Do you know about the changes in a woman’s breasts during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause? Changes in breasts during pubertyPuberty is the period of time when the male and female sex organs develop and mature. In girls, puberty usually starts at the age of 13 to 15, but it may be earlier or later, depending on the nutritional status and dietary structure. A girl’s sexual development begins with the development of the mammary glands, and the onset of menstruation usually occurs 2 to 3 years later. The onset of menstruation is the time when a woman’s sexual organs and mammary glands develop into maturity. However, after the onset of menstruation, the mammary glands of most girls continue to develop for 1 to 2 years until they develop into the shape of mature adult breasts. It generally takes 4 to 6 years for a woman’s breasts to develop from the beginning to maturity. The girl’s breast in early childhood, is flat, only the nipple slightly protruding, to puberty, in estrogen, progesterone, prolactin and adrenal cortex secretion of androgens and other hormones, the mammary glands began to grow, breast bulge, enlargement, nipple and areola are also enlarged, deepening the color, and gradually, the breasts form a disk, and continue to increase in size is hemispherical. In this development process, some girls’ breasts will feel swelling, some even feel pain or tenderness, which is normal. In addition, as the sensitivity of the breast tissue to hormones is uneven during this period, the development of the glands in different parts of the breast may also be uneven, and small nodules may appear locally in some cases, which will disappear naturally with the further development of the mammary glands. Changes in Breasts during Pregnancy and LactationNormal women undergo significant changes in their bodies during pregnancy. From the moment the fertilized egg is laid, along with the hormonal changes in the body, the breasts respond accordingly, in order to adapt to the need for breastfeeding after delivery. At the same time, the degree of development of the mammary glands during pregnancy is also an important factor in determining the amount of milk produced. Breasts continue to grow throughout pregnancy, some even tripling in size. Over time, however, the pain will subside. It is important to be aware of the following: if you notice acute redness, swelling, heat and pain in the breast, bloody nipple discharge, cracking of the nipple and skin ulcers, this should not be taken lightly and you should consult a doctor immediately. Acute mastitis in pregnancy and even breast cancer are rare, but not to be taken lightly. After pregnancy, due to the role of hormones, the mother-to-be’s breasts will have a full development, the growth rate is very fast, so the maintenance of breasts during pregnancy is a lot of learning, first of all, should be the choice of bra, the size of the bra selection to be able to complete the support of the breasts appropriate, do not wear half, strangling the breasts; can not be worn with a steel bracket of the bra, because of the gestation period of the mammary ducts to grow particularly fast, with steel bracket of the bra will be strangled on the breasts, making it possible to wear the bra with a steel bracket of the breasts. The reason is that the breast ducts grow very fast during pregnancy, and a bra with a steel support will be strangled on the breasts, causing the breast ducts to be folded, resulting in the breast path being blocked and the breasts being swollen. Secondly, the breast growth is particularly strong, a lot of fat tissue growth, rather than the real breast cells in the growth of such breasts after delivery is difficult to have a particularly adequate milk, because the secretion of milk are determined by the breast cells, not by the fat outside the breast cells, it requires the mother-to-be in the diet, pay attention to the appropriate increase in the intake of protein, and fat content do not eat too much, high sugar content. After eating too much of something, the body will naturally be converted into fat, but it is difficult to be converted into protein. Third, the full six months of pregnancy, pregnant women should focus on breast massage to help mothers dredge the breast path, dredge the mammary ducts, so that the channel for milk drainage is smooth. The method of massage is not difficult. Pregnant women wash their hands with soap will be outside the nipple to the ring method of scrubbing to the bottom of the breast base (clavicle) were cleaned left, right breast. Nipples should avoid washing with soap, so as not to wash away the outer layer of protective oils, while paying attention to cleaning the scab. After cleaning, you can hold the breast in your hand and massage the nipple from the base of the breast under the collarbone with the middle and index fingers, and knead the nipple with the thumb and index finger to increase the toughness of the nipple. For flat or sunken nipples, gently push the nipple outward by stamping fingerprints and do a full nipple circle in clockwise direction; or pinch the nipple with one thumb and forefinger and gently rotate it and pull it outward, while the other hand props up the areola; or wear nipple shield to make sunken nipples protrude. Menopausal breast changes menopause due to the reduction of estrogen in the body, ovarian function began to degenerate, the glands into a calm old age, its breasts will also change, the volume becomes smaller, flaccid sagging, skin folds increase, etc., at this time, the breasts basically completed the task of its life, and out of the “stage of history”. At this time, do you still need to pay special attention? The answer is yes. In fact, it is precisely because of entering menopause that we should pay more attention to breast health. You should insist on monthly self-examination of breasts and annual medical checkups with specialized doctors, pay attention to small changes in breasts, and check and treat them immediately if you find any problems. Breast cancer is most common after the age of 45, therefore, menopausal women should have a stronger awareness of breast health care and cancer prevention, which is a heavier task. In addition, it is important to note that menopausal women should be cautious about taking hormone replacements, and if they do, they must be monitored under the guidance of a doctor.