Back in 1837, the Irish obstetrician William Fetherstone Montgomery (1797-1859) first described glands located in the areolas surrounding the nipple: areolar glands or Montgomery glands, sebaceous glands that produce secretions that keep the areola and nipple lubricated and protected.
This is important in the period of breastfeeding, since the fatty substance excreted by these bulky spots protects the skin of the area, so exposed in each shot. In addition, volatile substances that also secrete the glands can serve as an olfactory stimulus for babies' appetites during breastfeeding, a kind of signal or anchor that attracts them.
Therefore, although it is one of the most widespread myths about breastfeeding, the breastfeeding mother does not have to wash her breast before each shot (or after ...), nor does she have to use creams or ointments that nullify the effect of these glands.
The bumps may become more visible and marked in pregnancy and in the period of breastfeeding because that is when their function is most important, but in reality all women have these glands, in a very variable number (between 4 and 28 in each areola) .
The portion of skin that sticks out, those lumps of generally lighter color, are a kind of mounds with the name of "Montgomery tubers", which increase in size if the nipple is stimulated.
Definitely, if you wash your chest excessively, the effect of the areolar or Montgomery glands is canceled, so the nipple is more dry and the risk of cracks or pain when breastfeeding increases. With a normal shower, it is enough to maintain daily hygiene.
