone and estrogen are also present in women, which have the effect of inhibiting the lactation of prolactin.
In the first trimester, prolactin is secreted less, and progesterone and estrogen play a significant role in inhibiting prolactin lactation.
Until the middle and third trimester, if progesterone and estrogen are not enough to inhibit the lactation effect of prolactin, the mother-to-be's breasts will begin to secrete a small amount of milk, and the closer to the expected date, the more obvious the phenomenon of lactation.
Some mothers-to-be have progesterone and estrogen in the body can effectively inhibit the effect of prolactin, but there will be no galactorrhea during pregnancy. After giving birth to a baby, the progesterone and stimulation in the body plummeted, and prolactin began to play its normal role again, secreting milk.
If there is a galactorrhea, what should be done
01 If the milk leakage of the expectant mother is relatively mild, the symptoms can be relieved by scrubbing the breast with a towel dipped in warm water. It is necessary to remind expectant mothers that towels should be clean and hygienic before and after use, if the towel is not clean, it is easy to breed bacteria, and it is easy to infect the breasts when wiping the breasts, which will lead to adverse complications.
02 Change your intimate clothes frequently. Usually, expectant mothers will have milk leakage between 3-5 months of pregnancy. Although this symptom does not affect the health of the body, it will cause a lot of interference to the normal life and work of women. It is recommended that expectant mothers change their intimate clothes frequently and often wipe their breasts with warm water to avoid the breasts in a humid and hot environment.
03 If the situation of milk leakage by the expectant mother is more serious, you can purchase some breast milk pads to avoid embarrassing situations. At the same time, the overflowing breast milk pad should also be washed frequently, otherwise it will also breed bacteria, which is not good for the breast
Is all galactorrhea normal?
These situations require vigilance!
1. Sepia discharge
Common in intra-duct papillomas or cystic hyperplasia of the breast, occasionally in breast cancer;
2. Yellow or yellow-green discharge
More common in cystic hyperplasia of the breast, occasionally in breast cancer;
3. Serous colorless discharge
Seen in cystic hyperplasia of the breast, early pregnancy, or normal menstruation.
Galactorrhea during pregnancy, as long as the amount of milk leakage is not large, the milk is transparent or light milky yellow, the breasts are not red, swollen, hot and painful, and the nipples are not abnormal such as cracks, which are normal
If something unusual happens, see a doctor in a timely manner.
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