Unilateral chest pain
Breast pain that occurs during pregnancy can be more pronounced on one side than the other. However, an acute inflammation of the mammary glands (mastitis) in the puerperium, which is called mastitis puerperalis during this period, is typically unilateral. This can cause pronounced unilateral breast pain, so that even careful palpation of the affected breast is not tolerated by the woman in postpartum.
Mastitis puerperalis most frequently occurs after the second week after birth and is caused by an infection with one of the following pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, more rarely streptococci, Proteus, Escherichia coli (E. coli), pneumococci and Klebsielles. The diagnosis of this inflammation of the mammary gland is rarely associated with difficulties, as the cardinal symptoms of inflammation are usually present (redness, overheating, swelling, painfulness, limited breastfeeding function). Typically, the inflammation begins in the upper outer quadrant of a breast.
If mastitis is suspected in the puerperium, a doctor should always be consulted. In the early stages of mastitis puerperalis, immobilisation of the breast with a tight bra and cooling of the breast is recommended. The breast milk must be pumped out and discarded.
It is forbidden to give the infant germ-containing breast milk. In the beginning, antibiotic therapy may also be useful. If the inflammation is advanced, the baby must be weaned. Depending on the circumstances, the melting of the inflammation must also be promoted with heat therapy such as red light or short waves so that the mature abscess can be opened.
Is chest pain a sign of pregnancy?
Clinical signs of pregnancy can be divided into uncertain, probable and safe signs. All definite signs of pregnancy are based on the unborn child and are only perceptible in the second half of the pregnancy. Safe signs of pregnancy include feeling or sensing fetal movements, feeling fetal body parts and hearing fetal heart sounds.
Probable signs of pregnancy can be perceived much earlier and are therefore also more important for the early diagnosis of a pregnancy. The probable signs of pregnancy include: the absence of monthly menstruation (amenorrhoea), changes in the breasts (enlargement, feeling of tension, pain, pulling, increased sensitivity), increased pigmentation of the nipples, areolas and the median line of the abdomen (linea fusca) and changes in the size and consistency (softer) of the uterus. Changes in the vagina can also be observed.
These include: Increase in the elasticity of the vagina, velvety appearance of the vaginal skin, discolouration of the vaginal skin and the vaginal entrance (bluish-violet) due to an increase in blood circulation. Furthermore, there are still uncertain signs of pregnancy, which can make a possible pregnancy more or less likely. These include: morning nausea and vomiting (vomiting), changes in appetite possibly with abnormal cravings, constipation, frequent urination (pollakiuria), increased vaginal discharge (fluorine vaginalis) without underlying infection.
Typical symptoms in early pregnancy are breast tenderness (70-80%) and vomiting (50-70%). In addition, more than 50% of pregnant women in early pregnancy complain of an increased urge to urinate, increased salivation, increased vaginal discharge, constipation and abnormal cravings.
