Sore and heavy breasts have a variety of possible causes. Hormones, pregnancy, and breastfeeding can all cause a person's breasts to feel heavy and sore. In many cases, lifestyle changes can ease breast pain. If the pain returns or causes anxiety, a person should see a doctor.
First trimester breast changes
Breast tenderness is often one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , breasts may become sore, heavy, or tingly as early as 1–2 weeks after conception. The nipples may also feel sensitive or even painful to touch.
The most common hormonal breast soreness comes from an increase in the level of oestrogen before a period. This causes milk ducts and glands to swell, trapping fluid in the breasts. Many women have tenderness or pain in the lead-up to a period, and sometimes right through it.
Stress and anxiety can also be linked to breast pain. Non-cyclical breast pain may be continuous or it may come and go. It can affect women before and after the menopause. The pain can be in one or both breasts and can affect the whole breast or a specific area.
Mastitis
If your breasts are feeling heavy, tender to the touch and swollen, you may have mastitis, which is common for breastfeeding moms. Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue and can lead to pain and a burning sensation when pumping which can affect the amount of milk you express.
Symptoms of early pregnancy include missed periods, nausea and vomiting, breast changes, tiredness and frequent urination. Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other factors such as stress or illness. If you suspect you may be pregnant, see your doctor.
Summary. Pregnancy is counted as 40 weeks, starting from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period.
within 24 hours of ovulation, the egg is fertilised by sperm if you have had sex in the last few days without using contraception. about 5 to 6 days after ovulation, the fertilised egg burrows into the lining of the womb – this is called implantation. you're now pregnant.
Sore nipples and tender breasts can be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Your breasts may feel swollen, sore, or tingly – and your nipples may be extra sensitive and uncomfortable. It's all thanks to the pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone, which surge during early pregnancy.
Pseudocyesis, or false pregnancy, is when a person thinks they are pregnant when they are not. People with pseudocyesis have pregnancy symptoms, but tests will confirm there's no pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe psychological and hormonal factors may cause it.
Your growing uterus is pulling and straining the muscles that support it. You may feel sharp pains or just a mild pulling sensation. It often occurs when you cough, sneeze, stand up, sit down, roll over, or during sex.
A reduction in the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone before a period can cause sore breasts. These changes can also cause lymph node swelling, which may contribute to breast pain too. There may also be an association between breast pain and a hormone called prolactin.
You're not getting let down. If your breasts feel like they're full but you're not able to get the milk flowing out when you pump, it could be that you're not achieving let down. The let down reflex releases your milk from the milk ducts. This only occurs when you're either breastfeeding or pumping.
Most breast pain is nothing to be worried about. But you should still get checked out by your doctor or another health professional if you have breast pain. We don't want you to ignore potential signs of breast cancer or another serious problem.
There are two basic types of breast pain – cyclic and non-cyclic.
It can happen during puberty, pregnancy or from taking medication. In some cases, it occurs spontaneously and for no reason. Gigantomastia is also referred to as macromastia. However, macromastia is usually defined as excess breast tissue that weighs less than 5 pounds.
Nausea with or without vomiting.
Morning sickness, which can strike at any time of the day or night, often begins one month after you become pregnant. This might be due to rising hormone levels.