Women’s Health Blog

If you’ve every been pregnant or if you are pregnant
now, you’ve probably noticed a metamorphisis in your
bra cups. The physical changes (tender, swollen
breasts) may be one of the earliest clues that you
have conceived. Many experts believe that the color
change in the areola may also be helpful when it
comes to breast feeding.

What’s going on
Perhaps what’s even more remarkable than visible
changes is the extensive changes that are taking
place inside of your breasts. The developing
placenta stimulates the release of estrogen and
progesterone, which will in turn stimulate the
complex biological system that helps to make lactation
possible.

Before you get pregnant, a combination of supportive
tissue, milk glands, and fat make up the larger
portions of your breats. The fact is, your newly
swollen breasts have been preparing for your
pregnancy since you were in your mother’s womb!

When you were born, your main milk ducts had already
formed. Your mammary glands stayed quiet until
you reached puberty, when a flood of the female
hormone estrogen caused them to grow and also to
swell. During pregnancy, those glands will kick
into high gear.

Before your baby arrives, glandular tissue has
replaced a majority of the fat cells and accounts
for your bigger than before breasts. Each breast
may actually get as much as 1 1/2 pounds heavier
than before!

Nestled among the fatty cells and glandular tissue
is an intricate network of channels or canals known
as the milk ducts. The pregnancy hormones will
cause these ducts to increase in both number and
size, with the ducts branching off into smaller
canals near the chest wall known as ductules.

At the end of each duct is a cluster of smaller
sacs known as alveoli. The cluster of alveoli is
known as a lobule, while a cluster of lobule is
known as a lobe. Each breast will contain around
15 – 20 lobes, with one milk duct for every lobe.

The milk is produced inside of the alveoli, which
is surrounded by tiny muscles that squeeze the
glands and help to push the milk out into the
ductules. Those ductules will lead to a bigger
duct that widens into a milk pool directly below
the areola.

The milk pools will act as resevoirs that hold the
milk until your baby sucks it through the tiny
openings in your nipples.

Mother Nature is so smart that your milk duct
system will become fully developed around the time
of your second trimester, so you can properly
breast feed your baby even if he or she arrives
earlier than you are anticipating.

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PPPPP

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Holidays can already be a stressful time, and mix that with pregnancy and hormones and you can be asking for trouble. Im not meaning for just the pregnant woman either, anyone and everyone in her path. Women already feel the pressure of having that perfect holiday for her family, which is probably why she decides to do 100 things at a time…stressing herself out in the end. However, she doesnt have to have a stressful holiday. There are five ways to make your holidays something to remember.

Mark the Dates
Go out and buy yourself a calendar for the holidays. Post it up on the wall and start marking dates. You wont need to stress out because you wont be double booking yourself. This can also help you in preplanning, mark the day you should send out the holiday cards or buy certain items.

Choosing Your Activities
During the holiday season you are sure to be invited to a couple of parties. It isnt necessary to attend every one of them. Decide which ones youll enjoy the most, maybe two or three and explain to the rest youll miss going but need some rest.

Choose Where Youll Go
Whether you want to stay home for the holidays with your own family or go across country to be with the entire family the decision should be yours. Dont feel guilty telling them you wont be making it this year, explain you need rest and traveling isnt very helpful. You may even want to extend an invitation for the family to come to your house instead.

Designating Jobs
If youve decided to have the holidays at your house you can still have a good time. Dont forget that asking for help is okay. No one expects you to do it all on your own. Do you really have to cook the ham, bake the potatoes, make a cake, clean the house and set up the tree all by yourself? Designate others to help, they’ll feel happy youve given them something to do instead of sit around waiting while they watch you do it all.

Shopping Time
Shopping during the holiday season can be a nightmare that you dont need to attempt while pregnant. Its safer to just stay home during some of those sales. Instead you may want to try shopping online, not only will you be home but you can relax. The only thing youll need is a credit card and let your fingers do the work. You can even do all your holiday shopping early and have it delivered right to your front door. All you need to do is wrap it up and hide it in the closet.

Remember the holiday season is all about making memories thatll last. You may be pregnant but you dont have to sit at home the whole time stressed out, instead you can actually enjoy yourself with these helpful tips. Dont forget to take a little time off to do something just for you, after all you deserve it.

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