Is it Bad to Squeeze Your Breast During Pregnancy? During pregnancy, many changes occur in your body. You may be surprised when your breast size increases during pregnancy, and your breast produces a liquid. However, there is nothing wrong with a little discharge coming out of your nipples since you will soon feed your baby. If you are pregnant and have found a yellow thick liquid in your breast, it is a fluid that is produced before real breast milk.
You should have to keep in mind that it is not breast milk. When breasts start to produce it, many mothers get nervous and do not know what to do. Colostrum is produced during pregnancy and continues after some days of pregnancy. It is thicker than regular breast milk and contains more proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Answering the question, “Is it harmful to squeeze your breast during pregnancy?” is not as straightforward as “yes” or “no.” This article will focus on informing pregnant women of safe and effective ways to alleviate breast discomfort.
What is Colostrum?
It is also known as liquid gold. Women typically experience nipple leakage during the second trimester. This is not regular breast milk that leaks out. Colostrum is a yellowish, sticky substance that resembles glue. It is a version of breast milk that is even better since it contains a high concentration of nutrients.
Breast leakage is often seen as an undesirable side effect of pregnancy by women. What purpose does this liquid serve when the baby is still a newborn? Colostrum, produced by the breasts, can be stored for the baby before its arrival. If you squeeze your breasts gently, you can extract colostrum.
The timing is the issue to be concerned about. Each pregnancy is unique. Some women experience breast leakage caused by colostrum in the second trimester, indicating that the body is preparing to produce milk. With your doctor’s approval, the right time is after the 39th week of pregnancy. This nutritious substance not only benefits the baby’s health but also helps pregnant women who have difficulty inducing labor.
Is it Bad to Squeeze Your Breast During Pregnancy?
You may ask, “Is it harmful to squeeze your breasts while pregnant?” The answer is no; in fact, it is recommended that you start doing so as early as 36 weeks. Squeezing your breasts is an excellent way to collect some of the nutrient-rich colostrum your baby will require and can help your body go into labor.
The best thing you can do for your baby is to follow this advice. However, you must consider your safety. Squeezing colostrum at the end of your pregnancy could initiate labor. If your due date is months away, you should not rush. In this case, squeezing colostrum may put both you and your baby at risk. Preterm labor poses many risks and uncertainties for both the mother and the unborn child.
If a woman has diabetes before becoming pregnant or develops gestational diabetes, she is encouraged to breastfeed if her breasts leak before giving birth. This is because babies typically have low blood sugar at birth and, if left untreated, can become hypoglycemic. Hypoglycemia can cause severe complications in the baby.
Mothers with diabetes often give birth to hypoglycemic babies. Therefore, to prevent hypoglycemia, the stored breast milk of the mother can be given to the baby immediately after birth.
The Risks of Squeezing Your Breasts During Pregnancy
Whilst it may be tempting to manipulate or squeeze the breasts during pregnancy to relieve discomfort, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and complications.
Firstly, squeezing the breasts while pregnant may exacerbate the pain and discomfort instead of relieving it. Also, the breasts may become more sensitive to the touch, making it difficult to wear clothes or perform activities that require movement.
Additionally, squeezing the breasts during pregnancy may lead to clogged or blocked milk ducts. Mastitis is a painful infection that can result in breast redness and swelling, fever, and flu-like symptoms. Abscesses caused by mastitis may require surgical drainage.
Moreover, pressing the breasts during pregnancy may cause premature labor or contractions. This is due to the presence of hormone receptors in the breasts that can be triggered by manipulation, which can result in the release of oxytocin, a hormone that causes uterine contractions.
If is it Bad to Squeeze your Breast During Pregnancy then how to store colostrum for your baby?
Colostrum can be collected from your breasts without harming the baby. However, you should exercise caution. The best thing you can do for your baby is to collect colostrum. Nonetheless, you must consider your safety. If you express colostrum towards the end of your pregnancy, it could trigger labor.
If your due date is months away, you should avoid rushing. Squeezing colostrum in this instance may put both you and your baby at risk. Preterm labor can present various risks and uncertainties to both the mother and the unborn child. You may think that applying pressure while expressing colostrum can irritate your nipples. The experience can be extremely convenient for you, and you only need to keep adjusting the pressure. Therefore, during pregnancy, squeezing the breasts is not harmful. It is important to take a safe approach while expressing colostrum.
Using the expressing colostrum method, it is easy to collect and store colostrum. To stimulate colostrum production, all you need to do is gently stimulate the nipples with clean hands. To collect as much colostrum as possible, cover your nipple with a container. Nipple stimulation is also necessary for breast milk production.
Always store the colostrum in a dry, sealed container while collecting it. Otherwise, it may spoil and harm your newborn. It is preferable to collect the leaking colostrum in small quantities. If the colostrum does not come out easily from your nipples, do not over-pinch your breasts. Remember, there is no pressure or rush to do anything. Be patient and take a deep breath.
How Do You Squeeze Your Breasts During Pregnancy Correctly?
To obtain the maximum benefit from squeezing your breasts during pregnancy, it is crucial to do it correctly. Use both hands and apply gentle pressure. Squeezing too hard can cause harm. Here is the procedure:
- To obtain the maximum benefit from squeezing your breasts during pregnancy, it is essential to do so correctly. Firstly, use both hands to cup your breasts by gently pressing in with your palms on each side of your breasts.
- Next, massage your breasts in a circular motion with light pressure, after cupping them. Keep doing this for a few seconds. After that, release the pressure and massage the opposite way.
- Repeat this process of applying pressure and massaging for several minutes. You can do this as frequently as you like, but it is generally recommended to do it at least once a day.
When Is It Safe To Start Squeezing Breasts During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, hormonal and physical changes prepare your breasts so that you can feed your newborn right away. However, if you intervene too much too soon, this can lead to premature labor, which can be dangerous for both the mother’s and the baby’s health.
The best time to start squeezing your breasts during pregnancy is when you reach full term at 39 weeks or later, although this depends on each woman’s health and specific circumstances.
Although expressing and storing breast milk before delivery can help alleviate some of the discomfort experienced by some women, this is not always necessary to ensure a successful breastfeeding journey.
From 38 to 39 weeks, you can safely collect colostrum using the syringes provided by your doctor. This gives you a handy supply of this liquid gold in case you or your baby experience any issues. Colostrum is extremely beneficial for your newborn because it contains antioxidants and antibodies that help build your child’s immune system.
Conclusion:
Squeezing the breasts during pregnancy can be triggered by various factors, which is understandable. It may even become a habit due to anxiety or other factors. However, it is more likely due to hormonal changes that alter the breasts during early pregnancy. Therefore, squeezing can help alleviate the discomfort and tenderness that many women experience in their breasts.
As the pregnancy progresses, leaking nipples become the reason for squeezing. It is not something that happens all the time, but it is a common occurrence. Some women may start experiencing symptoms as early as 16 weeks. Therefore, some women may squeeze their breasts to get rid of colostrum and prevent nipple leakage.