Breast changes during pregnancy

Will my breasts change during pregnancy?

It’s normal for your breasts to change during pregnancy. When you are pregnant, your breasts respond to pregnancy hormones. Breastfeeding will also cause changes to your breasts. 

You can also find out more about how your breasts can change here.

Changes in size and shape

When you’re pregnant, your breasts and nipples can get bigger and change shape. This is due to an increase in hormones like oestrogen, which supports the cells and tissues to make milk.

Changes in skin colour

The skin colour on your breasts can change during pregnancy. This can happen around the nipples and areola (the darker circle around the nipple). This is because of hormonal changes that affect skin pigmentation (colour of the skin).

Pain, discomfort and increased sensitivity

Mild pain in your breasts is normal during pregnancy or breastfeeding, but if your breasts hurt it is important that you tell your GP or midwife. Conditions such as mastitis (painful swelling of the breast tissue) or blocked milk ducts happen to lots of people who are breastfeeding. To be treated quickly and effectively, they need to be diagnosed by a GP.

If you wear a bra, make sure you get measured by a trained bra-fitter so you are wearing a bra that fits you well and supports your breasts. Our friends at the National Childbirth Trust have more information about bras when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Visible (easy to see) veins

During pregnancy your blood volume (total amount of blood) can increase, making your vein more visible (easy to see).

Will my breasts change if I don’t breastfeed?

When you’re pregnant your body will naturally prepare your breasts to breastfeed. This is why they can change shape, size and you begin to make milk. This may  make your breasts feel heavy, uncomfortable and sore.

If you don’t breastfeed, your body will eventually stop making milk. This will happen if you start breastfeeding and decide to stop. When you stop, it’s best to gradually stop by dropping one feed per day. This will stop your breasts from becoming engorged (overfull with milk).

Does breastfeeding lower breast cancer risk?

Breastfeeding reduces your lifetime risk of breast cancer. The longer you breastfeed for, the more you lower your risk. It is not fully known why breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer.

It might be because pregnancy and breastfeeding can alter the balance of hormones in your body. Pregnancy and breastfeeding stop the ovaries from producing eggs (ovulation). Stopping ovulation reduces the hormone oestrogen, and this hormone can sometimes cause breast cancer cells to grow.

Breastfeeding can also change the cells in your breast, making them less likely to react to changes that lead to cancer.

We have more information about breast cancer risks factors to be aware of.

Breast lumps

You should get any unusual lumps on your breasts checked by a GP, or your midwife. Some benign (noncancerous) breast lumps are common in pregnancy. These are:

• Fibroadenomas – These are not cancerous, but they are a common cause of breast lumps. If you’ve had one in the past it can come back or get bigger if you get pregnant.
• Cysts (sacs filled with fluid).
• Galactoceles (cysts filled with milk).

These are benign (not cancerous) lumps, but they should still be seen by a GP. 

Never ignore breast lumps, get them checked out.

Blood from nipples

If you see blood, or fluid stained with blood coming from your nipples, you should see your GP or breastfeeding expert. This could be harmless and caused by an increase in blood flow, the quick development of glands that produce milk or trauma to the nipple or breast.

How will my breasts change after I give birth?

Milk leaking from the nipple

A few days after you give birth, your body will produce fluid which is added to the colostrum, making it whiter and more milk-like.

Around this time, your breasts may start to leak milk. This is completely normal, and you can wear breast pads to absorb any leaking milk.

Other breast issues after birth.

As well as your breasts producing milk, you may experience other changes to your breasts after you give birth. Some of these can be due to breastfeeding and may need attention from your GP or midwife.

Sore nipples

When breastfeeding, if your baby does not attach to your nipple properly this can cause your nipples to hurt and become cracked. When breastfeeding, your baby should have both the areola and nipple in their mouth. If they just have the nipple in their mouth, this can cause friction to the nipple.

If breastfeeding is painful, you should get help from a midwife.

Engorgement (Breasts overfull with milk)

Breast engorgement happens when your breasts become too full of milk. This can happen at the start of breastfeeding, and when you start to breastfeed less frequently, like when your baby moves onto solid foods.

Blocked milk ducts

Milk ducts carry milk to your nipple. They can get blocked whilst you breastfeed and as you stop breastfeeding. If you have a blocked milk duct, you may experience a hard lump in your breast or bruised feeling.

You can get a blocked milk duct checked by your GP or midwife. Feeding your baby more often or gently massaging the lump whilst feeding also helps.

Mastitis (painful swelling of the breast/blocked milk duct)

Blocked milk ducts can become infected or inflamed. This can cause your breasts to hurt and turn a red colour. It can also cause flu-like symptoms.

If you have mastitis, one way to treat it is by continuing to breastfeed. The infection isn’t harmful to your baby and breastfeeding can clear the infection. The infection often heals itself. Taking painkillers and staying hydrated can help with the pain, and you can always speak to your GP or midwife if you’re worried.

Breast abscess (collection of pus in the breast)

A breast abscess can happen if an infection like mastitis goes untreated. See your GP if you have a breast abscess, and they can give you antibiotics or send you to a breast clinic where it can be drained.

Thrush (yeast infection)

Thrush can happen around the nipple and areola area or due to a cracked nipple during breastfeeding. It can cause the area to hurt, itch and feel sensitive after breastfeeding.

You can pass thrush to your baby when breastfeeding. If your baby has a creamy path on their tongue, a sore mouth or nappy rash, these could be signs of thrush.

If you’re worried about thrush, see your GP. They can prescribe you a cream or medication for either you or your baby.

Breast Cancer and Pregnancy

It is rare to get breast cancer while you are pregnant, but it can happen. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer is breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or up to a year after giving birth. 1 in 3,000 pregnant women will be diagnosed with pregnancy-associated breast cancer every year. That means around 200 women a year in the UK.

Breasts change during pregnancy and the breast tissue becomes thicker. This can make it more difficult to find changes in the breasts. 

We know it can be scary when your breasts change, but we want to empower you to get to know your ‘new normal’. You know your breasts better than anyone else! Get checking your chest every month and always talk to your GP if you have any unusual changes. You can find out more about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Our friends at Mummy’s Star support people affected by cancer during pregnancy or within 12 months of giving birth.

Can I have children if I have or have recently had cancer?

It’s important to avoid pregnancy during and shortly after treatment for breast cancer. Most doctors advise people it is best to wait for 2 years after treatment before getting pregnant.  

This is because breast cancer is most likely to come back within the first 2 years after you are diagnosed. Having treatment for breast cancer that has come back could be very difficult if you are pregnant or you have a young baby.

Ask your doctor whether there are any risks if you become pregnant. Most studies have found that pregnancy after treatment for breast cancer does not increase the risk of cancer coming back.

Can I breastfeed with cancer?

Whether or not you can breastfeed with cancer will depend on where you are with your treatment plan and what your treatment is. Your specialist doctor will be able to let you know whether or not you can breastfeed if you have cancer.