The breast bud may be a little tender. But don't worry — it's a normal part of puberty. It is also common to have sore breasts around the beginning of a girl's period, or menstruation. During her menstrual cycle, a girl's body produces lots of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone .
Breast buds are normal, small disc-shaped rubbery lumps felt under the nipple. Age: they normally occur in 8 to 12 year old girls. They are the first sign of puberty. Sometimes, they are even normal in 7 year olds.
Many young women experience pain as their breasts grow and this is nothing to worry about. Breasts develop as the hormones estrogen and progesterone are released at puberty. These hormones make the breast tissue grow. As it does, the surrounding skin may stretch, which is one reason breasts can hurt when they grow.
The earliest physical change of puberty for girls is usually breast development, which most often begins around 10 or 11 years. But it's perfectly normal for breast development to start anytime between the ages of 7 and 13.
A breast bud is like a small raised bump behind the nipple. After breast budding happens, the nipple and the circle of skin around the nipple (called the areola) get bigger and a little darker. Then the area around the nipple and areola starts to grow into a breast.
“As soon as the breasts start growing breast buds, small (sometimes very tender) bumps below the nipples, is typically when girls start wearing training bras,” said Dr. Kronborg. “Normally, by the time a girl can fill a B cup is when she'll eventually require a standard bra.”
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, might be helpful. Wearing a supportive bra might help. Healthy eating, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep are really your best bets for easing the ache.
The onset of breast development in girls less than 8 years of age may be the first sign of precocious puberty or more likely a condition referred to as benign premature thelarche. Benign thelarche is most commonly seen in girls who are under 2 or older than 6 years of age.
It will take 2 or 3 years to be complete. The first menstrual period (menarche) usually occurs 2 years after breast buds appear.
Precocious puberty, or puberty that begins too early, can cause breast buds to appear in very young girls. A breast bud is a lump that develops under the nipple in the first stage of breast growth. The lump may be tender and sore, but it is completely normal in girls undergoing puberty.
The very early breast buds are something you might miss, because the change from flat breasts is so slight. However, this beginning breast tissue can be uncomfortable and feel hard. This can be a cause for alarm. Be assured that this is all very normal and does not suggest a tumor has developed.
Breast buds have also been known to come and go, again not to worry. But at some point the budding will actually progress to breast development and the continuing changes of the breast during puberty.
On average, the progression from Tanner Stage II to V takes about 4 to 4.5 years. However, it can be as short as 1.5 years or it can take as long as 6 years. A girl's breasts can also grow at different rates. It's normal for one breast to bud before the other.
Breast development is caused by hormones released by the ovaries at puberty. These hormones cause fat to accumulate, causing your breasts to enlarge.
Breast buds are not replaced by anything else, nor do they disappear. They simply continue to grow into the breast shape we all recognise.
Higher total protein, animal protein and meat intake in children ages 3 to 7 have been associated with earlier onset of menstruation. High protein intake elevates IGF-1 levels and promotes growth, which could accelerate the onset of puberty.
Generally, the first major signs of puberty are getting taller and the beginning of breast changes. Rapid changes in a girl's height happen later. Pubic hair often appears next, followed by the beginning of menstrual periods, full breast maturity, and the release of eggs from the ovary every month (ovulation).
“You can take some steps to minimize environmental causes of early puberty,” such as helping your child maintain a healthy weight and avoiding exposure to testosterone or estrogen that could be found in over-the-counter creams/gels, hair treatments, medications, and nutritional supplements.
A training bra is only appropriate for young people who have very small breasts, have not developed yet, or are just beginning to develop. Young people whose breasts have developed beyond the training bra stage should consider other types of bras, such as soft cup bras or underwire bras.
Soft cup bras are a good choice for girls with small to medium-sized breasts. These bras do not have an underwire for support, but they do offer a soft foam cup to give smaller breasts a bit of padding and support. Girls with larger breasts may prefer to opt for an underwire bra.
As breasts start to grow, a girl will have small, firm, sometimes tender lumps (called breast buds) under her nipples. In some cases one breast will start to develop weeks or months before the other; the breast tissue will get larger and become less firm over the next few years.
Girls typically have a growth spurt in the one to two years before menstruation starts. For most girls, puberty occurs between 8 and 13 years old and the growth spurt occurs between 10 and 14 years old.
In girls, puberty usually begins between the ages of 9 and 14. Once it begins, it lasts about 2 to 5 years. But every child is different. And there is a wide range of what is “normal.” Your girl may begin puberty a little earlier or later and finish sooner or later than her friends.
Although there's no one right age for a girl to get her period, there are some clues that it will start soon. Typically, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop. Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid (sort of like mucus) that a girl might see or feel on her underwear.