At what stage of pregnancy do breasts begin to swell? When breasts begin to hurt during pregnancy, this is normal. Breast changes during pregnancy

Changes in the mammary glands begin almost immediately after conception, and sometimes women wonder what is happening - swelling of the mammary glands before menstruation or pregnancy. It is impossible to say definitely at what week of pregnancy the breasts begin to hurt and whether the breasts must hurt during pregnancy, since each woman’s sensations and changes are individual.

What changes occur after conception

The changes manifest themselves differently for each woman. Therefore, there is no exact date on what day of pregnancy the mammary glands swell and when the breasts begin to hurt after conception.

During conception, the level of sex hormones and human chorionic gonadotropin, the so-called pregnancy hormone, increases greatly in the blood of a woman. Under their influence, the mammary glands become larger. Often the increase is accompanied by the appearance of a venous network, because the flow of blood to the mammary glands increases during pregnancy. The sensitivity and pigmentation of the nipples also increases, and in the third trimester, colostrum discharge is possible.

Why does it hurt

A woman’s body is preparing for lactation, the milk ducts and fatty tissues enlarge, and when the breasts become full during pregnancy, the woman may experience pain. The rapid growth of adipose tissue can cause damage to connective tissues, which also leads to pain and the appearance of stretch marks.

It is impossible to determine in advance how the breasts should hurt during pregnancy, since women experience different sensations. You can only take into account the hereditary factor; girls whose mothers experienced pain during pregnancy will most likely have similar problems. Women who are overweight are also prone to painful sensations.

The main differences are the following signs of breast pain during pregnancy:

• bursting pain in both mammary glands;
• tingling or slight burning sensation;
• discomfort and pain in the arms, back and armpits;
• burning and tension of the nipples, swelling or enlargement of the areolas;
• discomfort when squeezing or touching.

When your breasts begin to hurt during pregnancy, the intensity of the pain may vary. The pain can be mild and not cause much discomfort, it can be moderate, and it can be quite severe.

Why does it swell

Many girls are interested in whether the mammary glands always swell during pregnancy, and whether the breasts hurt during pregnancy. Despite the fact that breasts always increase in volume, this is not always accompanied by pain.

When breasts begin to enlarge during pregnancy, cells responsible for milk production begin to grow, milk ducts and lobules enlarge, and adipose tissue actively grows. During the first trimester, the mammary gland may double in size.

When does change begin?

With a variety of pain sensations, their presence or absence, the time when the mammary glands begin to hurt during pregnancy also varies. Changes manifest themselves differently and the time when breasts begin to swell during pregnancy varies for each woman. In many cases, changes appear immediately after ovulation, if conception has occurred.

At what month of pregnancy does your breasts begin to hurt? Many women note that when their breasts begin to hurt during pregnancy, they had no idea about conception, since changes in the mammary glands can begin a week and a half before the expected menstruation. For some, changes occur almost immediately after fertilization, and for others, a few days after a missed period.

In some cases, pain is observed after the fifth to seventh week or does not hurt at all, and only before the birth a slight discomfort from the incoming milk is felt. It happens that painful sensations begin from the first days and last until childbirth. But still, in most cases, pain that began in the early stages goes away by the end of the first trimester.

Changes in the mammary glands during pregnancy

The condition of the mammary glands changes during pregnancy as follows:

1. Immediately after conception, the pain sensations are similar to the condition of the mammary glands before or during menstruation, with the difference that during menstruation the mammary glands swell a little, but do not increase in size.
2. During the first trimester, the condition of the skin improves and acne disappears. The general condition is satisfactory, the pain is minor. The breasts swell and increase in size. Transparent discharge is possible, the mammary glands are elastic and tense.
3. In the second trimester, the mammary glands continue to grow (up to 6 cm in girth from the original size), the skin is clear. There is a feeling of growth, tension, elasticity and soreness are felt, and tingling of the breast and nipple is possible. As a rule, there are no allocations. The areola and nipple may change pigmentation.
4. During the third trimester, the skin is smooth, and acne may appear before childbirth. There is a feeling of heaviness or squeezing, possibly tingling. The breast continues to increase in size, while the tension subsides. Sometimes there is a slight discharge of colostrum.
5. Some women are concerned about the question of why their breasts don’t hurt during pregnancy. With some diseases (disorders of the thyroid gland, lymph nodes, ovaries), breasts may not hurt during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that hormonal levels are unstable, and the body may react to conception differently than in completely healthy women. With a low concentration of hormones, the mammary glands may not react in any way throughout the entire gestation period and only increase slightly in size.

