Tender breasts
One of the earliest signs of pregnancy for many women are the changes that take place in their breasts.
Your breasts are likely to be tender or sore (similar to the way they feel just before or during your period) in pregnancy, thanks to increased amounts of estrogen and progesterone in your system. Your breasts may also increase in size.
Even this early on in your pregnancy, your breasts are preparing for breastfeeding. You may notice your areolae (the area immediately surrounding the nipples) darkening and little bumps appearing as your breasts increase in size. In addition, you might notice that the blue veins of your breasts suddenly become more noticeable.
The tenderness isn’t likely to last past the fourth month, when your hormones stabilize, although it’s possible your breasts will feel different throughout your pregnancy – especially if you’ve increased a couple of cup sizes! Make sure you wear a good support bra and if you’re worried about stretch marks, rub almond oil or cocoa butter into your skin daily.
There’s not much that you can do in the early stages to decrease the tenderness, but your hormones will balance out and your breasts won't feel this sensitive forever!
If you have any unanswered questions, use our answers page to gain wisdom from other moms or our resident experts for all those pregnancy queries.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 27/06/2008
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