Does a sore breast mean I'm pregnant? Plus, why this happens
Mastitis is a common early sign of pregnancy, but it can also indicate that your period is imminent. If you think you're pregnant, the best thing to do is take a home pregnancy test.
It can be mastitis—well, pain. But if you're trying to conceive, you might think that pain in your bra is the sign you've been waiting for. Could this be? Am I pregnant?!
Did you already get those two pink or blue stripes on a home pregnancy test? Sadly, this painful feeling may last for some time. But try not to worry—most of the changes your girls go through are completely normal. We'll talk more about this in a minute.
Wondering if you're pregnant? Well, what's frustrating is that mastitis can occur for many different reasons. Some of them are related to hormones that ebb and flow not only during pregnancy but also during the normal cycle.
Before you let your disappointment settle on another inconclusive sign, though, let's take a closer look—there are some hallmarks that often make blistered breasts a little different during pregnancy.
How do you feel during pregnancy
Like the breasts themselves, breast pain comes in many types. It can occur in one or both breasts. You may feel them everywhere, in a certain place, or moving outward in the armpits. The pain can be persistent, or it can come and go.
During the first weeks of pregnancy, breast pain tends to be mild and painful. Your breasts may feel heavy and swollen. They can be very sensitive to touch, making exercising and playing sex very uncomfortable. (Pro tip: Wear a reliable sports bra and also reach out to your partner to explore other areas during this time.) If you sleep on your stomach, the pain can keep you awake at night.
For many women, the nipples are especially sensitive in these first weeks. They can be so thin to the touch that it hurts to dry off after a shower or wear a bra (go with confidence!). But severe nipple sensitivity usually goes away within a few weeks.
As the first trimester progresses, you may notice fullness and heaviness rather than tenderness. Some women also experience a tingling sensation in the nipples and areola during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Acute breast pain—which may feel like a knife being stabbed in a specific area of one breast—isn't common during pregnancy. While it can occur, this type of pain is less common with pregnancy.
Why Breast Pain Occurs Early in Pregnancy
Breast pain is often the first symptom of pregnancy, and it occurs as early as one to two weeks after pregnancy is a reliable source of pregnancy—technically, the third and fourth weeks of pregnancy. This painful sensation peaks in the first trimester because your body is flooded with hormones. These hormones have an important function, which is to prepare your body to grow into a little human being—a hungry little human.
To feed this hunger, hormones work quickly to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding. Blood flow to the area increases and your breasts increase in size. The split can be quite large—but this growth can also be painful, even causing skin irritation and itching. Ouch!
The milk ducts in your breasts also grow to prepare for breastfeeding. The hormones stimulate the growth of milk-producing glands. Basically, your breasts are going through a massive growth spurt.
Other breast changes during pregnancy
Pain isn't the only breast-related symptom you can expect during pregnancy. During the first trimester, you may also notice blue veins pumping extra blood into your breasts and changes in the size or shape of your nipples.
During your second trimester (weeks 13-26), you may notice that the areola—the pigmented areas around the nipples—has become darker. They will continue to darken throughout the second and third trimesters as well.
You may also notice small bumps on the areola and wonder what's going on—but again, this is completely normal. These are called the tubers of Montgomery. They are fat-producing glands that lubricate the breast during breastfeeding and make the process more comfortable for you and your baby!
During the second and third trimesters, you may also begin to leak a yellowish fluid called colostrum. This can be a little unsettling, but don't worry! These are the good things. Colostrum is an immune-boosting liquid that your baby will drink in the days after birth, before your milk comes in. This super-nutritious liquid is sometimes called "liquid gold" because it's so good for your baby!
Nipple discharge can occur at any time, but it is especially common during nipple stimulation. Nipple discharge can vary in color from creamy white to yellow, green, or brown (you may want to warn your partner about this).
Bloody discharge from the nipple can also occur during pregnancy. It is usually the result of milk duct growth, but sometimes it can be a sign of a blocked duct.
Although all of this may sound terrifying—and possibly very embarrassing if it happens at the wrong time—leaking and discharging fluids actually happen in very small amounts. Are you worried about a vacuum or a leak that interrupts your day? Breast pads (inserted into your bra), designed to absorb any leakage during breastfeeding, also work like a charm during pregnancy.
In the final weeks of pregnancy, you may notice that your breasts are bigger and heavier than before. Nipple discharge may become more frequent. You may notice red lines that are known as stretch marks. You're about to meet your little one!