Alarming symptoms

As mentioned above, it is impossible to say for sure at what time the chest begins to hurt and how long the discomfort will last. Usually the body fully accepts pregnancy and adapts to it after the 12-13th week. At this time, the pain decreases and goes away. If the pain does not decrease, it is better to find out the cause.

You should contact a mammologist if you experience the following symptoms:

• constant, aching pain in the mammary glands;
• the mammary gland increases unevenly, irregularities are clearly noticeable on its surface;
• colostrum with blood or spotting is released from the nipple;
• self-examination revealed seals;
• the skin is very swollen and reddened;
• severe pain or its complete absence.

In case of acute pain, a visit to the doctor should not be postponed, as serious diseases such as mastitis or mastopathy may develop.

An urgent visit to a gynecologist is required if the symptoms of changes in the mammary glands suddenly stop, their subsidence and the disappearance of signs of toxicosis. Such phenomena can be caused by a lack of progesterone in the pregnant woman’s body or a frozen pregnancy.

How to relieve the condition

Careful breast care while pregnant will help minimize pain and reduce the possibility of stretch marks:

1. It is necessary to take a hygienic shower regularly. It is advisable to reduce the use of shower gels and soaps, as they cause dry skin.
2. Contrast showers or rubdowns have a beneficial effect on the skin of the chest; procedures should be started in the second trimester;
3. Special breast exercises help maintain the shape of the mammary glands after breastfeeding. In addition, exercise promotes lymphatic drainage, which reduces pain and swelling. The sooner you start exercising, the better.
4. Air baths are also beneficial for the skin of the chest.
5. To reduce the possibility of stretch marks, you can use special creams and lotions with the onset of pregnancy. Of course, you should choose only natural cosmetics or use homemade recipes.
6. A properly fitted bra can help reduce discomfort from breast changes during pregnancy. It is advisable to choose a bra made from natural materials, without wires, and with wide straps. Seamless bras especially for pregnant women have proven themselves well.

If your chest doesn't hurt

So is it necessary to have breast pain during pregnancy? As mentioned above, the manifestation of pain is individual for each pregnant woman.

The expectant mother does not need to compare herself with others, because the pronounced signs of changes in the mammary glands, the duration of pain and their intensity are individual for each pregnant woman. If you have any suspicions, it is better to consult a doctor.

Video

In this educational video you can take a closer look at what happens in the mammary glands during pregnancy.

The breasts begin to hurt in the early stages of pregnancy and cause a lot of inconvenience to the expectant mother. Women, especially those who are bearing a child for the first time, are worried about the question: is this normal or pathological. Can there be no chest pain?

Pregnancy is a wonderful period in the life of any woman. She experiences incredible happiness from the fact that another small heart is beating under her heart. But along with trembling experiences, tenderness and love, a pregnant woman also faces other, less pleasant situations. The main symptoms of pregnancy in the early stages include chest pain.

Not all women experience the same symptoms of pregnancy. Some people easily endure these nine months, while others even have to stay in the hospital in order to save their baby and provide him with normal conditions for growth and development in his mother’s womb. Pregnancy can be accompanied not only by chest pain, but also by swelling. A woman may experience increased body temperature, toxicosis, and frequent mood swings. It often happens that the day can go normally, but in the evening the condition of the expectant mother worsens. What is this connected with and how to get ahead of the line between the norm and the onset of pathological changes in the body of a pregnant woman?

