Breast Pain In Pregnancy

Breast pain in pregnancy or breast tenderness in pregnancy varies from being mild to severe depending on the time and response of the woman’s breasts to hormonal imbalance.

The two basic hormones to be blamed for are estrogen and progesterone.

Breast pain during pregnancy is associated with pregnancy hormones namely progesterone, estrogen and prolactin because of which the milk glands within the breasts get stimulated so as to prepare the breasts for feeding the newborn.

This causes sore breasts and pain during pregnancy.

Breast tenderness in pregnancy can start from week 4 and last until week 7 depending on the way estrogen and progesterone change.

Both the hormones are responsible for sensitivity and tenderness of the breasts.

Also other factors like replacement of breast tissues with fat and increased blood flow to that area are responsible for breast tenderness in pregnancy.

Sharp Pain In Breast During Pregnancy

One can experience a sharp pain in breast during pregnancy because of changes in estrogen level, oxytocin and human placental lactogen.

A tingling sensation around the nipples and throbbing can accompany the breast pain. Breast expanding, breast filling and milk ducts expanding also account for sharp pain during pregnancy.

Consumption of less caffeine and more milk can help relieve the pain.

What Does Breast Tenderness Feel Like In Early Pregnancy

Now what does breast tenderness feel like in early pregnancy? To know this, it’s really important to distinguish the pregnancy breast pain with the cancer pain.

Cancer pain is the one which is more sudden and severe, also other conditions like a lump that doesn’t dissolve, skin thickening and itching, swelling are symptoms accompanying cancer pain.

While breast pain in early pregnancy is actually not any sharp pain but a feeling of sensitivity and tenderness in the breasts where your breasts tend to become slightly sore and heavy.

This is because of the increase in the level of progesterone hormone as a sign of breastfeeding development.

Sharp Breast Pain During Pregnancy First Trimester

Now the pain in pregnancy can change throughout trimesters. Sooner in the first trimester of your pregnancy you may witness a sharp pain in the breasts following tenderness and swelling.

There may be sudden shots of pain and soreness around the nipples which may lead to discomfort through the first trimester.

Sharp breast pain during pregnancy first trimester is a common phenomenon among pregnant women.

Breast Pain During Pregnancy Second Trimester

Because of the breast pain during pregnancy in the second trimester you may witness some more change in your pain pattern which may now start to subside or calm down.

Further the tenderness or sensitivity may continue as usual.

Breast Pain During Pregnancy Third Trimester

Just after some moments of peace in the second trimester, you may again start to witness the same shots of breast pain during pregnancy in the third trimester where now your breasts are on a peak for the preparation for milking or breastfeeding the baby.

This is the most when the time for delivery is closer. The soreness and the tenderness near the nipples may further continue to increase and may also result in leaking sometimes.

Left Breast Pain Pregnancy Symptom

Generally pain can persist in both the breast while most women complain for concentration of pain only in one breast usually the left one, and this accounts for left breast pain in pregnancy.

This may be due to the hormonal change, the baby’s movement, body adjustment for baby accommodation, shifting of hips, gallbladder problems, acid reflux, etc.

Pain Under Right Breast During Pregnancy

Just like that of pain in left breast, some women may feel a sharper pain under the right breast in pregnancy which may usually be due to the baby movements or the push to the ribs.

There may be several reasons for the pain in the right breast making it absolutely normal during pregnancy.

How To Relieve Breast Pain After Pregnancy

Even once you are over with the pregnancy mode, you may still have to deal with the consistent breast pain.

The pain and the sensitivity may continue even afterwards. Here are some measures on how to relieve breast pain after pregnancy:

• Make sure you milk the baby frequently so as to reduce the heaviness of the breasts once the load has reduced.
• In case you cannot directly breastfeed the baby, try to pump the milk through hand or breast pumps to loosen them
• Try to warm the breasts for a few minutes before nursing to make the flow easier
• Apply cold packs to your breasts for a few minutes to calm the swelling down and reduce the pain
• Give gentle massages to your breasts to smoothen the pain with light oils.
• Wear comfortable bras with no underwire to prevent any kind of tightness or discomfort.