breasts during and after pregnancy

Being a mom for the second time brings about several questions from friends and family. One topic that seems to pop up often is regarding breast changes before and after child birth. During both of my pregnancies, I have to say my breasts did not change all that much. Yes, they did get larger but I did not experience any stretch marks, itching, or soreness that seem to be common during pregnancy. Once in a while, I experienced swollen breasts but I was lucky because it would go away after a day or two. I do have to say that I did have some serious veins under the skin that were extremely noticeable.

My breasts after pregnancy are a different story. Both pregnancies brought about breasts that were swollen, lumpy, throbbing, and sometimes even a sharp burning sensation occurred. I am not going to sugar coat anything - as soon as my milk arrived, my breasts became extremely engorged, and my nipples became larger. It felt like my breasts had been filled with cement! Seeing as how my breasts felt like they weighed an extra 20 pounds, I started to experience back pain because they were weighing me down. I have decided to breastfeed again with this pregnancy and both times I have experienced sore nipples. I have now got into a routine and my breasts are feeling a bit better.

I love love love cabbage, as I use it all the time! If you are experiencing engorged breasts, hit up your local grocery store and purchase a head of cabbage. Throw it into the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes and then apply to your breasts. I also pump at least once a day or will express milk by hand when I am in the shower - it helps relieve the engorgement, and reduce lumps. As for my cracked and chapped nipples I apply my favourite nipple cream. You may remember me talking about it before in this post. I do have to say there is one upside to engorged breasts, for a little while at least, I have the look of implants without going under the knife.

cracked and sore?

 

The other day I was approached by a friend who is soon excepting her first child. We were discussing the fears and joys of becoming a first time parent. One of her major fears about becoming a mother to a newborn was breastfeeding, and all the side affects that come along with it. As most mothers-to-be, she is an avid reader and searches the Internet on a daily basis. Her main goal has been to stay up-to-date with the latest information regarding breastfeeding, safety and other baby-related topics. Many of us are aware that in the first few days of breastfeeding, many women experience sore nipples. Breastfeeding with sore or cracked nipples can be very painful, and I can vouch from experience. I truly wanted to breastfeed my daughter but after a few days of breastfeeding, I was in such pain that I thought I would have to give it up. I was desperate for relief and would do anything to get rid of the pain. Then a little purple tube of Lansinoh lanolin cream came into my life, and changed everything for me. I know there are many products out there but this by far worked the best for me. I found that it was easy to apply, hypoallergenic, and completely natural. My daughter never seemed to notice that I was even using it and I did not have to wipe it off before feeding. Without it, I would have not been able to breastfeed my daughter for as long as I did. So, for you mothers-to-be or the mommies who are out there suffering, please give it a try! 

You can find Lansinoh lanolin cream at your local pharmacy, Babies'R'Us or online here: