At least once in a lifetime, every woman has encountered such a thing as pain in her chest. As a rule, the appearance of such symptoms is associated with premenstrual syndrome and only in some cases they can signal the presence of diseases.
Chest pain during pregnancy is a normal phenomenon, which should not cause concern, despite the fact that such a symptom in each expectant mother can manifest itself in different ways. Some experience such sensations from the very beginning, others may not notice anything like this until the very birth. At what period of pregnancy does the chest begin to hurt? When is such a symptom normal, and when should I see a doctor? Can pain be relieved?
Main reasons
Often, women planning to conceive are worried about whether their breasts hurt in the early stages of pregnancy. Often this symptom is one of the first signs of fertilization. But it is worth noting that everything is quite individual, each woman has similar sensations at different times. For some, chest pain is felt immediately after a successful fertilization of the egg, and this is due to a change in the hormonal background in the female body.
After fixing the fertilized cell on the wall of the uterus in the body of a pregnant woman, human chorionic gonadotropin or the so-called pregnancy hormone begins to be intensively produced. It is he who contributes to an increase in the size of the mammary glands. This process is precisely the reason why breast pains in early pregnancy. And this is a completely normal phenomenon, which should not be feared.
What kind of breasts during pregnancy?
In addition to the characteristic soreness associated with stretching of the connective and adipose tissue of the organ due to an increase in its volume, the expectant mother can observe the following changes:
- feeling of fullness due to swelling of the chest;
- the appearance of stretch marks;
- the release of a small amount of colostrum due to the opening of the milk channels;
- significant filling of blood vessels, as a result of which the venous network of the breast begins to be visually determined;
- a change in the color of the areola and nipple to a darker one, a change in the shape of the nipples (possible appearance of minor tubercles in the areola area);
- itching and burning in the chest.
How long can my chest hurt?
Usually, similar symptoms are observed from the beginning of pregnancy until the end of the first trimester and are not a cause for concern. In combination with pain, such signs indicate the restructuring and preparation of the female body for the upcoming birth of the baby.
Painful breasts in the second half of pregnancy
An increase in the volume of the mammary glands is observed throughout the entire gestation period. In the first trimester, as a rule, the breast swells slightly. And starting from the twentieth week of pregnancy, the content of the hormone estrogen in the body of a woman expecting a baby rises significantly, which leads to an even larger increase in the mammary glands. Enhanced breast growth, in turn, gives the expectant mother some discomfort. In particular, it leads to the appearance of painful sensations.
Usually chest pain during pregnancy, in the second half, does not have such pronounced symptoms as immediately after conception. A woman experiences mostly aching and pulling pains associated with hypothermia, or mechanical stress, such as pressure or compression.
In some mothers, there is an increased sensitivity of the mammary glands up to the fact that any light touch causes unbearable painful sensations, for example, when the nipples come into contact with clothes.
In other women, colostrum begins to stand out during this period of time, which adds to the already existing pain sensations a tingling sensation in the chest area, as well as itching and burning.
Even if the pain is permanent, do not worry. To stop symptoms, you need to carefully monitor the hygiene of the mammary glands, as well as use more comfortable underwear.
How to reduce discomfort?
It is impossible to completely get rid of chest pain during pregnancy, because this is a natural and inevitable process. To alleviate their condition, doctors advise you to follow a few simple recommendations. We’ll talk about them.
Wearing a special bra
It is advisable to abandon tight linen made of synthetic fabrics, replacing it with a cotton product without frame elements and with wide comfortable straps. Preference can be given to a bra for nursing mothers. To fix the aching chest during sleep, use a support top instead of a bra. And in order to avoid the appearance of stains on the underwear of colostrum, use special pads for the bra.
Using special creams
In their composition they contain silicone and vitamin E. There are a lot of similar products on the market. Among this variety, you can find special nourishing creams, cosmetics for stretch marks, as well as, giving the breast elasticity, moisturizing and protective products. But the most beneficial option is universal creams. They perform all of these functions to maintain a healthy breast during pregnancy.