Structural changes in the breast begin to occur already on the first day of pregnancy. During this period, a woman's hormonal background changes greatly. Her body is adjusted to provide normal conditions for the development of the fetus. The so-called pregnancy hormone is produced, which provokes swelling and pain. At the same time, the blood supply to the mammary glands increases, the nipples darken, and clear liquid begins to be released from them. This is how the body prepares for the start of breastfeeding.

As a rule, after a few days such pain goes away or becomes less intense, so it does not cause trouble for the expectant mother. But preparing your breasts for feeding a baby is not the only reason why they hurt.

There may be other, more serious factors:

• Cracked nipples;
• Inflammation of the mammary gland;
• Getting infected;
• Chest bruise;
• The onset of mastitis or mastopathy;
• Presence of cystic formation.

If a pregnant woman's breasts become very sore for several days, she should consult a specialist. Only after a thorough examination and analysis of the patient’s condition will the doctor be able to accurately say why the chest hurts.

Women can experience breast pain in different ways. The nature of the sensations is individual. Some people don’t even feel pain, while others experience it so much that they can’t even touch it. In later months, colostrum begins to be released. Some pregnant women experience discomfort throughout pregnancy, while for others the pain only appears when pressure is applied or subsides closer to the second trimester.

When does the pain start?

The question of when breast pain begins to appear in a pregnant woman and how long this period lasts also has ambiguous answers. Before menstruation, your breasts may also hurt in the same way as during pregnancy. In rare cases, the expectant mother may feel a slight tingling and burning sensation already in the third week. If your chest begins to hurt, and this has not happened before, you should see a specialist so as not to accidentally harm the fetus.

In most cases, the mammary glands begin to hurt in the second month of pregnancy, when the body adapts to the new condition. This indicates that the fertilized egg has attached to the uterus and is beginning to develop and grow. The first trimester is a serious burden on the mother’s body. She may experience very unpleasant sensations: vomiting, nausea, pain and a feeling of heaviness in the chest. These symptoms are associated with hormonal changes.

There is no need to worry prematurely if such manifestations are absent. You may not even feel pain, avoid toxicosis and other unpleasant moments associated with pregnancy. But the absence of normal symptoms may indicate fetal failure or spontaneous miscarriage.

If you notice that your chest hurts for several days, and then the painful sensations go away completely, contact your doctor and let him see if everything is okay.

Possible complications

It is impossible to say for sure at what month the chest will begin to hurt and how long the discomfort will last. For each woman, the nature, duration and time of onset of pain may differ.

Every woman looks forward to the day when the most rosy period of pregnancy comes. The body completely adapts to its condition, and the usual symptoms no longer appear. As a rule, this happens after the 13th week, for some later, for others a few days earlier. If the intensity of pain does not decrease, you need to find out why this is not happening.

It is necessary to go to a mammologist if the following symptoms appear:

• Constant pain that is aching in nature and localized in the mammary glands;
• The breasts began to grow unevenly, depressions and tubercles were clearly visible;
• In the last days of pregnancy, milk with blood or just blood is released from the nipple;
• When palpating the breast, you discovered lumps;
• The skin of the mammary gland is swollen and red.

We can talk about complications if the pain intensifies or is absent altogether. In both cases, a doctor’s consultation is necessary. If the mammary glands begin to hurt very much, mastopathy is suspected. The disease is associated with the appearance of cystic formations in the breast. First, the mammary gland becomes dense, inflamed, and an infection develops. All this is accompanied by severe pain. You should go to the doctor on the first day, as this disease is very serious and unpleasant.

Prevention of complications

From the first day of pregnancy, your breasts begin to prepare for feeding the baby, so they are very sensitive not only to touch, but also to the effects of a variety of pathogenic microorganisms that can enter in different ways. Why is this happening? The hormonal background of the expectant mother is rearranged, which is a serious stress for the immune system. How to avoid complications and not encounter unpleasant situations?

It’s very simple, just follow simple rules of hygiene and personal care.

