Pregnancy is quite the ride, bringing along a bunch of physical and hormonal changes. And one of the signs that women notice is breast pain during pregnancy, often accompanied by tenderness, swelling and sensitivity. 1 While breast pain during pregnancy can be pretty uncomfortable, knowing why and how to deal with it will make the experience far more bearable.
The most recurrent cause of breast pain during pregnancy is the hormonal change. At the time of conception, your body prepares for breastfeeding, and this triggers an increase in hormones, including the presence of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones enhance the blood supply to your breast tissue while forming milk ducts, which essentially cause tenderness, swelling, and sensitivity. Not just that, along with fluid retention, hormones can make your breasts extremely sensitive and heavier than usual. This can lead to various types of breast pain in early pregnancy, such as sharp, throbbing, or simply aching sensations. 1 2
Now that you know what causes breast pain during pregnancy, let's move to the particular symptoms accompanying this condition.
Symptoms of breast tenderness differ in every woman but common signs include: 1 2 3
Generally, each trimester of pregnancy brings its own set of changes. As an expectant mother, knowing these changes will make it easier for you to handle everything that comes your way. 4
Breast tenderness does not typically resolve immediately after childbirth. For new mothers, it may persist as the milk begins coming in, often 2-3 days postpartum, which could also be felt as intense fullness or engorgement. However, the pain generally resolves within the first few weeks of breastfeeding. 5
However, if you’re not breastfeeding, the pain might persist until your body stops producing milk, which can take a few weeks more. So, whatever the choice may be, it is important for breastfeeding moms to know that the pain will eventually subside with time.5
Breast pain, one of the frequent symptoms a pregnant woman encounters, usually occurs due to hormonal changes and enlargement of the breasts. Sometimes, such pain may indicate other severe conditions, like infection or inflammation.5
It's better to seek medical help if the breast pain is very severe and persistent, or whenever you find other symptoms such as redness or swelling. These could be an infection or inflammation. Furthermore, if you come across any discharge from the nipples that is not milk, please consult a doctor as soon as possible. 5
While breast soreness generally subsides as your pregnancy progresses, here are a few ways to reduce the discomfort in the meantime: 6
Breast pain during pregnancy is pretty common and develops owing to hormonal changes. However, the pain or soreness often subsides 1-2 weeks post-delivery. Still, if the pain persists or if you find any abnormal discharge, it is always advisable to check with your doctor.
Experiencing breast pain during pregnancy is entirely normal. This discomfort is primarily a result of hormonal changes, especially the surge in estrogen and progesterone, as your body prepares for breastfeeding. 1 2
Breast tenderness is described as the sensitivity, soreness, or swelling of the breasts due to hormonal changes that usually occur early during pregnancy as the body gears up for milk production. 1 2 3
Most women develop tenderness across the entire breast, notably around the nipples and areolas, during early pregnancy. The reason behind this is altered hormone levels or expanding milk ducts. 7