Select a Category below.   Preconception Am I Pregnant 1st trimester 2nd trimester 3rd trimester Labor/Birth Baby’s Here Do you have questions about your pregnancy or are you curious about the concerns of other expectant moms? Each week, Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones, the mother/daughter team who have written internationally best-selling books on parenting and pregnancy, answer your questions, giving pregnancy advice for every lifestyle and stage of pregancy.     November 20, 2008 Areola When does the areola start to change to a darker brown? Candace  - Batesville, AR     The areola, which is the colored ring of skin around the nipples, usually gets progressively darker and larger during pregnancy. The color change usually starts happening within the first few months of pregnancy, though some moms report subtle nipple changes right away. By the time you give birth, your nipples may well look like giant targets—just in case the baby needs a hint of where to aim for, we guess! Not all women experience color changes, though, and what changes you experience will depend upon your skin type. If you are light-skinned and Caucasian, your areola may simply turn darker pink or purple, while dark-skinned moms are more likely to have browner areolas during pregnancy. Like other skin pigment changes, such as darkened moles, freckles and the belly line, your nipple coloring will gradually return to normal in the half year after pregnancy.