Sore breasts are one of the health problems that women often complain about. Usually, this problem appears before menstruation or is an early sign of pregnancy. For those who are pregnant, you may often feel pain in your breasts when pressed or even just touched. Even though it can cause discomfort, breast pain during pregnancy is actually quite common. This condition usually appears when the pregnancy is 4-6 weeks old and lasts during the first trimester. Pregnancy can cause many changes to the body. One of them is hormonal changes. These changes can cause a pregnant woman’s breasts to feel painful.
The following is the difference between breast pain as a sign of menstruation and as a sign of pregnancy
- Breast pain is a sign of menstruation
Quoting from American Pregnancy, the signs of pregnancy or menstruation (menstruation) are indeed similar. Apart from breast pain, other signs of pregnancy and PMS include mood swings, back pain, headaches, and often feeling hungry. So, are sore breasts a week before menstruation a sign of pregnancy? Breast pain before menstruation is not necessarily a sign of pregnancy. The reason is, pain accompanied by swelling in the breasts, a sign of PMS, generally occurs one to two weeks before menstruation starts and subsides after menstruation. When touched, the breasts may also feel like they have a lump, are dense, and look fuller. This condition is caused by the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the body fluctuating during the menstrual cycle. The hormone estrogen causes the breast ducts to enlarge. Meanwhile, the production of the hormone progesterone causes the mammary glands to swell.
These two things cause your breasts to feel sore before menstruation (PMS). This pain ranges from mild to severe, and is usually the most severe before menstruation. This pain will gradually improve during menstruation or after. Women of reproductive age tend to have more severe symptoms of breast pain. However, these symptoms will vary from person to person. For some women, the pain that appears can still be unbearable. However, for some women this pain can be very painful. - Breast pain is a sign of pregnancy
Then, how is breast pain a sign of pregnancy? The most different thing is the pain. Breast pain associated with pregnancy will feel more painful than during PMS or before menstruation. Apart from feeling painful, the breasts during pregnancy are also more sensitive, tender and swollen. The swelling and tenderness of the breasts lasts for one to two weeks after conception. This condition is caused by increased levels of the hormone progesterone due to pregnancy. In fact, breasts not only hurt during pregnancy, but also feel a tingling sensation in the area around the nipples. The skin color in the nipple and areola area can also become darker in preparation for breastfeeding when the baby is born. In contrast to breast pain as a sign of menstruation which will subside after menstruation starts, breast pain as a sign of pregnancy is not the case. This condition can last quite a long time due to a spike in progesterone levels in the body to support pregnancy. Some women even have breast pain that lasts throughout their pregnancy.
Causes of breast pain during pregnancy
During the first trimester of pregnancy, the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone will increase. This hormone functions to support the growth and development of the baby in the womb, as well as preparing the breasts of pregnant women to breastfeed the baby later. Due to the effects of this hormone, blood flow to the breasts will increase, the number of mammary glands increases, and the fat layer in the breasts becomes thicker. The impact not only makes the breasts enlarge, but also causes the breasts to feel painful and more sensitive when touched. However, pregnant women do not need to worry, because this breast pain will slowly subside as the pregnancy enters the second trimester.
The following breast changes during pregnancy according to gestational age often cause pain:
- First trimester (1-3 months)
In the first trimester of pregnancy (4-6 weeks), some pregnant women feel their breasts are tingling, painful, or more sensitive, especially in the nipple area. This is caused by increased levels of the hormone progesterone and blood flow in the breasts. The formation of more mammary glands for milk production and the development of milk ducts as a way for milk to come out of the breasts have also begun. This makes the breast size change to become larger. Furthermore, the nipple and areola (the dark area around the nipple) become darker and larger and the blood vessels under the skin of the breast become more visible. Montgomery glands, namely glands that produce oil around the nipples, also become more visible. - Second trimester (4-6 months)
In the second trimester (16 weeks of age), the breasts are able to produce breast milk (ASI). It is not surprising that some mothers experience small amounts of breast leakage, a cloudy fluid commonly known as colostrum sometimes comes out of the nipple. Sometimes, the nipple may also bleed which occurs in some mothers. This is caused by the growth and increase in the number of blood vessels in the breasts to produce milk. Even though this incident is normal, it is best to check with a doctor or midwife. - Third trimester (7-9 months)
In the third trimester of pregnancy or the last week, the nipples become larger and the breasts continue to develop because the cells that produce milk become larger. This causes the body’s hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin to stimulate the mammary glands in preparation for breastfeeding. The hormones progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the body cause an increase in blood volume throughout the body. Then this hormone triggers changes in melanocytes or pigment cells, which give color to pregnant women’s nipples.
