Nobody ever said that pregnancy was easy but perhaps they could have mentioned how many questions I would have. From strange cravings to unusual pains, my mind was spinning with all the things going on in my first pregnancy. I didn’t know if it was normal for my stomach to making all of those odd sounds or why I had so much pain under my right breast.
The time in which a woman is pregnant is full of new experiences.
While most aspects of a pregnancy are a joy to experience (such as feeling your baby move for the first time), some other parts are rather difficult to bear. Many of these rather normal parts of pregnancy are unfortunately painful and uncomfortable. And, while you might have previously taken a supplement from somewhere like Gold Bee - Botanical Supplements & Hemp Products in the past, this may not be an option for you during pregnancy, so you will have to get clever when it comes to pain relief.
Is It Normal to Have Pain Under the Right Breast During Pregnancy?
Women who are pregnant for the first time are often surprised to learn just how common it is to feel pain under one of their breasts or both. This pain is usually just a normal casualty of having pressure applied to the top of your uterus by your growing baby.
Pain under your right breast is most likely very normal and nothing to worry about. However, please keep reading to see which additional signs you should watch for.
What Causes Pain Under the Right Breast During Pregnancy?
If you are feeling pains predominantly on your right side, then it is probably because your baby is positioned in the right side of your uterus. If your baby is especially active and kicking or punching a lot, then your pain could be very bad.
This pain usually gets worse around the third trimester, as well as when you sit or lean forward. When your baby drops between your 36th and 38th week, your pain should decrease dramatically. Just in time to get ready for those contractions!
What You Can Do to Relieve Pain Under the Right Breast During Pregnancy
Pain under your breasts may be normal during pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can do about it. There are several suggestions and exercises that can help relieve your pain, and here are a few:
Wear loose fitting clothes to add to your comfort
Pile cushions under you when you lay down
When sitting, sit straight up and avoid hunching over
If you have to sit for a long time, take several breaks to walk around and stretch
Apply warm and cold compressions
Do some light yoga (search for some exercises that are designed for pregnant women)
Try this exercise: sit cross-legged and place your hands on your ribcage. Inhale deeply to expand your ribcage and exhale slowly. Repeat several times throughout the day.
Try this stretch: Stand facing your wall with your arms crossed in front of your face. Lean your arms on the wall, sliding them up above your head and stretching up as far as you can reach. Hold the position for 10 seconds then relax.
When to Call the Doctor
While pain under the breast is most likely from normal and natural causes, there are a few additional symptoms that every mom should be on the lookout for:
Excessive pain that does not alleviate when stretching or changing positions
Spotting or bleeding
Fever
Vomiting (especially during later trimesters)
Pain that is also felt in the lower back
Which Pains are Normal During Pregnancy?
Most women report pains that are centralized around the abdomen, uterus, and groin area. While these pains are certainly uncomfortable, most can be simply explained by normal changes that occur during pregnancy. Some common pains that occur include:
Cramping
In most cases, it is very common for pregnant women to experience mild stomach cramps all throughout the pregnancy.
In early pregnancy, it is normal for you to experience cramping in your stomach when the embryo implants itself into the wall of the womb. Later on during later stages of pregnancy, normal cramping may occur when the uterus begins to expand to adapt to your growing baby.
Round Ligament Pain
The same uterus expansion that causes the cramping in your stomach can also cause the ligaments that support your uterus to hurt.
Round ligament pain is one of the most common complaints of pain during pregnancy.
Some women report an annoying jabbing feeling while others report an uncomfortable sharp pain around the lower belly or groin area. While most common during the second trimester, round ligament pain can start much sooner and last into later stages.
Gas and Bloating
Gas and bloating can occur all throughout your pregnancy and is yet another unfortunate normal pain during pregnancy. When you are pregnant, your body must put in double duty to produce enough progesterone to support your pregnancy and your baby.
All of this extra progesterone causes the muscles in you body to relax and this includes the muscles of your intestine. As your intestine muscles relax, they begin to move slower, which causes your digestive system to slow down as well. A slower digestion means a build up of gas, which leads to bloating, burping, flatulence, and pain.
Constipation
The same excessive production of progesterone and slowed digestion that can cause gas can also cause constipation.
As previously stated, the increase in your body's production of progesterone can seriously cause your intestines to relax and your digestion to slow down.
As your intestines slow down, the rate at which food is passed through them slows down too, which can lead to constipation and pain. Unfortunately the same pregnancy supplements that your doctor will recommend include extra iron and can exacerbate the constipation and stomach pain even further.
Which Pains Are Not Normal During Pregnancy?
While the previous conditions are all part of most normal and healthy pregnancies, they don't generally cause a sharp pain.
If the pain you feel is especially painful or is localized on one side of your body, it could be an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage, so it is important that you see your OBGYN immediately.
One Final Note
I hope you found all the answers you were seeking when you stumbled upon my article. I try my best to provide the best possible answers I can gather from thorough research. However, as with any advice, I do want you to seek professional consultation with your physician if you still have any concerns or if you experience any of the previously mentioned additional signs.
Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? Please post your question below and I will do my best to find an answer for you.
