A woman's breasts can become tender for various reasons. These may include pregnancy, premenstrual hormone changes and a side effect of birth control pills. Young teens may experience sore breasts from normal growth patterns, and breastfeeding mothers may notice breast soreness, especially in the early days and weeks of their babies' lives. In most cases, breast tenderness is nothing to be concerned about, and can easily be treated with simple home remedies.
Step 1
Cut back on salt and caffeine. These can cause you to retain water, making breast soreness more pronounced.
Step 2
Eat foods that are high in calcium, such as milk, yogurt and cheese. According to Kidshealth.org, young women sometimes find that consuming calcium-rich foods can lessen the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, including sore breasts.
Step 3
Wear a supportive bra to minimize bouncing and stretching, which can lead to more soreness. Wear a soft cotton bra to sleep in as well.
Step 4
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Tylenol or Advil. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, however, talk to your doctor before you take any medications.
Step 5
Discuss your current medications with your doctor if breast tenderness is bothersome. Some methods of hormonal birth control can cause or exacerbate breast soreness. In some cases, you may find that switching medications helps.
Step 6
Nurse your baby often if you are breastfeeding. Allow the baby to fully empty your breasts. Apply warm and cool compresses, alternating them in-between feedings. If you can feel that a duct is blocked, massage this area and apply hot packs to loosen the blockage.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are breastfeeding and notice that one of your breasts is very hard, painful, or that you have a red streak on one breast or a fever, see your doctor promptly to rule out mastitis, which is an infection common in breastfeeding mothers. You may need an antibiotic. If you have other symptoms along with your breast tenderness, such as a rash on your breast or a lump that you can feel, or if your soreness does not resolve within a few days or gets worse, see your doctor for an evaluation.
Things You'll Need
- Foods high in calcium
- Supportive bra
- Over-the-counter pain reliever
- Warm or cool compresses
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