when nipples are sore is it a symptom of pregnancy?

Yes, breast tenderness can be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. It usually starts around 4 to 6 weeks and lasts through the first trimester.

Like so many pregnancy symptoms, sore and tender breasts and nipples are due to surging hormones. The hormones estrogen and progesterone, as well as prolactin (the brain hormone associated with lactation) boost blood flow to the breasts and cause changes in breast tissue to prepare for breastfeeding.

The result? Your breasts may feel swollen, sore, tingly, and unusually sensitive to touch. Some women find the sensation painful. Others say it's like an extreme version of how their breasts feel right before their period.

Yes. Some women find that their nipples feel extremely sensitive and uncomfortable during early pregnancy. You may hate the feeling of any sensation on your nipples – even your shirt brushing up against them. This is a temporary but possibly recurring situation. Many women experience relief from sore nipples after the first trimester, but may have sore nipples again later in pregnancy.

Your breasts go through many changes to prepare for nursing your baby. You may notice:

Your best bet is to buy a few good, supportive but comfortable bras. If underwire bras and synthetic materials are making your tender breasts and sore nipples worse, buy a few soft, structured cotton bras with no seams near the nipple.

When shopping for comfortable bras to wear during pregnancy, try:

Be prepared for your bra size to change multiple times during pregnancy. In early pregnancy, your cup size may go up a letter or two. Between 26 and 30 weeks, your band size may grow as your rib cage expands. Your cup size may increase again in later pregnancy.  And after delivery, when your milk comes in for breastfeeding, your breasts will temporarily expand another cup size or two. (After your milk supply evens out, they'll likely go back to the size they were in late pregnancy and stay there as long as you're breastfeeding.)

The best strategy is to buy one or two bras at a time during pregnancy to fit your changing breasts. Then, at the end of pregnancy (around 38 weeks), buy a few stretchy nursing bras that will carry you through the first weeks of breastfeeding and beyond. (The stretch will accommodate the major breast growth when your milk comes in.)

Many pregnant women experience breast changes, but plenty of others don't – and that's normal, too. It's not necessary for your breasts to grow bigger, leak, or feel sore to indicate that you're having a healthy pregnancy or that you're ready to breastfeed. Some women's breasts just don't change much during pregnancy.

Learn more:

The best nursing bras according to moms

Sore nipples and tender breasts can be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Your breasts may feel swollen, sore, or tingly – and your nipples may be extra sensitive and uncomfortable. It's all thanks to the pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone, which surge during early pregnancy.