Sign of Pregnancy: Your Breasts Feel Swollen and Sore

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"Am I Pregnant?" Signs That This Month Might Be the One

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Cynthia Ramnarace on Oct 13, 2010 at 3:51PM

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a Cynthia Ramnarace on Oct 13, 2010 at 4:04PM

Breasts that are sore or feel larger than usual is one of most common early pregnancy signs, says Certified Nurse Midwife Catherine Ruhl, Director of Women’s Health at the Association for Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses. Soreness is caused by the hormone progesterone, which tells the breasts to start preparing for a baby. It’s a common menstrual symptom too, but there is one way to tell the difference. “When a woman has a period, hormone levels drop 24 hours before you see the bleeding, and a lot of times the breast tenderness goes away,” says Ruhl. “But if you're pregnant, it doesn't go away. It becomes more intense.”