Does breast tenderness come and go in early pregnancy? The short answer is “Yes.” However, there is more to it than that, as women experience many different symptoms during gestation.

On top of that, individual pregnancies may also vary in symptoms and circumstances, like when a mother gets pregnant with twins in her subsequent pregnancies.

The bottom line is that a significant percentage of pregnant women experience breast tenderness as a pregnancy symptom.

Does Breast Tenderness Come and Go in Early Pregnancy? What It Looks/Feels Like and Why It Happens

In an article published by Cosmopolitan magazine, several women attested to the changes in their chests as early as the first month of pregnancy.

Among the common changes most pregnant women experience is an enlargement of their breasts. Most of them reported discomfort due to the size of their busts, which became too big and heavy from what they were used to.

Meanwhile, others claimed an increase in sensitivity along the nipple area. Some find it pleasant, while others feel pain from the soreness of their breasts. The most common issue among them is the adjustment they had to deal with during sexual activity.

Aside from these, there are other visual indicators that you may notice during the onset of breast tenderness while in the early stages of pregnancy:

1. Breast Enlargement

Breast growth usually begins between the 6th and 8th week of gestation and will continue throughout.

As for the appearance of your breasts, you may experience an increase in cup size by about one or two sizes. It is more likely to happen if it’s your first pregnancy. Stretch marks and itchiness may also accompany it due to the stretching of the skin.

2. Veins and Pigment Changes

The bluish veins under the surface of the skin of your breasts may also become more apparent as you advance through the pregnancy. During the first few months, the pigment of the skin around your nipples, or the areola, may also change — growing darker and larger.

3. Bumps Emerge Around the Areola

The little bumps around the areola, which are glands that produce oil, called Montgomery’s tubercles, may also become more pronounced during pregnancy.

4. Breasts May Become Lumpy

Although it may be alarming, not all lumps around the chest area indicate a severe medical condition. Lumpy breasts during pregnancy, for example, are generally harmless since the mammary gland prepares for lactation.

The lumps you may feel may only be caused by the growth of fibroadenomas (benign breast tumors) or galactoceles (milk-filled cysts). But to be safe, you should consult your doctor if you feel any lumps in your breasts.

PMS or Pregnancy? How to Tell What Causes Breast Tenderness

According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), about 17 percent of women reported that they experienced changes in their breasts before they even confirmed that they were pregnant.

With that, among other considerations in mind, the group deemed breast swelling or soreness as an initial symptom of gestation.

Since it can be mistaken as a pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) symptom, swelling or tenderness of a woman’s breast should be accompanied by other signs to verify if it is a pregnancy symptom.

Like stomach cramping, breast tenderness is common in both PMS and pregnancy. However, PMS increases appetite, whereas nausea and vomiting can affirm that you are indeed pregnant.

Moreover, bleeding before menstruation is not a typical scenario. Some pregnant women experience spotting or light vaginal bleeding.

Twin Pregnancy: What To Expect When Expecting TwinsHow To Alleviate Breast Soreness and Discomfort Safely

Pregnant women are strongly advised to take precautions when dealing with illnesses, pains, and discomfort since any medication they consume may adversely affect the fetus or their child. The same is valid for soreness and tender breasts.

Although it is a natural occurrence during gestation, pregnant women shouldn’t have to suffer through it. There are simple and practical ways of alleviating the pain and discomfort they may experience.

1. Choose Your Bra Wisely

Brassieres were made to support the breasts, but this functional undergarment becomes even more important for pregnant women as their tender breasts are ultra-sensitive.

To avoid the excruciating pain of having your bust sway with your every movement, you should choose a bra that provides ample support.

And since your chest is still growing in preparation for lactation, you should choose a bra that is at least one size bigger than your previous measurement before pregnancy.

It means you should go for one that fits comfortably on the tightest clasp and can still be adjusted as your bust size and breast circumference expands.

2. Invest in Bra Pads

Bra pads aren’t meant to make your breasts look bigger; they protect your sensitive nipples. Most pregnant women experience discomfort from wearing a brassiere, especially when the lining of the undergarment isn’t padded.

3. Wear Bra While Sleeping

Sleepless nights often come to pregnant women because of symptoms like breast tenderness.

Since hypersensitive nipples often cause unbearable pain, you can wear your most comfortable bra when sleeping. It will help prevent your breasts from moving while you find your most comfortable sleeping position.

4. Have a Warm Bath or Warm Compress

Warmth is not just great for relieving stress. It can also help ease pregnant women of their discomfort from sore breasts. You have two options: put a warm compress directly on your sore breasts or have a warm bath.

