Spider veins on breasts: Why they are more prominent during pregnancy

Your body undergoes many changes during pregnancy – both the outside as well as inside. One of these transformations is the development of spider veins on your breasts.

They are usually more clearly visible if you’re fair-skinned and show up less prominently if you have a darker complexion. Either way, they are completely normal and are in fact, a common sign of early pregnancy.

But why do spider veins appear on your breasts and do you need to worry if they become more prominent? We tell you all about them; from their causes to diagnosis, to treatment, and how they impact your breastfeeding journey.

Spider veins on breast early pregnancy: Why do they appear?

Image courtesy: Pixabay

During pregnancy, the veins in your breasts typically become more visible. They are called spider veins. This happens mainly because the blood volume increases from 20 to 40 percent during this period.

These veins are responsible for transporting oxygen, blood, and nutrients to your developing fetus. So as a result of the increased blood flow, these veins are more visible under the skin.

They can appear in the first trimester of your pregnancy and spread all over your body, especially on your abdomen and breasts.

Other major causes for spider veins on breasts during pregnancy Breastfeeding

Image courtesy: iStock

If you’re also breastfeeding, chances are your veins would become more visible because your breasts are engorged with milk. The good news is that they will become less visible when your baby shifts to solids.

However, if the veins are accompanied by redness, fever, and/or any other discomfort, you could be suffering from mastitis. It is an infection of the breast tissue that is caused by bacteria entering the milk duct through a break or crack in the nipple. It can also occur if the plugged or blocked milk duct isn’t treated accordingly.

At this time, it is advisable to consult your doctor immediately so they can treat it easily with oral antibiotics.

Remember that it is normal to spot spider veins on breasts during pregnancy and breastfeeding if it’s not accompanied by pain. But at the same time, keep an eye on any new veins that you may spot developing. Contact your doctor if you also feel a lump on your breasts along with the additional veins.

In addition to the aforementioned, there are other reasons why you may have developed spired veins in your breasts. These could be the following: Family history: Genetics also plays a huge role in the formulation of structures and even changes of your body, including spider veins on your breasts. Mondor’s disease: This benign (noncancerous) condition caused due to inflammation also leads to developing spider veins in the breasts. It can occur in both women and men, but it’s more commonly found in women. It may be caused by hard exercise, a tight-fitting bra, or surgery. But be extra careful if you spot any spidery veins as it can be an early sign of cancer. Large breasts: Larger breasts usually have more visible veins. They might also appear when you suddenly gain more weight too. Breast enlargement surgery: According to a 2009 study, veins can get more prominent after augmentation surgery. The study cites that many women weren’t even aware of the increased visibility and there were others who weren’t bothered by it. So if you are going for an enlargement surgery, this might be something to consider. When do blue veins appear in pregnancy?

Blood volume generally increases by 50% during pregnancy. As a result, visible blue veins appear on the breasts, stomach, and other parts of the body.

These veins are needed to deliver the developing fetus’s increased volumes of blood and nutrients throughout the body.

Because the increased volume of blood puts immense pressure on your blood vessels, even small veins swell during pregnancy, making spider veins more likely. Your veins are also under increased pressure as your uterus expands.

Spider veins early pregnancy symptom

Your body creates more blood and your heart beats faster to meet the demands of pregnancy. As a result, blue veins in your abdomen, breasts, and legs may become more noticeable.

Spider veins can appear anywhere on your body, including your face, neck, and arms. These are microscopic blood veins that extend out from a central site, similar to spider legs.

How to treat spider veins in the breast during early pregnancy?

Image courtesy: Pixabay

During pregnancy, your breasts can develop bulging veins and that can be extremely uncomfortable. But this is a natural phenomenon (unless there is a pre-existing condition) and so there is not much you can do immediately. These veins will go back to their non-visible self after some time.

But if you are breastfeeding, these spider veins on your breasts will remain noticeable. As stated earlier, they will start to fade when your baby shifts to solid and is in the weaning phase.

However, if they continue to be visible and bothered you, then you must visit a cosmetic dermatologist. They may suggest the following treatments to treat this condition (note that your treatment will depend on your condition and your discussion with the doctor):

Laser treatments: Doctors can use Endovenous laser therapy to shrink or destroy certain veins. Sclerotherapy: It involves injecting the veins with a chemical that shrinks them. Radiofrequency ablation: This can also treat small and localized breast cancer

But what if you don’t want these treatments, is there a way to prevent them from appearing altogether?

Can you prevent spider veins in the breast?

