Ouch! My Breasts!
An early sign of pregnancy, during the first trimester, are swollen or sore breasts. This can begin as early as a week after conception, often before a woman ever misses her period. The breasts might become larger, tender, and ache when they are touched. But what causes this tenderness?
A woman’s breasts are made up of fat, tissue, blood, and milk glands and their sole purpose is for breastfeeding. It is just a coincidence that the men seem to like women’s breasts as much as the babies do.
When a woman gets pregnant her breasts immediately start preparing to feed that baby nine months down the road. Extra blood begins to run through them and the milk glands grow, causing the swelling and pain that a woman might feel. A woman’s breasts will continue to grow throughout pregnancy, although the tenderness should fade after the first trimester. It is normal for a woman’s breasts to be 2-3 cup sizes bigger by the time her baby comes and she begins nursing.
Swollen and sore breasts do not necessarily mean that a woman is pregnant. Many women experience some swelling and tenderness in their breasts every month right before their period comes, or even at ovulation. Sore breasts can also be caused by a hormonal imbalance or starting, stopping, or changing birth control pills midway through a cycle. When in doubt, be sure to call your doctor.
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47 Responses to “Ouch! My Breasts!”
Trackbacks
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Toyin says...
you guys are doing a great work thank mothers appreciate you
Sus says...
this is 1 helluva site
gail Long says...
Hi,
I have a question, I am 26 years old. My baby is 12 months old. The other day I felt something wet on my shirt, it was breast milk. Is this nomal for breast milk to still leak after a year?
Thank you. Concern!
mimi says...
hi, i have a prolem, i am24 years old, i had sex 7 days ago, ok my story is qt funny. i had sex 7 days ago and am preety sure my boyfrnds sprm dint go in cus wen he tried puting it in, i reffsd so he dccded to make it stay on the srface of my ********. am wrried cus for 7 2 days now after i had that , my left nipples lhurt. so am warrid if i may be pregnant.
Kerri says...
Hi,
For the past 2 weeks now, I have had cramping feelings in my lower back, my breasts are swollen and are very tender, and i keep feeling nauseous but I’m not getting sick. I have not bought a test yet because I rather not if I’m only over reacting. But I am worried because a few people have joked with me and asked if I were because of my symptoms. A little help here would be great!
Jess says...
Hi,
For the past few weeks now i’ve had sore breats, nauseous, backaches, headaches, stomach cramps, dizzyness and my breasts have increased a whole cup size in almost 5 days. I’ve had a test done but they said it was too early to tell and it came up negative. everyone i know keeps saying its not possible or very unlikely to happen but i’m worried because these aren’t my normal symptoms of my period.
i need help considering my age and considering the cirmumstances. Am i really pregnant or am i just over reacting???
help would be great!
melanie says...
Hi, my breasts have been sore for 2 weeks now, I am not a complainer by any means but I rarely have sore breasts and I am wondering why they hurt sooo bad and why is it only on the outer side of the breast (by my arms and underneath?
Any help would be appreciated.
jessica says...
Instead of going online to ask complete strangers if you may be pregnant. Noone will know for sure if you are pregnant. The best way to find out is to see a doctor or to take a pregnancy test a week after your missed period.
katie says...
im 25weeks pregnant and noticed 1 of my breat has leaked a tiny bit is this normal?
mia says...
hi there thank u for the site very helpfull just want to add to the girls that it does not mena u have a peiod u are not pregnant
i had a baby 6 years ago and i was pregnant and still had my periods one month into pregnansy so always go test yourself to make sure
rayllene jacobs says...
dont know why my breast are sore after taking fertilitie treatment please assist on the causesthat the treatment might have
Lori says...
When I was pregnant with both of my kids (I am pregnant how), I had sore breasts a week before I was to start, my lower back hurt, I was urinating more and I had regular mentrual cramps. And for the girl who is 25 weeks and breasts are leaking, yes, it happens. I was 26 weeks and leaned up against a cold washing machine, and it started to leak. Welcome to motherhood! Just a word of advice, after you have your baby, don’t let anyone hug you too hard, or press up against you, because you, and they will be wet!
Shikir says...