However, it is essential to keep the bath water temperature at a tolerable level— ideally, less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid causing harm to your baby.

So, Does Breast Tenderness Come and Go in Early Pregnancy?

What you need to consider when it comes to breast tenderness is that there are a lot of pregnancy symptom combinations. It may be commonplace for some women, and what may be true for some may not apply to you. Still, it pays to know how to deal with it if it happens to you.

Breast tenderness comes and goes in early pregnancy. It may even continue through the latter part of the gestation for some women. Just know that you now have the tools to get through this uncomfortable part of the pregnancy period.

When you use a pregnancy urine test strip, even faint lines are considered positive test results. But when you see faint lines on ovulation test strips, should you also take them as positives? Does it mean you are ovulating or will be ovulating soon? Are ovulation urine test strips read the same way as pregnancy test strips?

If you’re trying to conceive, you’re probably doing a lot of peeing on sticks. Let’s make sure you’re doing it right. Here’s how to interpret those faint lines on your ovulation test strips and how to get more accurate results.

Why Faint Lines on Ovulation Test Strips Happen

Pregnancy test strips and ovulation test strips don’t work the same way. With pregnancy tests, it doesn’t matter how faint the test result line is. Any line is a positive result (except if it’s an evaporation line, but that’s another story).

In contrast, ovulation tests can only be taken as positive if the test result line is darker or at least the same color as the control line.

Pregnancy test urine strips measure the level of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), the pregnancy hormone, in your urine. You can only have hCG in your body if you (1) are pregnant or (2) were injected with hCG.

It means that even if you only get faint lines on your pregnancy test strip, you’re probably pregnant.

Meanwhile, ovulation urine test strips measure LH (luteinizing hormone), the rise of which triggers ovulation in females. LH usually spikes a day or two before you start ovulating, indicating that an egg is about to drop.

However, some women who constantly have a low level of luteinizing hormone in their bodies, not just when they are ovulating. It means that if you get just a faint line in your ovulation test strip, you can’t interpret it as a positive result or as an indication of an LH surge. You may be one of those women for whom there will always be a faint line.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, a faint line on an ovulation test strip can also indicate a false surge in your luteinizing hormone level. It is common in women who have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

You can also get a false positive result if you take the test too early in your cycle or if you are taking fertility drugs.

What do Faint Lines Mean?

A faint line on an ovulation test strip does not indicate a positive result, i.e., that you are about to ovulate. You have to make sure that the line in the test window is darker than or at least the same color intensity as the control line.

You also have to do more than one test. With ovulation tests, doing just one strip isn’t enough to give you an accurate picture of your ovulation status. That is why ovulation urine test strips are sold in kits of five to seven strips.

If you’ve been doing these tests for some time using just one brand of a test kit, you’ve probably become familiar with how the test result line looks on any given day. You would have also learned to recognize when it’s giving you a positive result — usually when the test result line is significantly darker than the others.

If you took an ovulation test and saw a faint line on the test result window, don’t treat it as a positive just yet. Continue testing and compare the test results. You will likely get the darkest test result line the day before ovulation.

While the most accurate positive result you can get is when the test result line is darker than the control line, there are those who say that when you get a line that’s the same color as the control line (meaning you may be close to ovulation), you can begin having intercourse.

Some say that this increases your chances of conception, given that the sperm can survive in the uterus for at least three days.

Tips for Accurate Ovulation Test Results

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the ovulation test kit. Some say that a positive result is when the line is darker than the control window; some say it’s when the line is the same shade as the control.
• Don’t second guess the test results.
• Some hormonal medications can affect the test results. Ask your doctor if the ones you’re taking can interfere with your results and look into alternatives.
• You don’t have to restrict your diet before taking an ovulation test. Neither food nor alcohol affects the results.
• The best time to take an ovulation test is between 10 am and 8 pm. First-morning urine is not recommended as the luteinizing hormone is synthesized in the body during that time and thus may not appear in your urine until later in the day.
• Try to take the test at around the same time every day for more accurate results.
• Reduce your intake of liquids about two hours before you take an ovulation test.

If faint lines on ovulation test strips still have you confused, the best thing to do is to see your doctor. Happy testing!

Have you crossed the 40-week mark but have yet to feel any signs that your babies are on their way out? The final weeks of pregnancy can really drag on and can stress out a mom, which is why lots of expecting moms try various tricks like drinking cumin tea to induce labor.

Does drinking a cup of cumin tea to induce labor works? If you’re waiting for your little one to come out and are getting frustrated about missing your due date, you may be tempted to try anything your well-meaning family and friends suggest. But before you do that, let’s take a look at cumin tea and its purported use in inducing labor.

