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Published on: 3/5/2025

Is Armpit Pain Common During the Third Trimester of Pregnancy?

While many pregnant people have aches and pains, armpit pain in the third trimester is not usually common. It might be linked to changes in your body or rare conditions that sometimes happen during pregnancy.

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Explanation

During the third trimester, your body goes through many changes, and sometimes you may notice aches in different areas. There isn’t a common pattern where many pregnant people specifically get armpit pain. However, a dull ache or discomfort in your armpit can sometimes happen if your lymph nodes become slightly swollen due to changes in hormones or if there is mild inflammation. In rare cases, more serious issues such as a blood clot in the vein (called axillary vein thrombosis) have been seen during pregnancy, especially if there are underlying clotting differences. Another possible, though uncommon, reason is reactive lymphadenopathy, where your lymph nodes react to the extra work your body is doing. If your armpit pain is mild and goes away on its own, it likely is not a cause for concern. But if the pain becomes severe, lasts for more than a week, or you notice other changes like swelling, redness, or fever, it’s important to talk with your doctor. They can check you out and be sure that everything is okay.

(References)

  • Doyle G, Simmons M, Granke K. Axillary vein thrombosis during pregnancy in association with a lupus anticoagulant. W V Med J. 1998 Mar-Apr;94(2):87-9. PMID: 9581509.

  • Jalilzadeh Afshari S, Saad Abdalla Al-Zawi A, Idaewor P, Chicken DW. Axillary lymphadenopathy in a pregnant woman: a case report. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2020 Sep;102(7):e167-e169. doi: 10.1308/rcsann.2020.0078. Epub 2020 Apr 29. PMID: 32347740; PMCID: PMC7450423.

  • Jalilzadeh Afshari S, Saad Abdalla Al-Zawi A, Idaewor P, Chicken DW. Axillary lymphadenopathy in a pregnant woman: a case report. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2020 Sep;102(7):e167-e169. doi: 10.1308/rcsann.2020.0078. Epub 2020 Apr 29. PMID: 32347740; PMCID: PMC7450423.

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