Unilateral colostrum is a normal phenomenon during pregnancy or a risk of warning abnormal changes in the mother's body? Let's find out the unusual signs and symptoms of unilateral colostrum as well as instructions to take care of mothers during pregnancy.
What is colostrum?
Colostrum (or nipple discharge) is the release of a clear or milky white fluid on one or both breasts. Exuded by the same mechanism as the breast produces milk. The state of the fluid is also varied, it can be thick and sticky or as liquid as water.
Colostrum is yellow, slightly sticky, appears late in pregnancy and circulates through the mother's mammary glands within the first 72 hours of birth and appears 2 days after birth. The colostrum will then gradually turn a milky white color. Colostrum phenomenon is not a signaling factor for labor or miscarriage but only a natural phenomenon due to the strong work of the mammary glands to prepare milk for the coming baby. Depending on the mother's condition and the health of the mother, the color and amount of colostrum will be secreted differently.
Signs of abnormal colostrum
One of the first signs of abnormalities is unilateral colostrum, especially when the fluid is secreted only in one mammary duct, sometimes palpation of the chest to see the tumor. But in some cases, the mother produced colostrum on one side, but when she went to the doctor's office, it was normal that it could only be due to the nipple lag, affecting the milk duct.
In case the mother produces colostrum early in the 4-6 months of pregnancy, it is also a sign that mothers need to pay attention to. Finally, to know exactly whether unilateral colostrum is abnormal, mothers need to pay more attention to observe the properties of secretions.
Unusual nipple discharge when:
Clear aqueous nipples: The fluid is colorless, transparent, sometimes sticky, leaving no marks after it comes out. This fluid may be a sign of breast cancer, the mother should pay close attention to this condition and go to the hospital for examination.
Pus-mixed discharge: The main cause is dilation or inflammation of the mammary glands.
Pale yellow colostrum: This is the most common type of discharge in abnormal mammary diseases, especially breast proliferation. There are also some cases due to a ductal tumor or breast cancer.
Bloody secretions: If the mother is in this situation, be very careful because up to 50-70% of the tumor is in the duct and 15% is from breast cancer. If you have bleeding colostrum after menstruation, up to 75% will develop breast cancer.
However, when a tumor in the chest is benign, it can cause symptoms of blood discharge from the nipple, appearing spontaneously from a mammary duct. This can go away on its own, but requires an ultrasound assessment of the breast. If an ultrasound reveals a duct injury, a biopsy may be needed to diagnose if a malignant tumor is present.
What to do when unilateral colostrum?
First, you need to take care and take care of your body carefully. Try to avoid nipple stimuli such as squeezing or squeezing the nipples to check for discharge. If you see more signs of abnormality lasting, you should immediately go to a reputable hospital or medical facility to see a follow-up. In addition, the mother needs:
- Pay attention to cleaning breasts: Mom should take a shower every day with warm water and use a towel to gently wipe, avoid rubbing too hard to damage the nipples. You should also not use soap or cosmetics to limit chemicals that further irritate the nipples.
- Do not work on the nipples: Forehead or squeezing nipples because there is a risk of uterine contraction, affecting the baby.
- Wear comfortable and no-rimmed bras: Pregnant mothers should choose soft, airy, and non-rimmed cotton bras to create a pleasant and non-restrictive feeling, affecting the development of milk glands.
- Use breast pads: If you need to go out or have guests come to the house to play but you want to ensure aesthetics, use soft cotton breast pads. The pad will absorb any drainage from the nipple. Mother also pays attention to replace new pads every 4-5 hours to ensure hygiene and ventilation for breasts.
Conclude
When unilateral colostrum or colostrum prematurely before the 7th month of pregnancy, mothers should pay attention and check for other signs. If you feel any abnormality, you should immediately go for a checkup to be examined and treated promptly, to ensure the health of both mother and baby. At the same time, when detecting signs of abnormal unilateral colostrum, mothers need to pay attention to keep the spirit stable and relax, avoid stress and excessive anxiety.
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