• Choose only high-quality underwear made from natural fabrics so that the skin of the mammary glands can breathe.
• Wash your breasts with warm water, use special pads under your bra.
• After a shower, use special creams against stretch marks.
• Use breast pads to prevent infection.

Simple rules will help you feel as comfortable as possible during pregnancy and prevent the occurrence of unpleasant complications.

How to relieve pain?

If your mammary glands begin to hurt, and this condition has lasted for several days, you should undergo an examination, during which you will find out exactly why this is happening. If this is the beginning of pregnancy, there is no need to worry. Chest pain is normal. But still, such sensations cause discomfort to the expectant mother, so she is looking for solutions to get rid of them.

To ease your condition, change your regular bra to a special bra for pregnant and nursing mothers.

As the mammary gland enlarges, your underwear should also be changed. The bra should not press, as this negatively affects the blood supply to the breast, and the intensity of pain can increase significantly. You should choose underwear made only from natural
materials.

Due to the dramatic increase in the size of the mammary gland, its swelling, cracks appear on the nipples. This is one of the reasons why my chest started to hurt. This pain can last for more than one day. If it brings discomfort, you need to get rid of it. Traditional medicine is often used for this.

The following are considered the most effective:

• flax oil;
• burdock leaves;
• honey mask;
• cabbage leaf;
• infusion of St. John's wort flowers;
• parsley decoction.

If your chest begins to hurt and there is a feeling of heaviness in it, you can help if you take a contrast shower for several days in a row. How long the procedure will take is up to you. You should always start with hot water and end with cold water, and so on day after day. Exercise also helps. They help strengthen the muscles of the mammary gland, which improves lymph flow.

Pregnancy in 95% of cases is accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, swelling, and increased sensitivity. This is normal, painful sensations should not cause concern to the expectant mother. If their intensity increases or completely subsides, you should consult a specialist.

The euphoria of happiness and joy caused by impending motherhood is often overshadowed by the symptoms accompanying pregnancy. Nausea, weakness, drowsiness, dizziness - each woman has her own list of signs that, in addition to delay, persistently hint at successful conception. Pain in the mammary glands also appears on this list. So when does your breasts begin to hurt during pregnancy and why does this happen? Let’s look at these questions in more detail.

When do breasts start to hurt during pregnancy?

When it comes to signs of pregnancy, not a single gynecologist dares to answer the question of how exactly and at what time the female body will react to the birth of a new life, and the changes associated with this event. If you rely on the experience of already established mothers, you can come to the conclusion that it is pain in the mammary glands that is the very first herald of an interesting situation. But, at the same time, many women admit that when their breasts began to hurt, they didn’t even suspect they were pregnant, and the painful sensations only suggested the idea of ​​approaching menstruation. However, theoretically, chest pain should appear no earlier than a missed period, that is, at 5-7 weeks of an interesting situation. Just at this time, there is an active production of pregnancy hormones: hCG and progesterone, which are responsible for maintaining pregnancy and preparing the female body for the upcoming event, and in particular, for breastfeeding.

But, as practice shows, there are no uniform rules regarding breast tenderness as a sign of successful fertilization. Sometimes the breasts begin to hurt during pregnancy when at least 1.5 weeks remain before the expected menstruation date, and sometimes even after a delay the painful sensations do not bother the expectant mother.

How can breasts hurt during pregnancy?

As is the case with timing, it is also impossible to predict the nature and intensity of pain. Inevitable hormonal changes can lead to the fact that the mammary glands begin to fill up, become heavier, and increase in size; both one breast and both may hurt, and the pain can be either constant or intermittent. Women often notice tingling in their mammary glands, but most often the nipples are the first to react to changes in hormonal levels: they become sensitive, painful, swollen, and sometimes darken along with halos. There are also cases when veins or the so-called venous network begin to appear from the breast. Simultaneously with the appearance of pain in the glands, veins or the so-called venous network may appear.

What to do when your breasts start to hurt during pregnancy?

