Nearly all women complain of tender breasts during pregnancy. 'What causes soreness in breasts?' is a question on the minds of many new mothers. According to doctors, breasts become sore, swollen and sensitive to touch because of the hormonal changes that take place in the woman's body at the time of pregnancy. Hormonal changes result in an increase in the flow of blood in the breasts and also induce changes in the breast tissue.

Breast Changes During Pregnancy

Tender breasts are considered one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Breasts tend to be painful as early as 4 weeks into pregnancy and remain so through the whole of first trimester.

Breasts start to get visibly bigger around 8 weeks of pregnancy. Thereafter, their size grows through the entire pregnancy term. During this increase in size, the skin of the breasts also gets stretched. Because of this, there is an itchy and uncomfortable sensation. Many women also develop stretch marks on their breasts.

Veins, too, become visible on the breasts. The nipples enlarge and the areola becomes darker. Most women also notice strange bumps on the nipple area. These are oil glands called Montgomery's tubercles.

These developments should not frighten new mothers, as they are common changes that prepare a mother to breastfeed her baby.

Around 12 weeks, that is the third month of pregnancy, there is another fresh development. The woman's breasts start producing colostrum. Colostrum is the special milk that mothers feed their newborn.

As pregnancy enters into its last stage, some women begin to leak. This is a release of the mother's milk.

Bras For Breast Soreness

Along with the numerous developments and changes in breasts, women complain of soreness. Although this soreness cannot be treated, it can be reduced by wearing supportive and comfortable bras. You should seek the advice of a good salesperson at a shop to help you select the right bras for your new breast size.

You should buy bras with underwire at this time. They will be uncomfortable to wear. It would be good to opt for bras made of soft materials.

Also synthetic bras would not be a good choice. Go for cotton bras.

This is also the time to select maternity bras. These nursing bras will be needed as soon as your baby is born. You can find a lot of choice in maternity stores. You should be well-informed about your measurements to make the right choice at the store.

As your breasts are heavier and fuller now, you will need bras that are sturdy and supportive during exercise and at other times. They should also have room for further growth of breasts. It is good idea to get those that you can loosen at the hook area.

There is no treatment for tender breasts; however, it is a relief to know that this pregnancy change reduces and slowly disappears after the birth of the baby.