7 Common questions on Breast Development answered

You may notice changes in your breasts in terms of its size when puberty begins anywhere between the ages of 8 to 13. Once you notice your boobs growing, it can typically take three to five years for them to reach its full-grown or final size. While some girls may see sudden breast growth overnight, others may notice their breast growth happen at a slower pace.

Yes, some girls may experience some pain when their breasts grow. In fact, sore breasts can be one of the first signs that your breasts are growing. The hormones estrogen and progesterone trigger the growth of breast tissue, which causes the skin to stretch. The stretching is what causes the pain. Furthermore, the changing hormone levels cause a fluctuation in the fluids of the breast tissues, causing sensitivity in your breasts.

There are generally five stages of breast development, and in fact, the stages change throughout the course of your life, beginning at birth. They are explained below:

• At birth, the tip of the nipple is raised, however the rest of the chest is flat.
• As puberty hits, breast buds form under each nipple. During this phase, the area around the nipple, called the areola, may get bigger.
• Next, as the tissues of the breasts develop, you’ll notice that your breasts are getting slightly bigger.
• A second mound is formed above the breast tissue, as the areola and nipple perch upwards.
• The final stage of breast development is characterised by round breasts and only the nipple raised.

Some women have slight differences in the size of their breasts. It’s normal to have slight variances, especially when your breasts are still growing. Even if the difference is huge, it’s generally not a health hazard. If you feel conscious about the differing sizes, you could check with a doctor.

The skin around your nipples and your nipples itself will begin to get a little darker once breast development begins. So whatever colour your nipples were before puberty hit, expect them to be a little darker than that. Furthermore, you may also notice some hair growth around your nipples, and that’s completely normal. So don’t go freaking out when you see them!

Once breast growth begins, the skin around your breasts need to stretch to accommodate the growth. There are times when the skin may not stretch as much as required or as fast as it needs to, causing the middle layers of the skin to tear a little. This is what results in reddish stretch marks to appear. This is quite common and nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, the lines fade with time and become barely noticeable.

As with any other part of your body, once your breasts begin growing and have developed, you must take care of them. Tips for self-care include making sure that your bra or tops fit well. You can decide what type of bra you want to wear for optimum support. We also suggest that you spend some time without wearing a bra, this will allow your skin to breathe.

The size of your breasts depends largely on your genes and fluctuations in your weight. It is important to remember that you cannot magically have your breasts grow bigger. Breast development is a natural pubescent phase which is completely normal.

Once breasts begin to grow, be prepared as you may soon get your first period. As a precaution, always keep a pack of ALWAYS Ultra Thin Pads in your backpack. They provide up to 100% comfortable protection as they are equipped with a super absorbent core that absorbs menstrual discharge in just a few seconds.

If you have any further questions, feel free to approach your parents or a doctor.

Read more about puberty stage that every girl should know of.

Stay well prepared for your next period by tracking it on Always Menstrual Cycle Calculator.