Mammary gland discharge in pregnancy

Discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy is a phenomenon that is considered absolutely natural and safe for any expectant mother. Therefore, having discovered droplets of liquid on their nipples, pregnant women should cast aside all worries and perceive what is happening as a normal phenomenon.

Most often, during pregnancy, a clear fluid is released from the breast, which is intended to prevent the milk ducts in the mammary gland from sticking together. This phenomenon is common to women throughout their lives, not only during the short period of expecting a baby. Discharge can attract attention from the first days after conception, and occur later - for example, in the fourth month of pregnancy.

It happens that the liquid that comes out of a woman's breast is colostrum. It is absolutely physiological and inherent in every pregnant woman. Colostrum looks like a liquid with a yellowish tint, a watery consistency, and at the same time, has a sweetish taste. Usually, colostrum begins to be secreted immediately after birth, since it is intended to feed the baby. But there are cases when even in the sixteenth or nineteenth week, expectant mothers notice that their nipples become wet from the secretions that have come out. In the first few days after the start of production, colostrum is yellow and thick, but then it loses its color and becomes thin.

The female breast, like the entire body of the expectant mother, undergoes major transformations when the baby has settled in the mother's womb and begins to actively grow there. For example, almost immediately after conception, a woman can feel that changes are taking place in her breasts: they become very sensitive, sometimes even painful. In addition, the mammary glands increase in size, and sometimes become covered with a blue mesh of veins. The areolae and nipples acquire a darker shade, and darken significantly. Also, the areolae can become covered with tubercles, and the nipples themselves become larger in size. These metamorphoses are absolutely normal for the expectant mother, as is the discharge of fluid from the mammary glands.

But there are cases when a pregnant woman should be wary and visit a doctor, because the discharge from the mammary glands differs from normal. Although in these cases the situation is close to natural for most women, only a qualified specialist can confirm or deny this.

Sometimes, although quite rarely, pregnant women notice really strange discharge against the background of unpleasant changes in the breast. Such a situation is, of course, a cause for concern, but only a doctor can clarify the woman's condition, and you should go to him immediately.

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Causes of discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy

The reasons for discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy are varied, although they all have in common the change in the hormonal background of the expectant mother.

• The reasons for transparent discharge from the breast are as follows. They appear not only in women "in an interesting position", but also in a normal one. Since milk ducts are located inside the glandular tissue of the breast, which should not stick together and overgrow. Therefore, throughout a woman's life, a liquid is periodically released, which allows the ducts to be kept in an optimal condition.

During pregnancy, the amount of this moisture increases because hormones begin to function more actively, preparing the breast for the further function of feeding the baby. Therefore, discharge from the breast occurs more often and in greater volume, which is absolutely natural for the expectant mother.

In many cases, the appearance of fluid occurs under the influence of some external factors, such as stimulation of the nipples, the effect of a shower or breast massage, as well as minor anxieties and worries or severe stress.

• The reason for the secretion of colostrum is the activity of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for its production. Hormonal changes in the female body occur so rapidly that colostrum can begin to be produced not after childbirth, but long before this period. In addition, the production of this useful fluid is provoked not only by the activity of hormones, but also by the increased mass of the mammary glands. Also, periodic contractions of the uterus - the so-called training contractions - contribute to the activation of hormones in order to additionally produce colostrum. It is useful to know that sexual intercourse during pregnancy, in which the breasts are stimulated, also leads to the production of this useful fluid.

Colostrum has a unique chemical composition and is more nutritious and caloric than mother's milk. Colostrum contains a rich content of fats, proteins, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, etc. Colostrum can be considered a "vaccine" against many diseases of the baby and a "medicine" that increases the baby's immunity. And this is all because it contains a whole cocktail of biologically active substances that trigger the work of intestinal immunity - the main immune defense of a person.

• The sixth or seventh month of pregnancy can bring unexpected surprises to the expectant mother. For example, some women at this stage begin to secrete colostrum, but not in the usual form, but with blood impurities. At the same time, the colostrum itself changes its consistency and becomes more liquid and watery.

Such "innovations" have their reasons - the expectant mother's hormones are actively secreted and change the entire hormonal background, which leads to changes in the body. The main "culprits" of secretions in this case are prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin is responsible for whether or not a woman has milk, and oxytocin is responsible for the possibility of its entry into the milk ducts.

