Types of breast pain in early pregnancy

01/7Pregnancy signs you must know

Often, a missed period is considered as the main sign of pregnancy. There are incidents where women tend to wait for a whole month to confirm their pregnancy and if it’s not planned, that time span might make them stressed and anxious. But you would be surprised to know that there are certain signs and symptoms which might indicate that you’re expecting even before you miss a period. Following are the six signs of pregnancy even before you miss a period.

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02/7Sore, swollen and tender breasts

SORE, SWOLLEN AND TENDER BREASTS: If you experience that your breasts are becoming extra sensitive to any type of touch, it’s a sign of pregnancy. This is due to the reason that during early stage of pregnancy, blood flow to your breasts increases, making the breast tissues more sensitive and swollen. If you are pregnant, chances are you will feel breast soreness and not just swelling or tenderness, which may also happen during PMS.

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03/7A sudden change in your eating habits

A SUDDEN CHANGE IN YOUR EATING HABITS: Another way to diagnose your pregnancy is when suddenly your eating habits change. It happens as the changing levels of oestrogen affect your sensory organs, which also impact your eating habits. You might get an aversion to certain foods, feel more hungry and might crave for certain types of food. Though whether these changes in taste come as early as before a missed period is not very clear but they may. However, the change may also just indicate PMS.

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04/7Cramps

CRAMPS: The perception that you experience cramps only when you are about to menstruate is wrong. Even when you are pregnant, cramping is the very early sign. This is because as the embryo implants into the uterus, you might experience cramps.

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05/7Spots or bleeding

SPOTS OR BLEEDING: You might also experience spotting or little bleeding when you are expecting. This is absolutely normal as when the ovum gets fertilized, it attaches itself to the uterus and could lead to ‘implanting bleeding’. The colour of the blood is usually lighter than your menstrual blood.

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06/7Feeling fatigued

FEELING FATIGUED: Pregnancy often leaves you tired and fatigued. As there is a hormonal change, your body prepares itself for rest of the pregnancy months. It is because of the increased progesterone levels that you feel exhausted.

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07/7Nausea

NAUSEA: This is the most common symptom of pregnancy. Usually, women experience nausea and morning sickness around the 6th week of pregnancy but there are chances that a would-be-mother might feel nauseous even before that.

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Types of breast pain in early pregnancy
  • Topics >
  • Staying healthy while pregnant >
  • Pregnancy symptoms

During pregnancy, your breasts might be tender during pregnancy or even experience a sharp, shooting pain. It is one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy, usually starting between 4-6 weeks, due to the increase in hormonal activity. Women often describe it as a more intense version of the premenstrual symptom. The discomfort may spread to your nipples and areolas (the dark area around your nipples) as well.

What causes it?

Your breasts may soon be the sole source of Baby’s nutrition, so there’s a lot of activity going on to prepare them for the role. An increase in estrogen and progesterone, on top of higher overall blood flow to the area, makes them feel more sore than usual. They’re also building up fat content that could make them grow by one or two cup sizes. You might experience some itchiness or see stretch marks from the growth.

Tips?

Breast tenderness is most common toward the beginning and end of your pregnancy, so rest assured that you won’t have to worry about this symptom for 9 months straight. Wearing comfortable bras for exercise and everyday activities is a good idea to help avoid increasing the discomfort; maternity stores usually have a great selection that includes pregnancy sleep bras. You might want to apply a “look, don’t touch” rule with your partner until the soreness subsides. There aren’t any medications designed to treat this symptom. Vitamin E has been theorized to give some relief from breast tenderness, though, as always, it’s important to check in with a healthcare provider before starting any new nutritional supplement during pregnancy. And don’t hesitate to use the good ol’ frozen bag of peas solution for some soothing relief.


Read more
  • Breast tenderness when pregnant
  • Leaking breasts when pregnant
Sources
  • “Breast Pain: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 03 May 2016. Web. 06 June 2016. Accessed 21 July 2017. 
  • “Symptoms of Pregnancy: What Happens First.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 05 Jan. 2017. Web. Accessed 21 July 2017. 

  • Pregnancy Pains

What kind of breast pains indicate pregnancy?

SORE, SWOLLEN AND TENDER BREASTS: If you experience that your breasts are becoming extra sensitive to any type of touch, it's a sign of pregnancy. This is due to the reason that during early stage of pregnancy, blood flow to your breasts increases, making the breast tissues more sensitive and swollen.

How do you know if breast pain is pregnancy or period?

While your breasts may feel tender during PMS, they can be tender during early pregnancy as well. “You may also be pretty fatigued,” Giles added. “The key difference between the two, however, is that with pregnancy, your period doesn't occur.”

How do breast feel when first pregnant?

Tenderness and discomfort Breast tenderness is often one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , breasts may become sore, heavy, or tingly as early as 1–2 weeks after conception. The nipples may also feel sensitive or even painful to touch.

How do nipples look in early pregnancy?

The nipples and the area around the nipples (areola) become darker and larger. Small bumps may appear on the areola. These bumps will go away after you have your baby. You may notice a yellowish discharge, called colostrum, from your nipples as early as the 16th to 19th week.