I am on my period now, my breast normally hurt, but what’s odd this time is my breast though swollen as ususal are paining me underneath my armpits. Can I be pregnant? My husband and I don’t use condoms we only use the Withdrawl method as unpredictable as that is. Now he calculates and has it down to a science and month after month my period arrives right on time or a day or two off. This time I am not flowing heavy. My heaviest days are the first and second day, by the third it’s generally preparing to cease. This time i’m on the second day and hardly anything to show for it, but I was crampy. Now I have a friend that everything for her was normal and it wasn’t until she was six months when she stopped seeing her period. Eventually, I will take a test or two, but any thoughts would be great.
Thanks!
Susan says...
Hi…my husband and I ALWAYS used the withdrawal method and sure enough I became pregnant a little over a year after we got married. I also read something that said if people do it that way there is a good chance you will get pregnant within a year…so it was pretty accurate for me I guess. I also had 1 period after I got pregnant, but none after that and I had a very healthy baby boy! Hope this helps!
andy says...
hi i am 36 years old and have 4 boys,I breast fed all.My youngest will be 2 and i stopped nursing him 9 months ago.Everything has been back to normal but i finished period 2 weeks ago,just before i got it my breast were really sore and i had milk like fluid come out.Took test 1 came back positive but faint and other negative then got period.Breast were okay,now my breast are sore agin and have the milk coming out and it feels like my uterus is almost contracting.Don;t know what to think am i maybe going through early menopause?Got period so can’t be pregnant and also husband had vasectomy almost 2 years ago.
beatrizc says...
hi i am 21 yrs old pregnant at 12 weeks with first baby and i felt a burn in my niples and when i looked my breast it was
leaking no milk but a liquid like water or something is that normal?today they fine.thank you!
vanessa says...
Its normal to have milk for a while,i gave birth in 2001 and still have milk today,im preggers again so i have lots more and sore boobys too
melissa says...
can a you have a baby eithout a period does any one know
Jalissa says...
I believe that u can not have a baby without a preriod.. The whole purpose or a menstraul cycle is to release eggs so they can be fertilized..
Rebekah says...
Actually you can get pregnant without having a period. I am 36 weeks pregnant right now and I got pregnant after not having a period for 6 months.
The reason for not having a period for so long is that I have poly cystic ovarian syndrome. But I can assure you that YES you can get pregnant without having a period!!!!
amber says...
i am 13 weeks pregnant and have no soreness in my breast except my nipple itches from time to time and thyve only grew a little
Annon says...
I am 8 weeks
Does the breast pain ever stop and will they be big now forever
Phylicia Smith says...
Hi, I’m only 32 weeks pregnant and my baby has dropped, and I feel so much pressure when I walk. what should I do?
andrina says...
I am 24yrs old and my LMP was May 13th, however, it lasted for only one day. Prior to that, my LMP was April 30th. I only had 8 days between the two periods and since then I havent menstrated. It has been 5 weeks since my last period. My breasts arent tender, but my nipples are extremely sensitive and sore. I went to the hospital on May25th for a severe headache and the pregnancy test was neg. I had blood workup at my reg docs June 1st and never heard any news of being pregnant. I wonder if I am, and if so how it was undetected through all of these doc appointments… My fiance and I haven’t used condoms or birth control for the last 3 years and I have never gotten pregnant so I also worry that I am infertile… help!
Erika says...
I am also 24 years old and for along time i had irregular periods and thougt that i was infertile. I have been with my fiance for 5 years and we never use condoms or birth control and after 5 years of trying i am three months pregnant with that being said maybe its just not your time. All i can say is go see a doc and make sure everythings good wit your body and if it is keep trying and its sure to happen some of need more time than others good luck n best wishes.
Erika says...
Oh yeah and stop stressing that makes it ten times harder its sure to happen in due time.
Erin says...
Hi, To the girl that was talking about Whiteish Clear Substance coming out of her breast… That is normal. It is called collestrum and it is a substance that your body makes before the milk comes.
Hope this was helpful =]
Cindy says...
About 1 week after ovulation my breasts began to feel sore and have been sore each day since. It’s been a over week now. Usually, ‘IF’ my breasts get sore, it’s about 2-3 days prior to my cycle beginning. My breasts feel fuller, heavier and sore. I should have started 2 days ago. So…we’re thinking we are pregnant but don’t know for sure yet. Will wait a few more days.