Despite their naturalness, such manifestations of pregnancy can cause the expectant mother significant discomfort, to the point that the woman becomes uncomfortable sleeping, walking, wearing underwear, and even more so calmly responding to touch. In such cases, doctors recommend that expectant mothers not wait until the beginning of the second trimester, when the painful sensations should dull a little or even disappear altogether, but take appropriate measures in advance. Thus, a special one with wide straps, made from natural materials, will reduce pain and discomfort. At the same time, it must correspond to the new breast size and should not squeeze or rub it. Also, when your breasts begin to hurt during pregnancy, experts recommend using special creams for stretch marks, taking a contrast shower (if there is a threat of miscarriage, it is better to avoid this procedure, since a sharp change in temperature can contribute to the appearance of uterine contractions), and performing light physical exercises to strengthen the pectoral muscles .

There are a large number of primary signs of pregnancy. One of the most noticeable and pronounced is swelling, soreness and increased sensitivity of the mammary glands. Such a symptom can sometimes alarm or even frighten an inexperienced woman. In addition, swollen breasts are not always a hormonal “signal” that indicates life is emerging in the womb. Sometimes such changes can be a sign of women's health problems.

Why do breasts swell during pregnancy?

The female body is designed in such a way that fertilization of an egg instantly triggers processes of change in almost all of its systems. Preparation for pregnancy, childbirth and lactation begins with an increase in the concentration of the following hormones in a woman’s blood:

• progesterone;
• oxytocin;
• human chorionic gonadotropin - hCG;
• prolactin.

A group of these hormones affects the mammary glands of the expectant mother literally from the first hours after conception.

Despite the fact that there are still 9 whole months ahead, the body has a huge amount of work to do. That is why swelling and increased sensitivity of the breasts are one of the very first signs of pregnancy.

The breasts are already beginning to prepare for the lactation period. Over the next 40 weeks, it will become twice as large, the milk ducts will expand, and the nipples and blood vessels will increase. All this is the reason for the swelling of the mammary glands in the early stages of pregnancy.

Feelings of the expectant mother when her breasts swell

Each organism is a unique biomechanism, despite the fact that all organ systems work according to the same principles. There is a list of individual factors due to which each woman’s reaction to pregnancy becomes individual:

• genetic predisposition;
• body constitution;
• height and weight;
• health status before pregnancy;
• lifestyle, etc.

These factors influence the speed at which pain and heaviness in the chest appear, as well as the severity of the sensations. Some women do not feel any special changes in their body until the beginning of intensive growth of the abdomen, others already in the second or third week of gestation begin to suspect their situation. Many describe the condition of the mammary glands as similar to that which occurs before the onset of “women’s” days.

If you collect all the sensations described by different women, you can make a list:

• feeling of heaviness;
• feeling of pain;
• feeling of fullness;
• increased sensitivity;
• sore nipples;
• pain radiating to the armpits;
• feeling of milk flow, etc.

All these feelings correspond to the processes that occur in the chest of a pregnant woman. The sensations of heaviness and flow of milk are especially pronounced in the last stages of pregnancy. In the early stages, increased sensitivity and pain are more typical.

How long after conception does breast swelling occur?

Not always and not all women experience discomfort in the mammary glands at an early stage of pregnancy, although most begin to notice increased sensitivity of the areola and nipple within 2-3 weeks after conception (we recommend reading:). Young girls often wonder: when will their breasts begin to swell from the moment of conception, and after how many days or weeks will they hurt? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to such questions, since each pregnancy is unique and the initial symptoms manifest themselves in everyone’s own way and at different times.

Typically, the breasts begin to swell after the fertilized egg has implanted into the wall of the uterus, or in the case of an ectopic pregnancy, into the wall of the fallopian tube. After the zygote is completely immersed in the depths of the villous epithelium, the release of a large amount of hormones into the blood is activated and the first symptoms of pregnancy begin to appear.

Does this always happen?

You can often come across the opposite question: why don’t your breasts hurt if you are pregnant? According to recent medical research, the mammary glands most often do not hurt in women with reduced weight or those who are actively involved in strength sports. Sometimes the breasts do not respond to pregnancy in those suffering from cycle disorders or hormonal imbalances.

