Nipple Discomfort

Question

I'm 24 weeks pregnant. My nipples have been very sore and itchy lately. I've got all these little lumps around them and they've even bled. How can I make the lumps go away? Are they normal?

Answer

There are many changes that occur in the breast with pregnancy. It is difficult to know exactly what the lumps are, but it may be normal swelling of the glands that surround the nipples.

Some women get yeast infections around the breast and this can cause itching as well. But in a nonlactating woman, the itching usually occurs under the breast, where we have more moisture from sweating.

I would recommend an examination by your doctor to evaluate this.

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