What causes breast pain during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the body will always experience various symptoms, including obvious swelling and pain in the breasts, which will make women feel particularly uncomfortable. Sometimes when the pain is severe, they will feel inexplicably irritable, which will affect their mood. However, what makes women more worried is whether breast swelling and pain during pregnancy is a normal phenomenon and whether it will affect the fetus. Let's take a look at what breast swelling and pain during pregnancy is.

What causes breast tenderness during pregnancy?

After 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy, many pregnant women will experience breast tenderness, which is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy and is caused by changes in hormone levels.

After pregnancy, the placenta and villi secrete large amounts of estrogen, progesterone, etc. Under the combined stimulation of estrogen and progesterone, starting from the early stages of pregnancy, the pregnant woman's fat layer thickens, blood fills the mammary glands, stimulating mammary gland development and causing the breasts to gradually enlarge. Dilation of the milk ducts may cause breast enlargement, tenderness, and pain. The color of the nipple and areola becomes darker, dark brown nodules appear around the nipple, and a small amount of clear milk will be secreted after 12 weeks.

As the body's hormone levels stabilize, this situation will gradually ease, but there are also cases where pregnant women experience persistent breast pain. But pregnant women don't need to be overly nervous. This is a normal physiological reaction and the body's physiological preparation for postpartum lactation.

Treatment of breast tenderness

Breast tenderness during pregnancy is a normal physiological phenomenon and does not require special treatment. If the pain is severe, you can use some care methods to relieve the pain symptoms:

1. Choose the right bra

As the breasts become larger, the original bra will restrict the breasts and make people feel uncomfortable. You should choose an appropriate bra according to the size of your breasts to relieve the feeling of distension and pain. Choose a cotton bra that is soft and has no seams near the nipples. It will be more comfortable to wear and relatively breathable.

2. Physical methods

If the pain is severe, you can take the following measures to relieve breast pain:

(1) Hot compress. Use a soft hot towel to warm your breasts, wipe gently, etc. to relieve breast discomfort. It is important to note that the breasts are very fragile during this period, and expectant mothers should be gentle during care to avoid damaging the nipples.

(2) Massage. Gently massaging your breasts with your hands every day can not only relieve discomfort but also promote breast development. However, you should avoid massaging or pulling the nipples with your hands for a long time, especially for pregnant women who have a history of habitual miscarriage or premature birth.

The above is an introduction to what causes breast pain during pregnancy. After understanding it, we know that there are many reasons for breast pain during pregnancy, so female friends should not worry too much when they have such symptoms. In addition, they should take better care of their breasts, wear some comfortable underwear for pregnant women, and avoid doing too strenuous exercise.