Using Cumin Tea to Induce Labor

The last few days of pregnancy can stretch on and on, and in the meantime, you’re exhausted, struggling with the weight of your babies, and finding it impossible to find a comfortable sleeping position. For some moms, this is enough to try some of the many natural methods that can supposedly help labor get started.

Another reason you may want to try cumin tea to induce labor is the fear of an induction. When you pass your due date, your pregnancy is officially considered overdue. It isn’t necessarily dangerous for either you or your baby, but if you go beyond two weeks past your due date, your doctor will have to induce you.

Induction is done by either stripping the membranes, breaking your water, or giving you hormones that stimulate contractions or ripen the cervix. Inductions come with plenty of risks, which is why most moms would rather avoid them.

Grandmas and midwives have long recommended drinking cumin tea as a natural way of kickstarting labor. Like when drinking ginger tea, raspberry leaf tea, and thyme tea, drinking cumin tea to induce labor is a popular folk remedy that has been used for generations.

Cumin Tea to Induce Labor: How Does the Tea Works?

Cumin tea is said to stimulate contractions in women who have gone past their due dates. Like other spicy foods, it increases your metabolic rate. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that this temporary spike in metabolic rate is how it potentially stimulates labor.

The labor inducing properties of cumin has yet to be established by science, but the good news is that it’s considered “probably safe” for pregnant women.

Unfortunately, cumin tea isn’t the most delicious of beverages. The earthy spice is great in things like tacos and curries, but in tea, it’s just not very pleasant. But, hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.

If you want to try cumin tea to induce labor, here’s how to prepare it:

• Get a saucepan and add a teaspoon of cumin seeds into it.
• Quickly heat the seeds on low to medium flame. About 5-10 seconds is enough time.
• Add 250 ml of water into the saucepan. Let it boil.
• After the tea has boiled, cover the saucepan and let the tea steep for about 5 minutes.
• Strain the tea into a cup.
• Drink and enjoy!

Tips on How to Make Cumin Tea to Induce Labor

And here are some tips on making cumin tea:

• Don’t use cumin powder. Look for cumin seeds, which should be in the spice aisle at the grocer.
• You can use ground roasted cumin, but it will probably not be as effective as whole cumin seeds, as the oils in the ground seeds have already dried out.
• If you find that the tea is too bitter, add a slice of raw potato into the tea and then strain it.
• You can add a bit of honey or a pinch of salt to the tea to make it more palatable.

For some women, drinking cumin tea stimulates contractions and can cause the cervix to start to dilate. If you find that it doesn’t work for you, rest assured that cumin tea can at least help with digestion and has enough iron in it to reduce anemia during pregnancy.

Other Benefits of Drinking Cumin Tea

Even if drinking cumin tea to induce labor doesn’t help get you closer to delivering your babies, it does have numerous health benefits. These include:

• Promoting lactation
• Supporting digestion
• Treating diarrhea
• Easing gas and colic in babies
• Detoxifying the liver

• Giving the immune system a boost
• Antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties
• Enhancing metabolism
• Giving you clearer, smoother skin (when used as a face scrub or mask)
• Treating colds, coughs, sinusitis, and bronchitis

Cumin Tea: Safety Precautions

If you have an existing medical condition or if your pregnancy is considered high risk, please don’t attempt to induce labor on your own, even if you’re using natural methods. And definitely, don’t try to kickstart labor before 40 weeks.

Please note that you should never take any herbal teas or supplements during pregnancy without first getting the approval of your doctor or midwife. Specifically, you should be careful with cumin tea, as it has blood thinning properties. If you have a heart condition or a clotting disorder, it may be best to avoid drinking cumin tea to induce labor.

Nurturing another human being causes a lot of changes in a woman’s body, several of which are excruciatingly painful, like upper back pain in early pregnancy.

Although almost everyone knows that back pain occurs during gestation, there are those who believe that it will only happen in the second and third trimesters. The reason is that, when the belly begins to grow, the expectant mom’s center of gravity shifts as well.

The shift causes positional changes in both the front and back muscles like the ones on your abdomen and those supporting the shoulders and spine.

What many don’t know, however, is that upper back pain early on is possible and is one of the first signs of the conception of a child.

Why Pregnant Women Experience Upper Back Pain in the First Trimester

Back pain, in general, can leave you crippled and unable to function normally. Add that to the other symptoms of pregnancy such as nausea, vomiting, tender breasts, headaches, and fatigue, and you would probably rather stay in bed for the rest of the day.

