When do your boobs start hurting during pregnancy

Why are my breasts sore now I'm pregnant?

As your body gears up to support your growing baby, you produce more of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

A similar hormone surge happens to you before a period (NHS 2018, Russo 2019), so this tenderness is probably an exaggerated version of how your breasts feel then (NHS 2019).

Your breasts may become so tender that your usual bra becomes really uncomfortable. You may not like having your breasts touched.

You may have noticed this tenderness from about three weeks or four weeks of your pregnancy, before you even did a pregnancy test (Bharj and Daniels 2017, Murray and Hendley 2020).

Along with the effects of a hormone surge, your breasts are likely to be getting bigger (Bharj and Daniels 2017, Murray and Hendley 2020, Russo 2019). This is because of changes happening inside your breasts that are preparing them for feeding your baby.

Early in pregnancy, the mammary glands that produce breastmilk start to grow. Small clusters of grape-like sacs, called alveoli, develop to produce breastmilk. Channels that ferry breastmilk from the alveoli to the nipple, called ducts and ductules, increase in number, branch out and grow longer (Alex et al 2020, de Holanda et al 2016).

Every woman's experience is different. Your breasts may grow quickly in early pregnancy, or they may grow gradually as your pregnancy progresses. You may not even notice much difference in the size of your breasts until the end of your pregnancy (Murray and Hendley 2020).

When it does happen, though, the change in size can be quite dramatic, particularly if this is your first pregnancy. You will probably go up a couple of cup sizes by the time you have your baby. Don’t worry if this hasn’t happened by the end of pregnancy. Your breasts are likely to expand more once your newborn has arrived and your breasts fill with milk (Alex et al 2020 ).

You may notice other changes, too. During sex you may feel a throbbing or tingling sensation in your breasts, as the blood rushes to them.

Your body changes in pregnancy

Our video reveals how your body changes and makes room for your developing baby. Watch the amazing process in action. More inside pregnancy videos

Are sore breasts in pregnancy common?

Yes, it is common to have sore breasts in pregnancy (Nazik and Erilmaz 2013). Having sore breasts is one of the top three things women complain about in early pregnancy, along with morning sickness and tiredness (Nazik and Eryilmaz 2014).

Sensitive, tender and tingling breasts are also among the earliest signs that you’re pregnant (Bharj and Daniels 2017, NHS 2019).

If you've been having fertility treatment and had sore breasts from the drugs, you may find this symptom confusing. Is it the drugs or pregnancy? Once you've got a positive pregnancy test, it's most likely that pregnancy hormones have kicked in and are causing the tenderness.

Breast soreness is likely to ease off after your first trimester (Nazik and Eryilmaz 2014, Murray and Hendley 2020). Once you’re in your second trimester, your surging hormone levels will settle down.

This won’t necessarily spell the end of painful breasts altogether, though. Breast pain and tenderness still affects almost half of women in the third trimester (Nazik and Erilmaz 2013).

What can I do to ease the soreness in my breasts?

• A supportive bra with wide shoulder straps will help to ease the soreness (Nazik and Eryilmaz 2014). Pregnancy support vests that have a built-in bra section may also help (Quintero Rodriguez and Troynikov 2019). Underwired bras are less comfortable for your changing breasts, so choose bras with softer support.
• Have your bra fitted by a specialist in-store fitter. If this isn’t possible, measure under your breasts for size, and around the fullest part of your breast for the cup. Bear in mind that sizes vary according to style and brand so check their size guidelines before you buy online, or if you buy a bra without trying it on.
• Try to get fitted more than once during your pregnancy. You may need to change cup sizes as your breasts grow.
• Wear a well-fitting bra while you exercise, to support your heavy breasts.
• A maternity cotton sleep bra may help to ease soreness while you sleep.
• Some women find it helps to run warm water over their breasts to ease soreness. Gently pat your breasts dry afterwards (Nazik and Eryilmaz 2014).
• If you've got nipple piercings, you may find they become so tender to touch that you have to remove them. You don't have to take them out unless they are causing you discomfort.

Learn how to cope with these other common pregnancy complaints:

• nausea and vomiting
• pelvic pain
• itchy skin
• breathlessness

References

Alex A, Bhandary E, McGuire KP. 2020. Anatomy and Physiology of the Breast during Pregnancy and Lactation. Adv Exp Med Biol 1252:3-7

Bharj KK, Daniels L. 2017. Confirming pregnancy and care of the pregnant women. In: McDonald S, Johnson G. eds. Mayes’ midwifery. 15th ed. London: Elsevier, 503-36

de Holanda AA, Gonçalves AK, de Medeiros RD, et al. 2016. Ultrasound findings of the physiological changes and most common breast diseases during pregnancy and lactation. Radiol Bras 49(6):389-96. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [Accessed September 2020]

Murray I, Hendley J. 2020. Change and adaptation in pregnancy. Chapter 10. In: Marshall J, Raynor M. eds. Myles Textbook for Midwives. 17th ed. Elsevier

Nazik E, Eryilmaz G. 2014. Incidence of pregnancy-related discomforts and management approaches to relieve them among pregnant women. J Clin Nurs 23(11-12):1736-50

NHS 2018. PMS (premenstrual syndrome). NHS, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed September 2020]

NHS. 2019. Signs and symptoms of pregnancy. NHS, Health A-Z, Pregnancy and baby. www.nhs.uk [Accessed September 2020]

Quintero Rodriguez C, Troynikov O. 2019. The Effect of Maternity Support Garments on Alleviation of Pains and Discomforts during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review.

Russo J. 2019. Breast development and morphology. UpToDate. www.uptodate.com [Accessed September 2020]

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