Best Products to Help Relieve Sore Breasts During Pregnancy

A cold compress is one of the best ways to reduce breast swelling, while a warm compress is a great way to ease the general breast soreness you may experience while pregnant. These BPA-free Lansinoh breast gel ice packs checks both boxes: It’s so easy to heat up in the microwave, but can also be stuck in the freezer and used cold. Many reviewers found that these packs provided significant relief for sore breasts. Several moms-to-be appreciated the option to leave the middle open so your nipple doesn’t get cold or to close it if you want to ice your entire breast. You can easily fit them under your bra for on-the-go relief whether in the car or moving around your house.

“What I loved most were the washable covers,” says Leah Rocketto, What to Expect’s Associate Commerce Director. “They made it easy for me to wear the gel packs while doing other things. I didn’t have to worry about them moving around or being so close to my skin that it’d burn. But most importantly, I think they helped regulate the heat, keeping the pads warmer for longer and providing me more relief.” She also notes that the fabric might feel rough at first against your skin, but it goes away after a wash or two.

What makes these gel packs a great product, in addition to the warm and cold versatility, is that you’ll get tons of use out of them postpartum, too. Several moms on our What to Expect editorial team used these gel packs for postpartum relief. 

One of those moms, Christine Mattheis, Group VP of Content & Brand Solutions at What to Expect, calls these gel packs the “sleeper hit” of her postpartum period. “My breasts were engorged and raw and so incredibly painful,” she says. “The ice packs provided sweet, sweet, immediate relief. I recommend them to everyone now.”

Although clearly a beloved product here at What to Expect for finding immediate relief for sore breasts and nipples, the main con is that it only comes in one size, so these packs may not fit all breast shapes.

Count: 2 gel packs

Weight: 7.1 ounces 

Dimensions: 0.79 x 6.1 x 6.5 inches

The bad news? Soreness may not be the only issue your breasts face through your pregnancy. Your breasts might also be itchy — along with the rest of your body — due to your skin stretching and even from hormones. Although nipple butter is something nursing moms usually have on hand during the postpartum period, you may want to dip into your supply before your baby’s arrival to calm dry, itchy skin on your breasts. 

The Earth Mama nipple butter is packed with organic ingredients that won’t leave a tacky residue behind (no inner-bra-stickiness, here!). Moms especially love how easily it goes on, so you can spread all over your breast if you’d like. It’s also preservative- and petroleum-free so if you do use it later for breastfeeding, you won’t have to wash or wipe your breast before feeding. And, it doubles as a great moisturizer for dry lips, heels, cuticles…you name it.

Lisafe Carreon, Senior Product Manager at What to Expect, found it relieving for cracked nipples, which could be beneficial for moms-to-be with sore, dry nipples. “It definitely helped with cracked nipples, especially during the early days with the frequency of feeding,” she says. “Also because the ingredients were natural and clean, it made me feel at ease without having to worry if it was harming baby.” One con she noted — as did dozens of reviewers — was that it has a grainy texture, which some might find off-putting, but most didn’t have much of an issue with.

Size: 1 or 2 ounces

Made with just one ingredient, which is 100 percent natural lanolin, this Lansinoh nipple cream is a lifesaver for sore nipples both before and after delivery. Although the product was created for breastfeeding-related nipple chafing and chapping, reviewers swear by this cream during pregnancy as well. Many experience sore, dry or itchy nipples due to hormonal fluctuations, which this lanolin cream is designed to soothe almost right away. Tons of users swore by this product during their pregnancy, many finding the rich, creamy texture moisturized their dry nipples and gave them instant relief. You may even find yourself becoming a lifelong fan of this one: Many, many reviewers also claim it does double duty as an amazing lip balm. And, if you use it for nipple relief while nursing, you’ll be happy to know that it doesn’t need to be wiped off before feeding.

One thing to note: The product can become hard (and difficult to squeeze out of the tube) in colder weather. You can simply knead it in your hand to bring it back to room temperature. 

Size: 1.4 ounces

With a super soft bamboo blend, this cozy pull-on maternity and nursing Kindred Bravely bra will be your go-to for sleeping and lounging during — and after — pregnancy. What makes this bra extra special for anyone experiencing sore breasts is the material is soft and soothing as many reviewers stated. It’ll feel gentle on your tender breasts without any uncomfortable underwire. In fact, one mom-to-be said that they found it highly supportive which surprised them as someone who always uses underwire bras. Because you can also sleep with this bra on, it may help alleviate pain at nighttime, too, by providing support.

“I practically lived in this bra postpartum, but used it at night during my final trimester,” says Leah, who adds that her breasts grew quite a bit during pregnancy. “I wasn’t used to the extra weight and it was painful at night. The Kindred Bravely bra provided enough support to elevate the pain, but was breathable so I didn’t feel like I was wearing a bra.” 

The slightly stretchy fabric offers a snug fit as your breast size fluctuates, which Leah found particularly helpful when her breasts started to return to their pre-pregnancy size. And the pull-aside fit means it can transition into the perfect piece for middle-of-the-night feedings or pumping sessions once your little one arrives.

Size range: Busty and regular size options, XS-1X

Material: 98 percent rayon, 8 percent spandex

If you’re looking to get a better night’s sleep while pregnant — even with aching sore breasts — tons of moms in the What to Expect Community swear by the PharMeDoc C-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow. In fact, it even won the top-spot as the Best Pregnancy Pillow when moms voted in our Mom Must-Have Awards last year for helping all types of sleepers comfortably sleep on their sides while pregnant.

The C-shape of this pillow supports multiple parts of your body at once, including your back, hips, knees, neck and head. It’s designed to help you stay on your side through the night, which experts recommend for alleviating breast soreness, as it keeps excess pressure off your chest.

And, even once breast soreness resolves, it’ll keep you comfortable as your bump grows. Reviewers report that they sleep much better when using the Snoogle — and if there’s one thing you want to do before the baby's arrival, it’s sleep soundly.

Weight: 6.5 pounds

Dimensions: 58.75 x 25.5 x 7.75 inches