Magical as it is, pregnancy is something that should not be taken lightly. Knowing why and how it occurs is imperative for you to understand and learn how to deal with it appropriately.

According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), there are three reasons why women experience upper back pain early in the pregnancy: changes in hormone levels, poor posture,and stress.

After the fertilized egg implants in a woman’s uterus, various changes occur in her biochemical composition. It means that some of her hormones will spike and loosen the joints and ligaments along the pelvic area in preparation for childbirth.

HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is the very first biochemical component in a woman’s body that shoots up. If this hormone sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because you’ve read it from the information pamphlet that comes with your home pregnancy testing kit.

This hormone is responsible for information dissemination— telling the body that it will be nurturing another human soon. It also tells the ovaries to go on a temporary hiatus and stop producing mature egg cells every cycle.

Progesterone is another familiar hormone that surges upon conception and is the hormone responsible for keeping muscles, particularly in those the uterus, relaxed during the pregnancy.

Working hand in hand with progesterone in preparing for childbirth, the hormone called “relaxin” is the main reason why pregnant woman experience upper back pain in the first trimester.

Relaxin, based on a study published in 2013, affects the level of the cervix and inadvertently affects the pregnant woman’s equilibrium and may even cause preterm labor.

Posture also plays a role in the emergence of back pain, especially in women who are expecting, so it is important to avoid slouching.

Meanwhile, stress is also seen as a contributing factor for upper back pain experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy as it is a general cause of aches in different parts of the body.

However, pregnant women have it worse as a stress-induced backache becomes even more debilitating when accompanied by anxiety due to work, family, finances, and other problems.

That may be one of the reasons why obstetrician-gynecologists highly recommend that pregnant women avoid any stressful situation.

How to Prevent Upper Back Pain in Early Pregnancy

While back pain is to expected during gestation, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to brave through it. In fact, there are ways how you can avoid and ease back pain during pregnancy, according to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

1. Keep your back straight when lifting or picking up something from the floor. You can do this by bending your knee instead of bowing to reach down.
2. Refrain from carrying heavy objects. Leave the heavy lifting to your partner or others who aren’t carrying another human being in their belly.
3. Avoid twisting without lifting your foot. That will prevent you from overworking your spine and, ultimately, back pain.
4. Ditch high-heeled footwear. Wearing flat shoes will help distribute your weight evenly and avoid untoward accidents.
5. If you carry grocery bags, make sure to balance the load between your left and right hand.
6. Don’t overstrain your body as it is already working double-time to keep you and your baby in good shape. Get plenty of rest.
7. When sitting for a long time at work, make sure your back is straight and supported with a firm-but-comfortable pillow.
8. Choose a mattress that offers ample support for your back. Having a hardboard under the foam would help achieve this.
9. Have a warm bath or massage. It will help alleviate backaches, relieve stress, and promote relaxation.

Upper Back Pain Early Pregnancy: Safe Exercises

In 2017, a study conducted by the researchers from Camilo José Cela University (UCJC) confirmed the benefits of prenatal exercises for both the baby and the expectant mommy.

It has various benefits for pregnant women, such as promoting flexibility, treating upper back pain, and improving the strength of the abdominal muscles.

Below are some highly recommended prenatal exercises that you can do in the comfort of your home:

1. Prenatal Yoga – As in other yoga classes, prenatal yoga can improve flexibility and treat back pain. Aside from that, it can also improve your mental state and relieve emotional stress that comes with the hormonal changes that your body undergoes.
2. Aquanatal Activities – Swimming, pool running, and water aerobics are among the most common activities that a pregnant woman can do in a pool without putting too much strain on her body and alleviate discomfort from back pain.
3. Pilates – Pilatesis one of the few exercises that a pregnant woman can do in every trimester. The best part is, it can strengthen core muscles, build stamina, and may even reduce back pain.

Safety First

Although it is good to move around during gestation, it is imperative that you take extra precautions to avoid accidents and inadvertent muscle aches like upper back pain.

To treat pain while keeping your baby safe, you should always consult your doctor first. It also applies to the intake of medication and participating in prenatal exercises and other potentially strenuous activities.

While upper back pain in early pregnancy can be a huge discomfort for women, it simply means that you need to build your strength up for the baby that is about to arrive. It is especially important to do so when you are carrying twins or multiples.

Can you use Vicks while pregnant? If you’re an expectant mom, there is a good chance that you already wondered about the answer to this question. It usually comes after getting advice on how not to take any medication without expert advice.

While it is true that you shouldn’t take over-the-counter drugs carelessly, you should still get a certain level of treatment if you experience coughs, colds, and other illnesses during gestation.

