Did You Notice These Breast Tubercles During Pregnancy

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You must have noticed the little signs of changes in your body when you got pregnant. Did you also happen to notice the small goose bump like raised areas on your breasts? These tiny goose bump-like structures are called Montgomery’s Tubercles and may occur as one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Montgomery’s Tubercles are probably the first signs of pregnancy. These are neither additional nipples nor anything that would interfere with breastfeeding. So, don’t let that brow frown. But here are a few more things you might want to know about Montgomery’s Tubercles:

Montgomery glands are named after Dr. William Fetherstone Montgomery, an Irish obstetrician who first described them in 1873.

Montogomery’s glands are also called Areolar glands. These are sebaceous glands that occur in the areola. Their chief function is to produce oily secretions just like sebaceous glands would produce sebum elsewhere in the body. The oily secretions help in protecting the nipple and help to keep it lubricated. Lubrication of breast is especially useful when it comes to breastfeeding as it not only helps in suckling but also protects the baby from infections. Therefore, Montgomery’s glands have an important role in pregnancy and lactation.

The number of the tubercles might vary from a few to up to 30. They might also vary from women to women.

The tubercles might not only occur on the areola, but also on the nipples.

They could appear in case of a missed period as well.

Quite a few women notice these bumps when pregnant, while others may have them at later stages of pregnancy as well.

Bumps on the tubercles can also be caused by stress, physical changes, or hormonal imbalance.

The tubercles may grow at times – irrespective of whether you are pregnant or not.

Montgomery’s glands are normal, and they will always be present on your breast. But they only get pronounced due to the reasons mentioned above.

These tubercles might not always indicate a pregnancy, but the chances might be that you are.

In case you see any discharge from the tubercles, it is likely that you are showing the signs of breast cancer. In such an event, you must contact your doctor at once.

At times the ducts might be blocked by dead skin cells just like the acne that develop on the face. In case your doctor confirms that the tubercles have risen due to clogged pores, you could use a mild cleanser such as five percent benzoyl peroxide bar or Neutrogena wash. These can be bought without any prescription.

The other way to clean the tubercles is by using a gentle exfoliating product. You might want to moisturize the area with creams that have aloe vera. Ensure that the products that you apply on the area are tagged by labels reading ‘non-comedogenic’, which means that these products would not clog your pores.

While cleaning, it might be better to simply rinse your breasts than applying soaps or oils that can irritate the Montgomery tissues, especially when you are a nursing mother.

While some mothers may not worry about them, some might take silly measures such as popping them and inflicting an infection. You should not meddle with these glands. If you have any concerns, you could talk to your doctor for further information.

So, now you should be less surprised when you see these bumps on your breasts! They are no cause for worry!

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