You’re recently pregnant and just ecstatic: whether it’s your first time or your fifth, nothing rates as “happy news” quite like a bundle of joy to come. But with pregnancy can come some major body changes, and one of those, for many women, is breast tenderness.
Why does this happen? Well, for one thing, your body is now madly pumping hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, and part of their job is to create the milk your baby will need for sustenance once born. But that same all-important factor also makes your tatas expand, and that’s where the soreness can come in.
Along with that sensation, women frequently express a feeling of fullness, even to the point of being heavy and uncomfortable. Having anything near your breasts may bother you at this time, because of their tremendous sensitivity.
And it’s not just about how they feel, because the look of your mammary glands may also change, with the possibility that both your nipples and the area around them, known as the areola, may get noticeably darker. You might even see your veins in this area showing more.
The good news is, these are all normal signs that your pregnancy is healthy and your body is adjusting. Even so, nobody enjoys feeling uncomfortable, so how long can you expect these sensations to last?
Happily, many women say that the worst part passes after the first trimester, with the changes becoming subtler. That being said, prepare to bra shop, because you could go up as much as three bra sizes compared to your pre-pregnancy self.
That’s great news if you’re an A or a B cup, but not so much for those among us who are already well-endowed.
On the topic of support, shop for the best bras you can afford, and look for ones specifically designed for pregnant women. They have wider straps and may be minus the underwire, as the last thing you need right now is anything cutting into your expanding bustline.
If you’re someone who feels shy or embarrassed in a store purchasing undergarments, you can always shop online. Just be sure to measure yourself accurately and determine what the returns policies are before buying, in case you get the wrong size.
Some pregnant moms even feel more comfortable sleeping in a bra, but be sure to get the kind designed for resting and made of lighter weight fabric than a typical bra you’d wear under clothes.
One last tip, and this one is for the workout mavens among you. It’s never been more important to get a very durable exercise bra that will hold you in well while you move. Exercise may be an excellent stress-reliever as you go through each month of pregnancy, but you want to be sure those precious breasts don’t get too much of a workout themselves.
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