Many pregnant women that ignore breast care. It may be because the lazy or really do not know the benefits of breast care during pregnancy. Breast care during pregnancy is very important to the smooth milk soon after birth. In fact, with proper breast care, breast milk production will be sufficient, and the shape of the breast will remain good during breastfeeding.
As we know, breasts during pregnancy will change. Usually feel tighter, bigger, and fuller. That said the birth weight of each breast to 1.5 times higher than before pregnancy.
Smooth muscles under the breast skin surface also become clearer, blood vessels grow and spread, as well as nipples and aerola (the area around the nipple) becomes darker. In the vicinity of this aerola, in times before birth appear white spots contain glands that produce oil so it can lubricate and protect the nipple when breastfeeding.
Since the beginning of pregnancy, the hormone stimulates the development of milk production cells in the alveoli. The most important hormone in the formation of the milk is prolactin, which started work since the age of 8 weeks gestation. These hormones also maintain the balance of the large number of milk produced at each stage with the help of the hormone estrogen produced by the placenta.
3 Steps for breast and nipple care during pregnancy
Breast care during pregnancy is recommended starting 5-6 months old. If you doing breast and nipple care in early pregnancy, it causes stimulation uterine contractions.
Here are 3 steps for breast and nipple care:
1.Massage
Massage can be done when bathing. First, prepared warm water and cold water in the basin, coconut oil is clean (best if homemade) or baby oil, towels, and cotton.
Wash your breast using water, and then massage using oil. Massage is done using both hands, rotate around the breast sorted clockwise and then reverse / anti-clockwise. After that do the massage from the bottom toward the nipple, but nipples do not need the massage because it did not have the gland.
After breast massage, breast wearing fingertips or the tip knuckle. The aim is blood circulation work better. Next, nipples cleaned by using cotton and oil. This oil is useful for flex and moisturizes nipples when breastfeeding is not easy future blisters.
Finally, clean the breast and nipple using warm water and cold. The goal is to facilitate the circulation of blood. After that, it dries with towel. Breast massage during pregnancy is very important, especially for yang breast milk production and your breast shape after childbirth.
2.Regular Gymnastics
One of the breast and nipple care during pregnancy is also treated with doing gymnastics. It is useful to strengthen the pectoral muscles in the chest, thus compressing the breast and stimulate milk production for the better.
3.Wearing a suitable Bra
Breast size during pregnancy will enlarge, wear a bra that fits and can hold. Do not wear too tight or loose, but it should really fit according to breast size at the time and can sustain breast development. If it's too narrow will impede the development of breast glands, whereas if too loose will look worn down and sick.