Spider veins are a common pregnancy side effect that may be bothering you. They normally fade as your blood volume returns to normal after giving birth. In three or four months, this may happen. However, they might also not always go away altogether. If you already have spider veins, you’re more likely to get more in subsequent pregnancies.

When it’s impossible to completely eliminate spider veins while pregnant, there are ways to keep them from spreading.

1. Increase your vitamin C intake.

Include plenty of vitamin C-rich foods in your pregnancy diet; your body needs this vitamin to build collagen and elastin, two important connective tissues that aid in vein healing and maintenance.

2. Keep the momentum going.

To enhance circulation from your legs and feet to your heart, avoid crossing your legs while sitting (which inhibits blood flow) and lift them while sleeping.

3. Take in a lot of fiber.

Constipation (another all-too-common pregnancy ailment) can cause swollen veins, so eat plenty of high-fiber meals. The blue streaks appear when the deep veins in your legs tighten after a bowel movement, causing blood to travel via superficial veins. Regularity can be achieved by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy grains like bran.

4. Work out.

Regular exercise improves leg strength, circulation, and vein stability. The most helpful leg exercises are walking or running. Keep your weight gain modest and moderate to prevent putting too much strain on your legs.

5. Long periods of sitting or standing should be avoided.

If you have to stand for a long time, switch your weight between your legs every few minutes. Get up and move around every half hour or so if you must sit for an extended period of time.

6. Use compression stockings

Compression stockings may assist to reduce the appearance of new spider veins. These stockings also aid in the prevention of edema (leg swelling) and varicose veins. They should be worn during the day and taken off at night. While support stockings are OK, avoid wearing clothing that is too tight around the waist, groin, or legs.

If your breasts are on the larger side and if you have a family history, spider veins are not preventable. But some women try to hide them with makeup or self-tanners.

However, this is not advisable and it is best to avoid self-tanner during your pregnancy. That’s because the long-term effects of active ingredients like dihydroxyacetone on pregnancy are still unstudied.

So instead of stressing about how the veins look, it is perhaps a good idea to take it in your stride.

Know that this is your body’s way of preparing for your baby’s arrival and even after the delivery when you choose to breastfeed. Once your baby starts solids, spider veins will soon bid you goodbye!

Blue veins in the breast during pregnancy

Veins are there throughout our body and skin. They enable blood flow thru your heart. Even though they are not visible under our skin, they are existing there.

However, veins can also be visible at a particular time through the skin. This is true for women; veins can be visible in the breasts. While this is not a sign or symptom of any kind of serious health condition, it is still something that we need to be aware of.

Also, veins can be visible in any part of the body where the skin is fairer, or naturally fair. This visibility may also develop during a certain change in your body’s condition.

Meanwhile, the visibility of veins during pregnancy is a part of the changes your breasts may undergo. There may be particular conditions in which you might have visible blue veins in your breast during your pregnancy.

Blue veins in pregnancy

Blue veins in pregnancy may happen during the first 0-13 weeks, occurring as one of the symptoms and changes your body may have.

Breast changes are not that benign. It is a normal condition of your pregnant body. These changes in breasts happen because of hormonal fluctuations.

Changes in blood flow may also occur. This will now result in an increase in blood volume by 50 percent throughout your pregnancy. Then, blue veins will typically appear on several body areas of the skin. These areas include your skin in the breast and stomach.

These veins are essential to carry the augmented volumes of blood and nutrients around your body to your growing fetus.

How do nipples look in early pregnancy?

We may wonder how your nipples look in early pregnancy. Breasts changes, including the nipples’, may undergo shifts in condition even from zero weeks throughout your whole pregnancy. Visibility of these changes is evident starting from the first trimester (0-12 weeks) of your pregnancy.

Your breasts can grow larger and may be sore sometimes in early pregnancy. As these changes happen in your breasts, nipples will change in color.

These changes are generally normal. However, some pregnant moms may find it bothering, or uncomfortable.

What happens in your breasts and nipples in the first trimester or early pregnancy?

One early sign of changes during the start of pregnancy is swelling and sore nipples, including the areola surrounding them.

Your breasts may also feel swelling and sometimes tender. They may also tingle. This will result in your nipples starting to stick out more often than usual.

By the start of the second trimester, however, you might experience significant changes in how your nipples look like. Your nipples may now become darker and larger.

Remember, if you notice any unusual or weird changes happening to your breasts and nipples while you’re pregnant, contact your midwife or healthcare provider. Ask them about your condition and the necessary solutions that are safe for pregnant women like you.

Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore

Additional information by Nathanielle Torre

Medical News Today, Healthline, My Health Alberta

Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.