Thorough Breast Hygiene
Avoid crusting dried colostrum. Wash your breasts regularly and take air baths. As a means of hygiene, it is recommended to use neutral, not causing allergic reactions.
Special massage
A gentle massage of the breasts also brings some relief. You can do it with the help of a special terry mittens from the very beginning of pregnancy. If chest pain is tolerable, it is recommended to use rotational movements in the nipple area during massage. Such manipulations contribute to its hardening, which subsequently simplifies the process of breastfeeding.
Physical exercise
Do not give up on them with pain in the chest. Moderate physical education not only does not interfere with the normal course of pregnancy, but also benefits the mother's body.
When should I see a doctor?
Painful and touch-sensitive breasts during pregnancy are considered normal. However, some symptoms may still alert the woman. In such cases, you should tell your doctor about them in order to exclude possible pathologies.
Among the most unpleasant diseases of pregnant women, which should be given special attention, the following are distinguished:
- Late toxicosis, accompanied by the appearance of overt and latent edema. With this complication, puffiness localized in different parts of the female body can cause pain under the mammary glands.
- Acute ongoing chest pain in some cases is a reason for examination by a mammologist. It is likely that a woman suffers from mastitis or lactostasis. It is important to identify the disease before birth and take measures to eliminate it.
- Painful sensations concentrated under the glands or in the center of the chest can indicate the presence of pathological processes in the heart muscle, for example, the development of coronary heart disease.
Characteristics of breast diseases
As a rule, lactostasis develops in lactating women after the birth of the baby, however, in rare cases, this phenomenon can occur even during gestation. This is due to the early formation of breast milk, as a result of which it stagnates in the ducts of the mammary glands, which leads to painful sensations.
This disease is characterized by its specific symptoms, among which are:
- pain in the area of the mammary glands;
- the formation of seals in them, easily determined by touch;
- local hyperemia (redness) of the skin of the chest;
- acute pain when pressed.
Mastitis, by its nature, is an infectious disease and is expressed by inflammatory processes in the tissues of the mammary glands. A similar ailment is most often found in nursing mothers. It occurs as a complication with prolonged feeding. This type of mastitis is not associated with the presence of infections.
However, in women in position, the disease develops as a result of infections caused by improper or inadequate sanitization of the breast nipples. Bacteria leading to inflammation penetrate through the ducts, and crusts form on the nipples due to colostrum. If breast care during pregnancy is insufficient, a bacterial infection develops rapidly and moves deeper into the mammary gland, causing a number of unpleasant symptoms. Among the signs of mastitis are:
- sharp pain and a feeling of fullness in the chest;
- red, inflamed skin on some parts of the mammary glands;
- the appearance of dense formations;
- breast enlargement;
- change in body temperature of a pregnant woman upward.
If you do not seek medical help on time, inflammation will lead to the formation of purulent abscesses inside the mammary glands with the subsequent infection of not only milk, but also blood. In advanced cases, the treatment of mastitis is reduced to surgery.
Other causes of pain
Sometimes pain in the chest area has nothing to do with a woman’s pregnancy, but it may indicate the presence of ailments such as:
- digestive tract diseases (e.g., peptic ulcer or gastritis);
- neurological diseases (e.g., osteochondrosis, neuralgia);
- unstable state of the psyche of a woman, accompanied by anxiety and depressive states;
- pulmonary disease (e.g., pneumonia, bronchitis).
Conclusion
Often, women are interested in what period of pregnancy the breast begins to hurt. First of all, it is worth understanding that everything depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Often chest pain in early pregnancy is a normal sign. But no matter what pain sensations accompany the process of bearing the fetus, try to closely monitor all changes in your body. Do not attribute all possible symptoms to the normal course of pregnancy. To avoid complications, pay close attention to the condition of your mammary glands.