When there is milk in pregnant women - is it a norm or a pathology?

Pregnancy is a complex process of preparing the body for childbirth and the subsequent feeding of the baby. This applies to the mammary glands that under the influence of hormones change, and to the birth of a baby can fully provide it with the most useful nutrition in the world.

The fact that milk appears after delivery is known to everyone. But what about when pregnant women get milk? Is it normal? Future moms are often worried about anything, and this one is no exception. Let's figure out when it really is worth to sound the alarm, and when the milk that is released during pregnancy is just an individual feature of the body.

Effect of hormones

The main hormones that affect the changes in the chest are estrogens, which are fully developed beginning from the 13-16 weeks of pregnancy, when pregnant women appear most often. This is due to the fact that the placenta ripens, in which most of the estrogens are produced. Also, during the preparation of the mammary glands, the pituitary hormone prolactin participates in lactation. It is thanks to him that milk is produced, so if prolactin starts to enter into sufficient quantities in the blood even during pregnancy, then a small amount of milk may start to be released.

First half of pregnancy

Part of women discharge from the breasts appear literally from the first weeks of pregnancy, which often causes them anxiety. Asking their friends whether they developed milk during pregnancy, especially in the early stages, and receiving negative answers, the expectant mother begins to worry that she has something wrong. Most often, fears turn out to be in vain, but if anxiety remains, it is better to get a referral from a gynecologist observing pregnancy to consult a mammologist. Be sure to visit this doctor if the discharge from the chest is accompanied by some unusual sensations.

Second half of pregnancy

When pregnant women have milk after 24 weeks, this is due to the lactogenic hormone prolactin, which is produced in the anterior pituitary gland and stimulates the production of milk. And his admission to the ducts is due to the presence in the blood of another hormone - oxytocin. Usually the milk that is released during pregnancy is not even milk, but colostrum. It can have a yellowish color or be completely transparent, and sometimes pink, if a blood vessel suddenly bursts into the milk duct. All these options are normal, unless the fluid volumes are too large.

If the discharge is sufficiently noticeable, then this may be a sign of a functional disorder of the nervous system. It does not pose a particular danger, however, it will not be superfluous to see a doctor: most likely, he will prescribe sedatives suitable for use by pregnant women. Do not try to pick up medications yourself, it can bring much more trouble than innocent milk during pregnancy, because of which you are experiencing. Even plant preparations are not always safe, because they contain analogs of the same synthetic substances that make up the pill.

When you need specialist help

Consultation mammologist is necessary when pregnant women have milk, and its appearance has the following features. It is not necessary to leave such signs without attention, so as not to miss the initial stages of the development of a breast tumor that can occur during pregnancy.

1. Allocations are only from one breast, while in the other there is nothing like this.
2. In colostrum there is always blood or it is colored pink.
3. Excretions from the chest are accompanied by unpleasant sensations or cause severe psychological discomfort.

An appeal to a specialist will help to establish the cause of such manifestations, and if treatment is necessary, get it.