Changes that occur in sore breasts during pregnancy:
- Nipples.
Apart from being more sensitive, pregnant women will often feel that their nipples are tingling and more prominent than before. Even some pregnant women experience pain in the nipple and breast area during pregnancy. - Areola.
Apart from becoming darker, the areola also gets wider and bigger during pregnancy. If you look closely, you can see small white lumps on the surface of the areola skin which are sweat glands. This doesn’t mean the lump is dangerous, in fact the lump supplies lubricant to the areola to help with the breastfeeding process later. - Blood vessels around the breast.
Have you ever seen bluish blood vessels on the surface of the breast skin? It functions as a carrier of nutrients and fluids from the mother to the fetus. Even though it looks scary, this condition does not interfere with the baby’s development.
How to deal with breast pain during pregnancy:
- Drink enough water.
Pregnant women can overcome breast pain during pregnancy by drinking enough water to help remove metabolic waste from the body, reducing salt consumption, and practicing meditation or yoga. - Do AWARE.
The important thing that mothers should not forget is BSE or Examine Your Own Breasts. Do this regularly as a step to detect breast cancer early. - Compress with ice or cold water.
The compress method is often a mainstay way to reduce pain in certain parts of the body. This method is believed to be effective in reducing breast pain during pregnancy. Take a clean towel and place it on your chest and sore breast area. Next, place a number of ice cubes on it and leave it for a few moments. Feel the cold sensation and try to stay relaxed. Slowly, the pain in the breast will decrease. - Take a warm shower.
For pregnant women who cannot tolerate cold temperatures, another method can be done by taking a warm shower. According to Patrick Duff, M.D., an obstetrician from the University of Florida, warm temperatures can help relax tense muscles around the breasts. However, some pregnant women still feel pain after taking a warm shower. Therefore, gently wash warm water over the sore breast area and pause for a few moments before you do it again. - Change to a new bra.
To reduce breast pain during pregnancy, you need to change the type of bra you use every day. Bras that use wire are not suitable for use during pregnancy because they make the breasts uncomfortable. Quoting from the American Pregnancy Association (APA), there are several things you need to pay attention to when choosing a bra during pregnancy, namely:- Wide bra shoulder straps.
- Wide and full cups (full cup bra).
- Add a number or two as your breasts enlarge.
The things above can be used as an assessment in choosing a bra during pregnancy to make it more comfortable during activities.
- Wear a bra when sleeping.
Not a few women believe that removing a bra while sleeping can help maintain their health. However, especially for pregnant women who experience breast pain, it is recommended to wear a bra while sleeping. Using a bra while sleeping can actually help reduce breast pain experienced by pregnant women. Because, the breasts will be supported by the bra, thereby reducing the pressure and pain caused. Use a sports bra or a larger bra so you can sleep soundly without being disturbed by pain. - Don’t often touch sore breasts during pregnancy.
Breast pain during pregnancy often interferes with daily activities. Touch your breasts less to reduce pain, this also applies to your partner. Make him understand that your mother’s breasts are sore and therefore very uncomfortable to touch.
Breast pain during pregnancy is common due to hormonal changes, especially in the early trimester. However, if the breasts feel very painful, the pain persists for a long time, or there is a lump in the breast that feels painful, immediately consult a gynecologist.
Signs to look out for if your breasts hurt during pregnancy:
- Lumps in the armpit.
Breast tissue lumps can appear in the armpit area. If the mother experiences this, immediately consult a doctor so she can be examined further. The fear is that something dangerous will happen, such as breast cancer. - Lump in the breast.
Sometimes there is a lump in the breast and it feels painful when you are pregnant. Apart from being painful, breast lumps can be red and very painful when touched. For first aid, you can compress and massage the breasts slowly. This condition of lumps in the breast can occur due to blockage of the breast milk ducts. If it doesn’t go away, immediately consult a doctor. - Discharge from the nipple.
Discharge from the nipples during pregnancy is a normal condition for massage. However, if fluid suddenly comes out without massage, accompanied by a foul odor accompanied by blood, immediately consult a doctor.
