This Weird Pregnancy Symptom Has Blown My Mind

When you find out your pregnant there’s lots of things you brace for, like nausea, back pain and oddball cravings, but one pregnancy symptom that literally no-one gives you the heads-up on is shape-shifting boobs.

Before I even had a chance to develop a dedicated addiction to mango, fruit water and lemon meringue pie, one of the first signs for me that something was up, was that my boobs felt tender and ballooned a whole bra size. (I’m in my third trimester now and they still haven’t levelled off. Instead, I’m on my third bigger bra and that’s before we get to breastfeeding). Visibly, they began to shift before I’d even hit month two of being pregnant. My nipples quadrupled in size and darkened in colour like two circular heli pads for my growing baby to easily locate once she arrives.

TMI? Perhaps. But the more I looked into pregnancy and postpartum breasts, the more my mind was blown by our bodies’ ability to adapt and cater to our babies. It turns out our boobs have actual magical powers…

Your boobs are evolutionarily designed to become easy for your baby to find

Apparently, the physical changes I mentioned above are totally natural and also super common. “Yes, this is a completely normal and expected part of pregnancy,” reassures Dr Gergana Peeva, a consultant in obstetrics and foetal medicine and a member of the Luna Daily Medical Collective. “Your nipples and areola often become larger, darker, and more pronounced as early as the first trimester. These changes are driven by increased levels of hormones like oestrogen and progesterone, which help prepare your breasts for breastfeeding,” she explains.

But, science has a little something to do with the change, too. “From an evolutionary perspective, it’s widely believed that these changes help your baby locate the nipple after birth – especially since newborns have limited vision. The contrast created by a darker areola can make it easier for babies to find the breast and latch effectively,” Dr Peeva reveals.

Your boobs can adapt your milk to your baby’s needs

The fun doesn’t stop there. While catching up with other mums-to-be at my NCT class, I got wind of another bust-related wives tale: your boobs can detect your baby’s needs and adjust your milk accordingly. Sounds supernatural right? But growing research supports the theory. “It’s one of the most fascinating aspects of postpartum physiology. Your breasts aren’t just milk producers – they’re incredibly responsive,” confirms Dr Peeva. “Research shows that when a baby breastfeeds, their saliva interacts with receptors in the nipple and areola, essentially acting as a messenger to the mother’s immune system. If the baby is fighting off a cold or other infection, the mother’s body can detect this and begin producing specific antibodies in her breast milk to help protect the baby. It’s a sophisticated, real-time biological feedback loop and a beautiful example of how deeply connected mother and baby are, even after birth,” she explains.

So, what should we do with this information? Given our magical unicorn boobs do such an impressive job of nursing our babies (quite literally) they deserve to be taken care of so they can continue to keep up the good work. “This area plays such a vital role in both immune function and bonding, therefore it’s important to treat it with care,” notes Dr Peeva. She recommends ensuring your boobs remain comfortable by treating your nipples and surrounding skin with relieving balms. “Products like the Nip & Lip Balm from Luna Daily are specially formulated for this delicate skin, safe to use when breastfeeding (there’s no need to remove it), and designed to support the nipple area during such a demanding time,” she says.

So there you have it, one under-the-radar pregnancy symptom that just goes to show how incredible our bodies are – giant nips or not.

For more from GLAMOUR’s Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk

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