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All the mothers face their highs and lows on their journey towards becoming a mother. Many feel pain in their breasts during pregnancy. Did you know breast pain happens to the earliest possible sign of pregnancy and is nothing abnormal? Normally, women feel it during their menstrual cycle but it is more prominently felt in the first three months of pregnancy. At this stage, your breasts feel sensitive, sore and swollen. Luckily, for most women this pain disappears or decreases in the second half of the pregnancy. The situation may vary in different body types of women.  While some hardly experience any pain, others may experience continuous breast pain throughout their pregnancy.

Common Reasons Of Breast Pain In Pregnancy

1. Breasts which Leak

Leaking breasts are among the most common complaints of pregnant mothers. It usually occurs during the second or third trimester. Breast leaks happen because your breasts start producing colostrums. It is basically a thick fluid that nourishes your baby during the first couple of day before your breast begins to produce milk. The breast secretes this liquid when you massage the breast. It happens to be one of the major causes of breast pain particularly in the later stages. Nursing pad comes in handy at this time.

2. Changes in the Breast

Feeding your baby is among the most important functions of your breast. This is the reason your body prepares your breast for its prime function during the pregnancy. It is during the pregnancy that milk ducts and milk producing cells are formed. This tends to increase the size of your breast. More and more layers of fat starts collecting beneath your breast as your pregnancy moves forward. This causes changes in shape and size of breasts and can cause you to feel pain.

3. Imbalance in the Hormone Levels

It is very natural for the body to prepare itself for the development of the baby during pregnancy. The hormonal levels drastically change particularly the estrogen levels which can eventually result in breast pain.

4. Fibrocystic Breast Changes

This is yet another very common cause of breast pain during the pregnancy period. Fibrocystic breast is a condition in which tiny cysts tend to form in the fibrous tissues the breast and are filled with fluid which makes them swell. This causes breast pain.

Ways to Reduce Breast Pain

Here are a number of ways that can help you reduce breast pain:

• Exercise- Exercises like yoga and meditation helps to relax the mind and body. This can prove to be useful in bearing the breast pain during pregnancy.
• Drink enough water-Do not be lazy when it comes to drinking water. Drink lots of water throughout your pregnancy. It helps in flushing out the toxins and makes your feel fresher and lighter.
• Choose inner garments wisely- It is important to opt for inner garments carefully during pregnancy particularly the bra so it helps to support your breasts well. Keep checking your breast size as you move on and get a new bra accordingly whenever you need to. In case you don’t wear any bra, know that you are going to face the worst pain which can also affect the shape of your breasts.
• Remain active-When women are pregnant, they tend to take a lot of bed rest but the key is to remain active. You can do that in small ways like doing some light household chores, walk for half an hour everyday etc. This will enhance blood circulation and make you feel light.
• Hot or warm compress-You can use warming pads or ice pads to ease the pain. Check what suits you best before you use it regularly.

It is normal to feel pain in your breasts. If the pain persists, check with the doctor instead of self-medicating.