Red Breast and Thickening - Pregnancy

[DungeonsLady]

Hi,

I am absolutely terrified. I am 19 weeks pregnant and I noticed my left breast felt thicker on the right side and the pores looked noticeably larger. I also have a red inflamed looking area around the breast.

Called GP, I was referred to the breast clinic and they said it didn't look that bad but sent me for an ultrasound. The sonographer said the scan showed normal but confirmed breast thickening so wasn't happy for me to just to home as suggested by the consultant. I got sent back to the consultant who just said that it was nothing sinister and just inflammation probably pregnancy related. Just to make sure it doesn't get worse.

I'm so worried it could be inflammatory breast cancer and not sure why they never gave me a mammogram/biopsy.

Has anyone had anything like this before and it turn out to just be pregnancy problems?

Thank you for your update! I’m so pleased for you!!! I hope you enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and relax :)

A bit late to the party, I’ve had the same thing on my right boob and I’ve been crying every day desperately worried about ibc, why is this all you see everywhere!!
I’ve been referred to the breast clinic in June but I’m just gutted i feel like it’s taking away the enjoyment of my pregnancy.
My right boob started developing this strange red mark just below my areola, not itchy, nothing wrong with my nipple, not raised or thickened just a blotchy light red mark. No where on Google says anything except for looming death, and I feel like no one can relate. My boob looks exactly the same as my other one apart from this mark!
honestly this feed has saved my mental state a bit because I felt so sad and alone, so thank you so much girls for sharing your experience. I just want my breast appointment now and I can hopefully relax. Any reassurance would be gratefully appreciated! Xx

Hey! I’m so sorry to hear you are now going through this. I can totally relate to how you feel ! I honestly would say I was depressed for weeks convincing myself I wasn’t going to be around for my baby girl when she comes and for long of her life. It’s the worst !

how long have you had it for ? All the consultants I saw told me that after 6 weeks you’d be in trouble if it was that if that offers any reassurance. They said the skin wouldn’t be thin and one boob would definitely be very engorged.

I had it on both covering large parts. One worse than the other. One boob bigger than the other but not engorged. Extremely thin skin which was even noted on the biopsy and since wearing proper supportive bras the colour has improved. It’s still there but far less noticeable. I have read on lots of other forums women saying it’s more common than documented etc. my consultant said he will ring the end of the month that I give birth as a follow up as don’t want me not being able to see him quick if I need to. But no one is concerned. They think it’s purely weight of boobs and pressure.

hormones do weird and wonderful things it seems ! But we also cannot rationalise this when we are going through it ! I still very much keep looking at mines to check nothing gets worse etc ! It took away from my pregnancy too much. I’m 32 weeks Sunday and I can say I’m finally enjoying pregnancy !

if you really feel a biopsy would be peace of mind please tell them as that’s why mine did it. And I’m so glad he did.

keep up updated and all the best of luck 💖

So sorry to hear you’re going through this. I completely remember that awful feeling that something would happen to me and I wouldn’t be here for my baby.

I agree with the previous poster, the breast surgeon I saw said that he would see me again in 3 months and by then there would be big changes if it was something bad. I was about 30 weeks pregnant when he saw me again and it was the same. He said it was hormone related and that he has seen it before. I also had it on both boobs, one worse than the other, and he said it would be extremely extremely rare to have IBC show up like that on both boobs, usually it is just one.

My little boy is 1 now and it has completely gone away! In the end the redness turned a kind of brown pigmented colour and then just faded away quite soon after birth! Annoying that this isn’t well documented online because all you see is scary things when you google it! I’ve since spoken to two friends who had the same thing and it has also gone away for them too!

i hope this is reassuring! And hopefully you can relax and enjoy your pregnancy! If you are worried and want the reassurance then push for a scan/biopsy of it’ll put your mind at ease xxx

Aw thank you for replying girls means a lot. I’ve had a good few weeks now hasn’t really changed massively maybe the skin has got slightly thicker. Google absolutely plays with your mind so I’ve stopped looking now.!! I’ve got mine only on one boob, I wish it was on the other one too just because I’d feel better about it if they both had it.
I can’t believe how this isn’t documented anywhere it’s actually so crazy that the first thing that screams at your is cancer! If I hadn’t have found this group I’d be going out of my mind. I’ve got my breast appointment on the 4th June!

Google is the worse ! Both consultants say never Google ! Which is easier said than done. Honestly I got myself into a depression with the fear of IBC! I totally relate to how you feel girl !

im surprised it isn’t documented much ! I guess it should make sense as it only happened to us since being pregnant, but the fear you get is next level with the pregnancy hormones !

I hope you’re okay girl ! Push for what you want on the 4th. I knew my only way to move forward was having a biopsy so if that’s what you need then do that.

you’ll be fine but always here if you get upset ! 💖

Honestly thank you so much I’ll keep you updated, really appreciate it🩷🩷

hey girl ! How did your appointment go? Hope all is okay 💖

Hey yeah went really well said he wasn’t worried at all but did a little biopsy anyway just to put my mind completely at ease, so yeah happy with that!
thanks for checking in ! X

Hi ladies, I’m 19 weeks, first ever pregnancy and noticed this in my left breast around 2 weeks ago. Inflamed raised area, visible pores, redness and the swelling went into my nipple and pushed it to the left. It looked mental.

Panicked and much like yourselves I hit Google to try and find some resssurance but instead freaked myself out. Attended GP, diagnosed with mastitis / blocked developing duct (I had no idea could be a thing in pregnancy, I thought it was only in breastfeeding!) and 1 week antibiotics. My GP did advise she didn’t think antibiotics would do anything and this would instead be something that would self resolve. I noticed it was far worse in the morning and would settle during the day after wearing a bra. It just kept coming and going. No lumps/bumps, just quite terrifying to look at. No discharge or pain. I did however develop dryness of my nipple - did you get this?

GP reassured it does seem to be pregnancy related, inflammation from hormones and milk developing. My right nipple is now swelling and looking wonky from it! Like someone on here said, it’s somewhat reassuring the other is behaving this way too. It’s not sore or tender in any way.

I completely agree with many of you saying how this isn’t well documented anywhere!! I’m keeping an eye for 2 more weeks and taking regular photos to compare so I can return if there are any changes that worry me x

Mine was just a red patch, no swelling for me but it did occur around the same gestation of pregnancy. Just ask to be referred to the breast clinic sooner than later so you can put your mind at ease and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.
I doubt it’s mastitis if yours not unwell. I had mastitis a few weeks ago and I knew about it!!