Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsBreast Pain ReliefStages of Breast PainHow Long Does It Last?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Breast Pain Relief
Stages of Breast Pain
How Long Does It Last?
Breast pain during pregnancy occurs due to hormonal changes as your body prepares to produce milk. Breasts that feel tender, heavy, tingly, or even sore are common, while the nipples may hurt the most—or at least be the most sensitive. It’s similar to what you may experience just before your period.
Nausea, fatigue, and frequent urination aresigns of early pregnancythat you may experience with breast pain.Some people also experience darker and enlarged nipples. The symptoms often fade as pregnancy continues but may return closer to your due date.
Mykola Sosiukin / iStock / Getty Images
What Causes Sore Breasts in Pregnancy?
Hormonal change can lead to breast soreness during pregnancy. After conception, your body launches into overdrive to prepare for birth and lactation (nursing). Surges of pregnancy hormones includeestrogen,progesterone, and prolactin.
The presence of these hormones can also just make your breasts and nipples feel more sensitive.
What Breast Pain Feels Like During Pregnancy
Breast soreness during pregnancy may feel different from one person to the next. However, the pain may be described as:
Darkened veins along the breasts are common, and you may notice little bumps on the areolas (the area around your nipples) called Montgomery’s tubercles.These small, oil-producing glands typically enlarge with pregnancy.
Some people experience the leak of a yellowish, thick fluid from the nipples as breasts prepare to produce milk. It’s normal for this fluid, known ascolostrum, to leak.
How to Relieve Breast Soreness
Sore breasts and nipples are a really common experience when you’re expecting, so there’s no shortage of home remedies to consider.
Here are a few to try out:
Stages of Breast Pain in Pregnancy
You may notice soreness in your breasts and nipples as soon as one to two weeks after conception.Here’s what to expect from trimester to trimester.
First Trimester: Weeks 1 to 12
In the first weeks after conception, you may experience more tender, tingly breasts and nipples. You might notice your breasts are becoming fuller and your nipples are sticking out more, too. Other symptoms, including fatigue and nausea, are common.
The good news: Breast tenderness and exhaustion often fade as your pregnancy progresses.
Second Trimester: Weeks 13 to 28
During the second trimester, your breasts continue to become bigger and heavier—so much so that you may need to purchase larger, more supportive bras. You could also notice more visible veins under your skin, darker nipples and areolas, and stretch marks developing on your breasts, abdomen, and thighs.
As early as 16 to 19 weeks in, your breasts could begin to leak colostrum.You also may begin to feel the fetus move.
Third Trimester: Weeks 29 to 40
Tender breasts, sore nipples, and an ever-growing size continue until delivery. Your breasts could leak colostrum now, too, though not everyone does so and it has nothing to do with your ability to breastfeed.
When Should I Call a Healthcare Provider?Some breast and nipple discomfort is normal with pregnancy. However, seek medical care for these symptoms:Life-disrupting breast painBloody or clear discharge coming from your nippleA lump in your breastSigns of infection such as redness, pus, or a fever
When Should I Call a Healthcare Provider?
Some breast and nipple discomfort is normal with pregnancy. However, seek medical care for these symptoms:Life-disrupting breast painBloody or clear discharge coming from your nippleA lump in your breastSigns of infection such as redness, pus, or a fever
Some breast and nipple discomfort is normal with pregnancy. However, seek medical care for these symptoms:
How Long Do Breasts Stay Sore After Giving Birth?
If you don’t plan to breastfeed, your body will stop making milk so long as you do not pump or remove milk from your breasts. However, your breasts may continue to feel sore and swollen as they become overfilled with milk. This typically gets better after several days.
Summary
Sore breasts are a common part of pregnancy. Tender breasts and overly sensitive nipples are uncomfortable and to some extent unavoidable. The discomfort can be manageable with some basic at-home care, like wearing a sleeping bra or applying cold packs.
If you’re concerned about any changes or pain in your breasts or nipples, talk to your healthcare provider.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.Is it PMS or Am I Pregnant?Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).What are some common signs of pregnancy?Alex A, Bhandary E, McGuire KP.Anatomy and physiology of the breast during pregnancy and lactation.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1252:3-7. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-41596-9_1National Health Service.Leaking from your nipples.National Childbirth Trust.Maternity bras and nursing bras: what you need to know.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cryotherapy cold therapy for pain management.C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.Breast changes during pregnancy.MedlinePlus.Breast pain.Toda K.Is acetaminophen safe in pregnancy?Scandinavian Journal of Pain. 2017;17(1):445-446. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.007Office on Women’s Health.Stages of pregnancy.Baystate Health.When It’s Not Breast Cancer: All About Benign Breast Disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What to expect while breastfeeding.Kaiser Permanente.Postpartum Breast Care When You Don’t Plan to Breastfeed:Care Instructions.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.Is it PMS or Am I Pregnant?Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).What are some common signs of pregnancy?Alex A, Bhandary E, McGuire KP.Anatomy and physiology of the breast during pregnancy and lactation.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1252:3-7. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-41596-9_1National Health Service.Leaking from your nipples.National Childbirth Trust.Maternity bras and nursing bras: what you need to know.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cryotherapy cold therapy for pain management.C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.Breast changes during pregnancy.MedlinePlus.Breast pain.Toda K.Is acetaminophen safe in pregnancy?Scandinavian Journal of Pain. 2017;17(1):445-446. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.007Office on Women’s Health.Stages of pregnancy.Baystate Health.When It’s Not Breast Cancer: All About Benign Breast Disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What to expect while breastfeeding.Kaiser Permanente.Postpartum Breast Care When You Don’t Plan to Breastfeed:Care Instructions.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.Is it PMS or Am I Pregnant?Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).What are some common signs of pregnancy?Alex A, Bhandary E, McGuire KP.Anatomy and physiology of the breast during pregnancy and lactation.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1252:3-7. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-41596-9_1National Health Service.Leaking from your nipples.National Childbirth Trust.Maternity bras and nursing bras: what you need to know.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cryotherapy cold therapy for pain management.C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.Breast changes during pregnancy.MedlinePlus.Breast pain.Toda K.Is acetaminophen safe in pregnancy?Scandinavian Journal of Pain. 2017;17(1):445-446. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.007Office on Women’s Health.Stages of pregnancy.Baystate Health.When It’s Not Breast Cancer: All About Benign Breast Disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What to expect while breastfeeding.Kaiser Permanente.Postpartum Breast Care When You Don’t Plan to Breastfeed:Care Instructions.
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.Is it PMS or Am I Pregnant?
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).What are some common signs of pregnancy?
Alex A, Bhandary E, McGuire KP.Anatomy and physiology of the breast during pregnancy and lactation.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1252:3-7. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-41596-9_1
National Health Service.Leaking from your nipples.
National Childbirth Trust.Maternity bras and nursing bras: what you need to know.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cryotherapy cold therapy for pain management.
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.Breast changes during pregnancy.
MedlinePlus.Breast pain.
Toda K.Is acetaminophen safe in pregnancy?Scandinavian Journal of Pain. 2017;17(1):445-446. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.007
Office on Women’s Health.Stages of pregnancy.
Baystate Health.When It’s Not Breast Cancer: All About Benign Breast Disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What to expect while breastfeeding.
Kaiser Permanente.Postpartum Breast Care When You Don’t Plan to Breastfeed:Care Instructions.
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