Are you having sore breasts but not sure why? If you have been trying to get pregnant, could this be it? Do you have all these questions? Well, you could be right and wrong – which means sore breasts can happen for so many different reasons. Some could be due to hormones that subside and flow not just during pregnancy but even during your regular period cycle.

However, if you’re someone who has irregular periods, it’s hard to detect if you’re pregnant or not. You may want to check if your breasts feel heavy and swollen, or sensitive to the touch. This could be your very first symptoms of pregnancy.

Is breast pain an early pregnancy sign?

Yes, breast pain is indeed one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. It can appear in as little as 1 to 2 weeks after conception. When you’ve been trying to become pregnant and are experiencing unusual breast pain, you may want to go ahead and take a pregnancy test. But do remember, it may be too early for an accurate test result.

Why does breast pain happen?

Not everyone will have the same symptoms. Breast pain comes in many varieties. It can happen in one or both breasts. You may feel it all over, in a specific spot, or moving outward into your armpits. The soreness can be constant, or it can come and go.

That sore breast sensation peaks in the first trimester because your body is flooding with hormones. These hormones have an important job, which is to prepare your body to grow a tiny human inside while the other factors include the (good and necessary) fat that’s building up in your breasts and increased blood flow to the area.

How does breast pain feel like?

Your breasts may feel heavy and swollen during the earliest weeks of pregnancy. They can be super sensitive to the touch, and exercise can be very uncomfortable. For many expecting mothers, the nipples are particularly sensitive in these early weeks. They can be so tender to the touch that it hurts to dry off after a shower or put on a bra. Eventually, nipple sensitivity typically passes within a few weeks.

What should I do?

Generally, breast pain during pregnancy or before or during your period for that matter, is very common and you’ve got nothing to worry about. The pain in your breast will go away after your first trimester. That’s normal and will definitely come as a relief. Like morning sickness, some symptoms do go away once you’re farther along.

However, it is concerning when a new or growing lump appears during pregnancy. Try not to freak out, but get to the doctor soonest possible. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!