These discharges fit into the picture of the norm, so they should not cause any particular concern for a woman. But in any case, a consultation with a qualified doctor will help determine whether such a phenomenon is normal or pathological.

• Now let's look at cases when discharge from the mammary glands takes on pathological forms. For example, it becomes yellow or bloody. But in addition to this, the pregnant woman begins to notice other symptoms that confirm the difference in her condition from the norm, for example, regular pain in the mammary glands. Or the appearance of depressions and bumps in the chest, as well as other uneven enlargement of the mammary glands. In this case, contacting a doctor will be the most correct decision for the expectant mother and will help prevent serious health problems.

The reason for such changes is the same hormones, but in this case there is a failure in the coordinated work of the hormonal "orchestra". In this case, discharge from the breast is only one symptom of some more serious disease of the mammary glands, for example, adenosis, mastopathy, other benign and malignant tumor processes.

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Symptoms

The symptoms of natural discharge from the mammary glands are as follows:

• the presence of periodic discharge of clear fluid,
• the appearance of such discharge after stimulation of the nipples and the breast itself,
• the absence of other symptoms that would accompany the presence of discharge from the breast, for example, changes in the tissues of the mammary gland and in the woman’s health.

The symptoms of colostrum secretion from the breast are as follows:

• the appearance of a thick liquid of yellow or white color,
• a change in the consistency of the fluid to a more transparent and lighter color, which occurs several days after the onset of discharge,
• absence of other unpleasant and painful sensations in the chest,
• no change in the pregnant woman's well-being.

Symptoms of pathological discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy are as follows:

• the appearance of regular discharge exclusively from one gland,
• the presence of bloody discharge that continues for several days in a row,
• the presence of a deterioration in health against the background of breast discharge,
• an increase in general body temperature, which accompanies discharge from the mammary glands,
• the presence of pain in the chest, which becomes regular,
• an increase in the size of one mammary gland, when one breast becomes larger and the other remains smaller,
• bright yellow color of discharge.

Having discovered several similar symptoms from the list of pathological phenomena, a pregnant woman should immediately consult a doctor for advice.

Diagnostics

Any changes that occur during pregnancy deserve careful attention from the expectant mother herself and qualified specialists. Of course, there is no need to worry in vain, many transformations in the female body are natural, although unusual. Therefore, in controversial or worrying situations, it is better to consult a doctor for quality explanations and appropriate assistance.

Diagnosis of discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy requires a visit to the gynecologist who supervises the course of pregnancy. If the situation seems questionable to the doctor, he will refer the expectant mother to a mammologist who deals directly with the mammary glands.

Initially, the specialist will examine the mammary glands, asking specific questions:

• by the timing of the discharge, that is, how long it has been bothering the woman,
• by the color of the discharge,
• by localization of discharge from one breast or both,
• how the discharge appears - when pressing on the chest or in a normal state.

After this, the doctor will tell the mother the reason for the discharge from the breast and how natural or pathological it is.

Sometimes, additional examinations are required to establish a diagnosis. The list of such procedures is as follows:

• blood tests,
• ultrasound examination of the mammary glands,
• undergoing a mammogram - a breast examination using low-frequency X-rays,
• the appointment of ductography (or, in other words, galactography), in which an X-ray examination is carried out using a contrast agent,
• undergoing magnetic resonance imaging as one of the best ways to identify problems in the soft tissues of the mammary gland.

In addition, sometimes fluid secreted from the mammary glands is taken for analysis.

Of course, such studies are not carried out often, but only in exceptional cases. Usually, breast discharge is not unnatural, and therefore does not require additional examinations.

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Treatment of discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy

Treatment of discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy is not required in many cases. For example, the clear fluid that is periodically produced to prevent the milk ducts from sticking together is important and useful. The production of colostrum that begins before labor is also a completely normal phenomenon that does not require medical intervention.

But pathological processes in the chest, which manifest themselves in certain diseases of the mammary glands, as well as gynecological and endocrine problems, require treatment of the underlying disease.

Let's consider the main pathological problems that may await the mammary gland during pregnancy:

• Fibrocystic mastopathy.

Characterized by yellow discharge from the breast, as well as painful sensations in the mammary glands. It is also possible to have seals in the breast tissue and an increase in the volume of one or both mammary glands.