After all, your life is not the only one at risk if you do know that your body is nurturing another person.

Although your safest bet is to consult your obstetrician or gynecologist, there’s no harm in reading books or researching online about the matter on your own, so long as you can filter and categorize information properly.

Also, most doctors encourage women to avoid diagnosing their symptoms online.

Can You Use Vicks While Pregnant?

Vicks VapoRub is arguably one of the most popular home remedies for stuffy nose, coughs, and even headaches.

This mentholated topical ointment is an over-the-counter medication that contains eucalyptus oil and camphor— both of which are known for their cough suppressing properties.

Although the product has a controversial background, many people — pregnant women included — use this ointment as a first-aid treatment for coughs and colds. However, popularity shouldn’t be the sole basis for your decision to use such medicated ointments.

In fact, the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) warned that not all “natural” treatment is safe for pregnant women and their unborn children, explaining that some of these famous medications may contain harmful chemicals like lead.

Research published in the Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases noted the effectiveness of the product in providing immediate relief from nasal de-congestion when used as directed.

However, it also stated that they should exclude potentially pregnant women and lactating mothers who wished to participate in the study.

Given the benefit of the doubt, Vicks may be used while pregnant so long as a doctor or licensed medical practitioner recommended it.

Why Women Get Colds More Often When Pregnant

When a woman conceives, her immune system is suppressed, according to the American Pregnancy Association (APA). Call it motherly sacrifice, if you may.

Upon implantation of the embryo, the body adjusts to accommodate the growing, foreign organism which we know as the fetus.

The reason is that the mother’s body produces more progesterone that helps regulate the immune cells into “tolerating” the foreign body.

In this biochemical reaction, the pregnant woman is left susceptible to bacteria and viruses that are the potential cause of colds, coughs, and flu during gestation.

How to Know What Medicines are Safe for Pregnant Women?

Although it doesn’t directly affect the baby in most cases, colds during pregnancy still pose a certain level of risk for your little one.

A study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology revealed that the child is more likely to develop asthma if his or her mother experienced colds during gestation.

Because of this, you should always make sure that you get proper care and treatment for your little one’s sake.

The NHS strongly recommends checking with a licensed medical practitioner, such as doctors, midwives, and pharmacists, before taking any medication. Doctors must also recommend over-the-counter drugs before a pregnant woman’s intake.

Also, it wouldn’t hurt to read literature about medications that you are going to consume. Information is readily available, thanks to the Internet. All you need to do is read and digest it well.

Other Natural and Homeopathic Remedies You Can Try

If you’re expecting, you should always have healthy habits, especially on resting, hydration, eating, and supplementation.

1. Take lots of rest. Nothing helps the body build its defenses better than a good night’s rest. Be sure to sleep enough and avoid overstraining yourself in work or at home.

2. Stay hydrated. Water therapy is still the safest option for colds and coughs during pregnancy as it is guaranteed to be safe for both you and your baby.

3. Eat healthily. A healthy, balanced diet should also be among your top priorities when pregnant. Since you are eating for two, you should be more careful with your food choices.

Remember that everything you consume transfers to your child as well.

4. Take your vitamins regularly. Vitamins and minerals have ideal levels that need to be reached for any regular adult.

Pregnant women may need more than what a typical adult would which is why doctors recommend supplementing certain nutrients to keep her and her unborn child healthy.

5. Wash your hands religiously. Doing so will help protect you from germs that cause colds and flu.
Aside from traditional medicine and the best practices mentioned above, there are several natural and homeopathic remedies that you can try to alleviate the discomfort from coughs and colds.

6. You can reduce congestion by using a humidifier inside your bedroom to keep the air moist, especially when the air conditioning unit switched on.

7. You may also use nasal strips or drops to clear your nasal cavity.

8. Try to elevate your head with the help of multiple pillows while sleeping to help you breathe better.

9. To ease a sore throat, you can gargle with a warm saline mixture (water and salt)

10. Most homeopathic experts recommend honey with lemon to help relieve itchy throat and reduce coughing.

11. You can try drinking warm tea or chicken soup. The warmth will help ease your decongestion.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

So, can you use Vicks while pregnant? Although most coughs and colds can be treated with simple remedies that can be done at home, there are instances when a pregnant woman may need to be rushed to the ER.

While these may be rare, it is imperative that you know that it is time to seek immediate medical attention when you have influenza or a temperature of over 102 degrees even after taking medication.

You should also head to the nearest hospital if you’re having trouble breathing and feel contractions or bleed due to excessive coughing.

Remember that presence of mind and knowledge will be your best chance at saving yourself and your baby.