About half of pregnant women begin to feel their breasts swell when they are 6-8 months pregnant. The individual characteristics of the body play a huge role in which symptoms will appear and which will not be noticed by a woman throughout the entire 40 weeks. The breasts will fill gradually, without causing any noticeable changes in the well-being of the expectant mother.

Do breasts swell during an ectopic pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy is a condition dangerous to a woman’s health when the zygote does not reach the uterine cavity and implants into the wall of the fallopian tube, ovary or abdominal wall. This development scenario is not normal. Despite this, before the critical period occurs, the body’s reaction will be the same as during a normally developing pregnancy. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) will be detected in the blood during a biochemical analysis, the level of other hormones will also increase, which means that the breasts may also become engorged during an ectopic pregnancy.

Can the condition be painful?

The day comes when a woman begins to feel a burning sensation and swelling of her chest due to the activation of prolactin. A high concentration of this hormone causes the ducts to expand at an accelerated pace - hence the painful sensations. Sudden changes cannot go unnoticed and will certainly cause a feeling of discomfort, but their intensity will not significantly exceed pain, as during ovulation or before the onset of menstruation.

How to relieve breast pain during pregnancy?

The strength of painful sensations in the mammary glands of the expectant mother can be of varying degrees of severity depending on the woman’s individual ability to tolerate pain. Not everyone can endure it, so they try to find a way to reduce painful symptoms. There are a number of recommendations from obstetricians that will help a pregnant woman alleviate suffering:

• choose the right underwear, taking into account changes in breast size;
• choose a bra made from natural, breathable fabrics;
• care for the skin of the décolleté area using special creams;
• take a contrast shower and do a light massage.

The choice of bra plays a huge role in how a woman will feel about her mammary glands. There are many models of this wardrobe item, which are tailored specifically for pregnant and lactating women. They are made from natural cotton fabrics with a much lower percentage of artificial threads. These bras have wider straps to support rapidly growing breasts. As a rule, over 9 months, a woman’s bust increases by 1.5-2 sizes, so you will have to purchase a bra several times, choosing the appropriate one for your pregnancy.

Proper care of the décolleté area will also help relieve unpleasant symptoms. Maternity and nursing cream has a soothing effect and moisturizes the skin to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. When applying the cream, a woman can make light, massaging, circular movements. Massage and contrast showers help stimulate blood circulation, which alleviates the sensations in the chest, which is forced to change at an accelerated pace.

When should you see a doctor?

The natural reaction of the mammary glands to fertilization and the introduction of the fertilized egg into the uterine cavity manifests itself as a response in the form of sensations of swelling and fullness. Mild feelings of pain, burning and itching are also acceptable.

Pathological symptoms include:

• strong pain;
• the presence of lumps that can be felt;
• redness;
• change in shape, often with bulging to one side;
• rough, flaky nipple and areola;
• unpleasant-smelling yellow-gray discharge from the nipples.

If a pregnant woman notices at least one of these symptoms, she should immediately consult a doctor. This picture may indicate the development of inflammatory processes, the formation of benign and even malignant tumors. In addition, women who were diagnosed or treated with cysts and lumps before pregnancy are at risk.

Today, breast cancer is the number one cause of diseases that lead to female mortality. Failure to go to the hospital in a timely manner leads to the loss of precious time and the transition of the disease to an aggressive phase. A woman should understand that breast tenderness does not always occur due to pregnancy, ovulation or premenstrual syndrome. Sometimes such sensations may appear for other reasons. At the same time, the absence of pain may also not be an indicator of health.

That is why a woman should always be attentive and responsible about her health, undergo routine examinations, take tests, do mammography and ultrasound of the breast. Women's breasts require special attention during pregnancy and lactation (more details in the article:). The doctor prescribes an ultrasound examination for those who have warning symptoms. A healthy mother will endure pregnancy more easily and provide adequate breastfeeding to her baby.