Breast growth and painful sensations in it in the early stages of pregnancy

In the initial phases of pregnancy, numerous women observe modifications in their breast tissue. One of the first indications that a pregnancy has started is frequently these changes.

Tenderness and growth in the breasts are common as the body gets used to the new hormone balance. Even though these changes are common, they can occasionally cause pain or discomfort.

It is possible to make expectant mothers feel more at ease during this crucial time by helping them understand why these changes happen and how to handle any discomfort.

Breast growth and pain – reasons

Physicians refer to painful sensations in the chest as mastalgia. This is merely a description of a symptom, not a separate illness. With it, the breast enlarges, swells, hurts to touch, and the woman may experience discomfort from her nipples becoming extremely sensitive. Mastalgia itself can occur naturally and in conjunction with a number of diseases. Chest pain typically starts in women with physiological mastalgia prior to menstruation. Approximately 60% of women notice growth and painful changes in the state of their mammary glands prior to a delay in menstruation, and 95% of pregnant women notice the emergence of such a symptom during the first trimester.

The glandular tissue of women"s mammary glands is very sensitive to changes in hormonal levels. Before menstruation, there is a decrease in the production of progesterone and an increase in the production of estrogens, because of this, the increased sensitivity of the glands, characteristic of the second phase of the menstrual cycle, is replaced by softening of the breast. Many people notice that the breasts become soft a day before menstruation or in the first day after the onset of menstruation. If conception has taken place, the level of progesterone does not decrease at the end of the second phase of the cycle, on the contrary, it begins to be produced more. This is facilitated by the attachment of the embryo in the uterus, because immediately after implantation, the chorionic gonadotropic hormone begins to be produced, its task is to stimulate the formation of progesterone in the mother"s body. Against the background of insufficient progesterone levels, gestation is interrupted, the vital activity of the fetus is impossible. The structural unit of the mammary glands, not having received the hormonal command "stand down", begins to grow under the influence of progesterone. New alveoli are formed in it. Outside of pregnancy, the ducts remain closed, but already in the earliest stages of the "interesting situation", the number of so-called "milk tubes" tends to increase, the network of ducts expands, the breast looks full. This is how nature prepares the expectant mother for the upcoming breastfeeding after childbirth.

There is a purpose for pain as well. Any organ’s growth is accompanied by excessive nerve end irritation. The individual’s sensitivity threshold determines how severe the pain will be.

A well-coordinated “team” is responsible for preparing the mammary glands for lactation – the pituitary gland, already 2 weeks after the onset of pregnancy (that is, from the moment of fertilization, provided that implantation has taken place), begins to increase the amount of prolactin produced. Already a week after the start of the delay, its concentration in the blood plasma of a pregnant woman exceeds the standard values ​​by 4 times. Progesterone stimulates the growth of glandular tissue, an increase in the lobes of the mammary gland, and also starts the processes of producing the prototype of breast milk – colostrum. In women who are pregnant for the first time, colostrum may appear only before or after childbirth, and in women who have given birth again, whose ducts are already dilated, colostrum may begin to be secreted already 10-12 days after conception. The hormone estrogen helps progesterone, because of it the breasts “fill up”, the formation of new alveoli is also its “merit”.

Breast changes as a sign of pregnancy

Many women consider enlarged and painful breasts to be the first sign of pregnancy even before a missed period, but this is not always true. We already know that the natural menstrual cycle is accompanied by monthly changes in the female breast, and therefore sensitivity and pain can be a sign of premenstrual syndrome. Paradoxically, but it is a fact – many pregnant women noted that the sensations in the breast during the "pregnant" cycle are unusual. If a woman always experienced tension in the nipples, increased sensitivity and some increase in the size of the glands before menstruation, then it was after conception that the breast remained soft and painless until about the middle of the first trimester. If a woman usually did not complain of mastalgia before menstruation, it was during the "lucky" cycle before the onset of the delay that the breast began to hurt and noticeably increased. Alone changes in the breast cannot be considered a reliable sign of pregnancy. More precise clinical data are needed: increased hCG levels in the blood, urine, delayed menstruation, and, finally, detection of the fertilized egg in the uterus by ultrasound.

But many women, particularly the more seasoned ones who have given birth before, start making educated guesses about pregnancy based on sensations in their breasts even before tests and analyses confirm pregnancy.

Many women experience breast growth and the associated painful sensations during the early stages of pregnancy. Hormonal changes that get the body ready for breastfeeding are what cause these changes, which include the enlargement and sensitivity of the breasts. Pregnant women who are aware of these symptoms can better manage their discomfort and accept that these changes are a typical aspect of the pregnancy.

Darkening and venous network

The areola (areola) can increase in diameter by 30-50% already in the first trimester of pregnancy, a venous network can appear on the chest. This is due to the peculiarities of blood circulation during the period of preparation for lactation. The first stages are considered the time of the most intensive growth of the mammary glands. The next such period occurs after the 34th week of pregnancy, when preparation for breastfeeding enters the "finishing stretch". Growing breasts require more intensive blood supply, and therefore the number of blood vessels in them increases. Blood flow becomes stronger, because of this a bluish venous network may appear on the body of the mammary glands. The areolas darken and expand under the influence of pregnancy hormones and as a result of increased blood circulation. Because of these same factors, the breasts become hot, which is why pregnant women are advised to measure their body temperature, having previously separated the breasts from the thermometer with a towel or a thick diaper, otherwise the thermometer readings will be too high.