Treatment of the disease involves the use of a special diet, as well as hormone therapy and vitamin-mineral complexes.

• Injuries to the mammary glands.

With this problem, bloody discharge appears, and painful sensations also appear. This means that soft tissues in the breast are damaged. During the healing process of the tissues, the discharge changes its color to yellow or becomes transparent.

Treatment of injuries involves the use of cold (ice), rest and the absence of mechanical stimulation of the breast in the form of clothing, etc. Ointments can be used to promote the absorption of hematomas and the healing of soft tissues of the breast, but such a procedure should be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the woman's pregnancy.

• Malignant tumor of the mammary gland.

With this disease, not only dark-colored discharge from the breast is observed, but also peeling of the skin, as well as its redness. Also, the skin begins to resemble a lemon peel and the local temperature in this place increases, which makes the breast tissue hot to the touch. Seals with uneven borders are noticed in the breast. At the same time, the lymph nodes increase, and the nipple changes its shape, as if drawn into the mammary gland.

Treatment of breast cancer occurs only through surgery, as well as using other methods of therapy for oncological processes, which are prescribed by an oncologist.

Prevention of discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy

Prevention of excessive discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy consists of the following:

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle that excludes worries and stress, so as not to overload the endocrine system with hormonal surges. A stable hormonal background contributes to the appearance of only those discharges from the breast that are needed to prevent the adhesion of milk ducts.
• Plan your pregnancy in order to normalize all endocrine problems before conception: the thyroid gland, ovaries, the condition of the uterine endometrium and its cervix, etc. To do this, you need to visit a gynecologist and endocrinologist, and follow all their recommendations.
• At the beginning of pregnancy, you need to update your wardrobe, first of all, by purchasing a special bra for expectant mothers. It does not squeeze the mammary glands, so it does not contribute to the provocation of discharge from the breast. It is comfortable to wear every day, allowing the breast to fit comfortably in it, and also helps support the mammary gland and protect its skin from stretching. If discharge appears, you can also sleep in it, putting a pad inside, since fluid production increases at night.
• Do not press on the breast and nipples when discharge appears to see what liquid is coming out of the breast. This can injure the mammary gland and introduce an infection through cracks that appeared as a result of mechanical impacts.
• It is necessary to observe hygienic measures to ensure the health of the mammary gland during pregnancy. It is necessary to take a shower or wash your breasts with ordinary cool or warm water once a day, and twice a day in the summer. At the same time, you should not use soap every day, so as not to dry out the skin. And from the varieties of this hygienic product, it is better to choose soap for intimate hygiene.
• We recommend taking air baths when changing clothes for at least five minutes twice a day. This will provide a drying effect for the skin of the breast and its nipples.
• It is important to purchase breast pads, put them in your bra and change them every hour.
• Drops of colostrum on the nipples that appear during the day should be carefully and gently wiped off with a napkin, thereby drying the skin.

Forecast

The prognosis for discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy depends on how natural or pathological they are.

• When producing a regular fluid to prevent the milk ducts from becoming clogged, the pregnant woman's condition remains unchanged. Such manifestations are absolutely natural and to reduce their number, it is necessary to follow the preventive measures described above. In addition, it is important to know that these discharges will stop completely or be reduced to a minimum after the birth of the child and the end of breastfeeding.
• When producing colostrum in a pregnant woman, it is worth paying attention to the fact that after the birth of the baby, the colostrum period will be absolutely natural for the mother. And after the end of the lactation period, the secretion of colostrum from the breast stops on its own.
• In case of pathological discharge, it is very important to know what is causing this problem. If the disease is reversible and treatable, then the cessation of discharge from the mammary glands will stop immediately after completing a course of appropriate therapy and eliminating the disease itself.
• If the processes in the body are irreversible, for example, in the last stages of breast cancer, then the discharge from the mammary glands will progress. But it is worth noting that such phenomena are almost never encountered in pregnant women, which gives reason for optimism.

Discharge from the mammary glands during pregnancy is most often a normal and absolutely natural physiological manifestation that stops in a woman after she gives birth to a child and stops breastfeeding. Therefore, of course, the expectant mother should carefully monitor her health, but leave all worries and concerns in those issues that are not worth it.

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