Areola's retaining fluid?

[tlise]

At least thats what it looks like. The only way I can describe it, is if any of you have had breast surgery, and while you have the drain in, areola's are swollen with all excess fluid.

Its worse when I don't wear a bra, or if I have been leaning on it through the night. They feel quite bulgy, and hard and numb while sore. And you can see ridges round it, A bit like ankles do when they retain water. I said to my GP, I assumed it was worse whilst unsupported as after 5 kids they point more south than north lol.
I notice it mainly in the bath, and if I brush against it, or am cold, it gets worse.

I asked my GP, who said she hadn't heard of it before, as it wasn't a usual place to retain fluid, and of course she wanted to look, but it wasn't doing it then as they had been supported all day. And she wasn't too worried as it is both of them, not just the one I had an op in a couple years ago.

But in all 5 pregnancies before have never had this. I think it started when I started taking daily Aspirin, but I can't be sure, but I haven't taken it before this pregnancy, and I haven't had high bp or been on meds in other pregnancies so i don't know if this is related. I do have extra water retention normally with the bp tablets but thats usually hands/ankles/feet.

Has anyone had the same or am I just not normal? well no more than usual lol.

anyone? I know its wierd and gross, but I can't be the ONLY person surely? I did google it, but the pages that came up were nothing to do with it and quite odd really lol.

It's not the ducts filling with colostrum in readiness? I'm finding it hard to picture. I had lots of squishy, odd lumps in the areola when the ducts were full. Made a sort of undulating, hilly scene if you will. If you squeeze the fluid bits, you don't leak colostrum?

I also had reynaud's syndrome that affected my nipples when pregnant. When cold they'd go white and sore. The two combined had a v odd effect.

Lol, sounds odd doesn't it. no, I am leaking already if I put pressure on, or don't support them, but this is all the area round the nipples (mine are usually flat anyway but with this they are even worse )they look like they are all swollen and puffy, but its firm. Sorry Im not being very clear, its sort of difficult to explain having never had it before. I think it is worse in my right side where I did have an op for an infection about 3 years ago, but my left side does do it as well, just not so bad. The only way I can describe it is like having swollen ankles, how they go puffy and firm...

My areolas looked like that after birth when DS hadn't fed for a while in the early days and my boobs were really engorged. Could it be something like that? Maybe because your bodies had so much practise at this baby malarky its making lots of colostrum already?

Could be, I don't know..why just there tho and not all over? I mean my boobs are bigger, but not the baby stage where you wake up with melons, and why hadn't the doc heard of it lol. I could ask my mw next time I see her altho she doesn't seem over friendly, and i'm not at the stage yet where I want to happily whip everything out at a moments notice lol. plus hubby will be there, and its easier when he idn't to ask things, maybe I will just see how it goes x.