Itching and stretch marks

In the early stages, many women report that their breasts hurt and itch a lot. Now that the source of the pain has been identified, let’s discuss itching. Since only the glandular tissue grows and the skin stays the same, itching is linked to the stretching of the skin’s layers. The skin of the mammary glands has a reserve of elasticity and a specific stretching mechanism provided by nature. But there are uncomfortable feelings associated with this process.

Microtears that are subsequently filled with connective tissue give rise to stretch marks. Women with small breast sizes are most vulnerable to breast extension if their mammary glands grow by two to three sizes after conception.

Although they don’t happen very often, stretch marks can occur during the first trimester. The second stage of rapid growth and breast swelling "starts" at 34 weeks of pregnancy, which is typically when striae first appear.

Unusual changes

There are no uniform standards by which the chest should change after pregnancy, it does not exist much on the individual characteristics, physique, hormonal background, the number of previous pregnancies and genera. But women are actively discussing situations that can be difficult to understand at once – sometimes mammary glands behave strangely. Such oddities include a sharp change in the condition of the chest of the pregnant woman. If yesterday it was growing, hurting and itching, and today it has stopped hurting, “deflates”, has become soft and painless, you should visit your gynecologist and be examined for a frozen pregnancy. If the fetus for some reason stops developing in the mother"s womb, the hormonal background changes rapidly: progesterone decreases, estrogens increase, the amount of prolactin begins to decrease. All this slows down the process of growth and expansion of ducts and lobules, which leads to the disappearance of previously present symptoms.

If there were no symptoms or only mild ones, the sudden onset of unpleasant symptoms is also a cause for medical attention, as hormonal "jumps" may occur and jeopardize the ability to conceive.

The breast of a nursing mother during a new pregnancy

The onset of pregnancy shortly after childbirth is a common occurrence. Usually these are unplanned pregnancies. A woman will involuntarily face the question of whether it is possible to breastfeed her first child during pregnancy with the second. A woman can breastfeed her first child, this does not affect the condition of the developing new pregnancy. It is clear that the enlargement of the ducts and lobules of the mammary gland at an early stage in this situation proceeds almost unnoticeably, because the ducts of the nursing mother are already dilated. The firstborn, however, may refuse the "treat", because the taste of the mother"s milk changes under the influence of progesterone. If this does not happen, the woman needs to mentally prepare for the fact that feeding can be more painful, because the sensitivity of the nipples will also be increased.

Breastfeeding should only be discontinued if the expectant mother is obese, has experienced previous miscarriages, or if the doctor warns of the possibility of a spontaneous pregnancy termination during the pregnancy. Oxytocin, a hormone that causes the uterine muscles to contract, is elevated during breastfeeding.

It is essential to speak with an obstetrician-gynecologist if pregnancy develops during nursing. They can determine whether a mother can safely wean her first child and move on to formulas for the second child’s development, or if the child needs to be switched to formula.

How to reduce pain?

The uncomfortable feelings brought on by the mammary gland’s physiological alterations can be lessened. Tolerating the unsightly effects of breast growth is not necessary at all. Pregnant women who experience this condition should perform specific exercises, use topical products, and wear a supportive bra that will snugly encircle and support their glands from below.

In case of severe pain, the release of colostrum in the early stages, a woman should wash her breasts several times a day with cool water, the temperature of which does not exceed 35 degrees. Daily hygiene with the use of hypoallergenic baby soap will not only reduce pain, but also prevent infection with bacterial and fungal infections through the nipples. Special gymnastics, which helps to reduce swelling of the breasts in the early stages of pregnancy, is based on exercises that promote the outflow of lymph and strengthen the lateral muscles. You can inquire about the technique of performing such gymnastics from your gynecologist. He will definitely show you these exercises or prohibit them if the woman has contraindications. At the beginning of pregnancy, you should take care of the right bra: it should be made of natural materials, have wide and comfortable straps and supportive cups. If colostrum is secreted and there is a risk of staining a blouse or T-shirt, you need to use bras for nursing mothers – they are sold in any clothing store for pregnant and nursing women. Such bras have special pockets for absorbent sanitary nursing pads.

Doctors advise against taking off the bra, even at night, if the nipples are painfully sensitive. This is to keep the breast from touching the bed. You’ll be able to sleep better and get enough sleep as a result of this.

The children’s cream, "bepatenten," or stretch mark cream can be used to relieve extreme itching; it should be applied gently. Stretch marks cannot be totally removed, but they can be made to feel less painful. Taking painkillers is not advised in cases of mastalgia.

Early pregnancy is a normal time for breast growth and discomfort as the body prepares for motherhood. Hormonal changes are the cause of these changes and are essential for your baby’s development.

Even though the feelings can be unpleasant, knowing that they are a typical part of pregnancy can allay worries. Taking easy measures to manage the discomfort, such as wearing a supportive bra and engaging in gentle self-care, can significantly help.

It’s wise to speak with your doctor if the pain gets worse or if you experience any strange symptoms. They can provide direction and comfort, making sure you and your child remain well during this wonderful journey.

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