Whitney says...
I really want to know something… I am on what I think is my period.. One day it was really heavy with little bit clumps.. My breast usually quit hurting as soon as I start my time but they are killing me right now.. Please people email me… zoeygirll_1987@yahoo.com.. I really need to know.. my husband and I are trying but its just weird and has been after my stillborn daughter in 2007.. please help..
sunshine says...
hi,
i have a question i have not had my period this month but there is two days left n this month . does this mean that i’m pregnant ? or does this just mean my cycle is changeing. i have been having headaches n my breast are somewhat sore n i have been nausous. but the thing is i need some answers b4 i make a doc appointment..
please help
thanks n advance, sunshine
christina says...
no it does not always mean ur prego, try taking a ept first before a appointment. if u get back weird results consult a doctor, u can definetly tell when ur prego. ur body feels different and some people have nausea some don’t some have extremely sore breast, some don’t hurt till later months.
angel says...
can someone give any ansewrs to my question that keeps bothering me for a week now,please!!!!!
im 2 weeks late already and no sign of my period yet except im suffering from a very tender and swollen breast,really gives me discomfort with my everday routine coz in a little move i always feel the pain and much worst my breast got bigger than usual and it force me to buy new bra to fit…
my question is i always feel the tenderness of my breast same as before my period comes but what im suffering now is much getting worst than usual and before as day pass by the pain is getting at ease but not its getting painful.and one more thing is before im having my period my breast dont change in size or get bigger….can this be a difference of symptoms of an early pregnancy and pms?and having this symptoms can this be possibly mean that im pregnant?
Audree Gould says...
I’m 24yrs old and I have a 4 year old son and a 8mo old daughter. I breast fed both children for about 8-10 wks after I had them but for some reason always seemed to dry up after that and had to bottle feed. But this time, oddly enough, I get a wet spot or two on my shirt or bra. Is this normal even though I’ve already dried up? *Thanks for listening. Can’t wait to get a reply!*
Erica says...
Hi I am 16 and I am 9 weeks pregnant; My breast have grew a little bit and I get a headache almost everyday; My back is killing me and going back and forth up and down the steps everyday is just making my back and everything else hurt by the end of the day.
Karena says...
i am 13 weeks pregnant and have no soreness in my breast except my nipple itches from time to time and thyve only grew a little
Jillian says...
YES! you can get pregnant without a period I stopped having a period at 15 told i was never going to get pregnant at 18 i found out i was 3 months pregnant I did not have period again until after i had my son! Doctors to this day can not explain it. BUT its very possiable!
Ms. D says...
My breasts are also swollen and they hurt like—-!!!!
I had a positive pregnancy test a month ago but my quant numbers declined from 800 to 200 over a week period. doctor said it could be a miscarriage in progress. I am also bleeding a little, not heavily at all. can someone give some advice?
Marie says...
i have been having unprotected sex for seven months now. I have never gotten pregnant nor have had any irregular periods. I am due to have my period in a week now, and am having a lot of breast pain. That is not normal for me, nor am I having any of the tell tale signs of my period starting. Do you think it’s possible that I’m pregnant and tests just wont show it yet?
Rick says...
hi.. i have a quick question.. can sperm go through clothes? my girlfriend and i were making out in my car.. only making out.. and i was just wondering if someone could get pregnant even if we had our clothes on.. she told me a few days later that her breasts were aching and thinks that its possible that she might be pregnant.. oh .. idk if age has anything to do with the aching but just in case .. she is 18
angeloflite says...
re: Rick, no sperm can’t go through clothes, especially if you both had your pants on.
angelina says...
hi!! i got my period on the 4th of january. but 5 days ago i started having severe headaches, back aches, breast pain, mausea. i cant eat or smell anything. i feel very weak. and btw my period was weird this month. the 1st day there was very little blood but on the 2nd it was tooooooooo much and then on the 3rd it stopped. but i usually get my period for 5 days. so…. is it possible i am pregnant?
Tyra R says...
i had received some spotting jan 3 my periods are irregular and im wondering culd i be pregnant?
dee says...
hi, i got my wisdom teeth removed a week ago i took prednisone only one day, now am late 3 days on my period my breast are really sore,swollen and tender! anybody knows if the medication cause this? or i may b pregnant??