Breast engorgement is a condition characterized by the following symptoms: breast swelling, tightness, tenderness. Such a condition may be a sign of a disease or the result of malnutrition, stress, medication, etc. To determine the cause of breast engorgement, a specialist consultation is necessary. Timely treatment will eliminate unpleasant symptoms and help prevent the development of breast diseases.
Causes of breast swelling in women
The female breast is a very sensitive organ that is sensitive to many changes that occur in the body. Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and also before menstruation are especially acute on the condition of the breast. During such periods, women often face such a problem as breast engorgement.
Breast swelling before period
Hormonal changes beforemonthly lead to unpleasant sensations. The second phase of the menstrual cycle is characterized by a change in the level of progesterone, which is manifested by sensations of heaviness in the chest. Normally, such sensations should pass with the onset of menstruation. If breast engorgement before critical days is accompanied by severe pain, small seals are felt in the chest, which do not disappear with the onset of menstruation, then you should consult a doctor to find out the cause of this condition. The reason for contacting a specialist is breast swelling after menstruation, this can be a sign of various diseases or hormonal disorders. A disease such as mastopathy may be accompanied by discomfort in the chest both before and after menstruation.
Breast swelling in girls
The reason for such changes is the maturation of the genitals, which is accompanied by hormonal changes. After the menstrual cycle is established and the hormonal balance is restored, breast engorgement in girls is noted only on certain days of the cycle. If pain and swelling appear regardless of the day of the cycle, it is necessary to visit a mammologist.
Breast engorgement during pregnancy
It is normal for a woman who is expecting a baby to swell her breasts. During pregnancy, the production of hormones increases, due to which the mammary gland increases, which causes discomfort. Unpleasant sensations pass with the completion of breastfeeding. When darknipple discharge, lumps, severe pain should see a doctor.
Breast engorgement during lactation
Breast engorgement during lactation is accompanied by seals in the chest, swelling, redness, blockage of the milk ducts, which prevents the release of milk, pain, fever. The chest fills up, becomes hard, which leads to discomfort.
After the birth of a baby, colostrum is formed in the mother's breast, which is replaced by mature milk after three days. In the process of this, the mammary glands are filled, compacted, and pain occurs. This condition is completely normal and is called physiological breast engorgement, it goes away after a few days after the start of feeding. If discomfort persists for a long time, feeding does not bring relief, you should consult a doctor, as this may be a sign of blockage of the milk ducts or mastitis.
To avoid such problems during feeding, it is necessary to breastfeed the baby every two hours, while making sure that the baby is latching on correctly.
Breast engorgement may occur when breastfeeding is abruptly stopped. In addition, such a condition is also possible if the child sucks out less milk than it is produced, for example, during an illness or during the introduction of complementary foods.
If you avoid breast engorgementfailed, you can use some tips to alleviate the condition:
- a warm shower or bath will help eliminate unpleasant symptoms. You can wrap the breasts with a warm, damp terry cloth to help release excess milk;
- gentle massage movements help soften the mammary glands;- the most natural way to eliminate discomfort is to feed the baby.
To prevent engorgement of the mammary glands, as a preventive measure, at the end of feeding, you can put something cold on the breast, use protective caps and breast pumps, and wear a comfortable bra.
Fluid retention
This is another reason for breast swelling. In this case, you need to adjust your diet and lifestyle. Excess caffeinated drinks, s alty and fatty foods in the diet, lack of exercise leads to fluid retention.
Uncomfortable underwear
Wearing a tight bra that has hard inserts, underwire, or doesn't fit properly will disrupt the circulation of blood to the mammary glands. Therefore, it is very important to choose comfortable, loose underwear that fits the size, does not squeeze the chest and does not cause discomfort.
Medications
The use of certain medications can also lead to certain changes in the breast, which are accompanied by swelling. If you find such a relationship, you should seek the advice of a doctor. Maybe,you will need to take diuretics, which helps to remove fluid from the body. Hormonal contraceptives can also cause this condition, in which case a gynecologist should be consulted.
Breast swelling in newborns
Breast engorgement in newborns is not uncommon. This condition is called a sexual crisis. The reason for it is the entry of mother's hormones through the placenta to the baby. Symptoms disappear in the third week. Breast engorgement in newborns will not affect the further development of the child's body and is not dangerous. It is forbidden to apply compresses, squeeze the mammary glands and perform other procedures.
Breast engorgement in newborn girls and boys, which is accompanied by pain, fever, anxiety of the baby or other symptoms, requires a visit to the doctor. Similar signs may indicate the development of mastitis. The reason for it may be improper care, attempts to get rid of breast swelling with ointments and warming up.
This condition is treated by applying compresses, absorbable ointments and antibiotics, sometimes it is necessary to surgically remove pus from swollen mammary glands.
Boy breast swelling
Breast engorgement in boys can occur at any age. In infants, this phenomenon is explained by the ingestion of mother's hormones into the body of the newborn and passes on its own. Breast enlargement may occur during pubertyassociated with the production of male and female sex hormones. Breast engorgement is due to the release of the female hormone estrogen. Most often, only the areola swells, but sometimes the entire breast increases. With an increase in the production of male sex hormones, breast growth stops. There are also more serious causes of this condition, such as endocrine diseases. Breast swelling in boys is called gynecomastia. It can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
The cause of the disease is an imbalance between the amount of male and female hormones, excess prolactin, the use of drugs that can provoke the development of male breasts, and drugs.
The breast can grow up to 10 cm, this process is accompanied by itching, the appearance of seals, discharge from the nipples, increased sensitivity of the mammary glands. In the initial period, when breast engorgement has just appeared, treatment can be quite effective. With the progression of the disease, the glandular tissue matures and the connective tissue increases. With an increase in the lymph nodes in the armpits, a change in the color of the nipples, the appearance of liquid bloody discharge from them, there is a risk of developing breast cancer. These symptoms are cause for immediate medical attention.
Swelling of the mammary glands can occur after taking certain drugs, the abolition of which normalizes the ratio between male and female hormones. In some cases, hormone therapy is prescribed to increase the amount of male hormones in a teenager's body.
When medicines don't work, you have to resort to surgical methods of treatment. During the operation, part of the adipose tissue is removed.
The state of the mammary glands largely depends on the activity of the whole organism. Unusual symptoms, such as soreness, swelling for no apparent reason, are a signal to see a doctor who will help determine the causes of this condition and, if necessary, begin treatment without allowing complications.
