For young females, developing breasts can be confusing, frustrating and even painful. Whereas some girls will begin the process as young as seven, others do not begin until reaching 14 years of age, and the process can continue until the age of 18. Regardless of when the process begins or ends, breast development follows the same course in otherwise healthy females.
First Stage
From birth until the beginning of stage two, a young girl's breasts are as insignificant as her male counterparts'. While nipples are present, they are nearly flush with the girl's flat breasts.
Second Stage
Breasts first begin developing, starting with breast buds. These buds are firm lumps that can be felt and seen beneath the nipple, caused by the breasts' milk ducts and fatty tissue starting to form. Also during this stage, the dark areas around the nipples called areolas grow larger. When this occurs, the girl's nipples will begin to become raised from the breasts and she may experience tenderness in the breasts.
Third Stage
Breasts now take on a fuller, more rounded shape, though the entire process can take years to complete. During this time the breasts transform from a cone-like shape to their more rounded shape, and the areolas continue to grow darker.
Fourth Stage
In this stage, the areolas and the nipples build up their own separate mounds. The visual result is that the breasts' nipples and areolas may be raised from the surface of the breasts.
Fifth Stage
Finally, the breasts finish growing. Once this occurs, the girl's breasts are the size and shape they will likely remain throughout most of her life. The fully developed girl now appears like a young woman, not a young girl.
Unequal Breasts
As a girl's breasts develop, one may be larger than the other or they may be shaped differently. Most often, these differences go away over time and the breasts take on similar shapes and sizes. In the meantime, girls who may be self-conscious about the irregularity can pad their bras for a more even look.
