Pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy, causes, what to do. Pain in the lower abdomen in a woman in early pregnancy: why does it occur and what to do? Why does the bottom hurt during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the functioning of body systems changes. In order for the child to develop normally, the amount of circulating blood increases, the corpus luteum suppresses the pregnant woman’s immunity, and in the abdominal cavity, the growing uterus displaces neighboring organs. All these factors affect your well-being.
Doctors are often asked whether the stomach hurts during pregnancy, and the answer is yes. Many women, especially first-time mothers, experience mild abdominal pain during pregnancy, which becomes more pronounced after physical activity or sudden movement.
This is associated with stretching of the muscles that hold the uterus. However, if your stomach hurts severely during pregnancy, this is not always due to the growing fetus.
How pregnancy affects the body
In order for a woman to bear a healthy child, nature has provided some changes. For example, to prevent the body from attacking the embryo, the corpus luteum produces hormones that suppress immune function. To avoid muscle tone of the uterus, prostaglandins, placental lactogen, and oxytocin are released. They have a relaxing effect on smooth muscle fibers.
Hormones affect not only the uterus; there is atony of other organs, for example, the gallbladder and sphincter. This provokes changes in their work. Therefore, if you experience abdominal pain during pregnancy, you need to contact a specialist and find out the exact cause of the ailment.
If a woman is diagnosed with pathologies, then during pregnancy they will most likely worsen and cause temporary discomfort or pose a threat to the normal development of the baby.
During an exacerbation of a chronic disease, a pregnant woman cannot always recognize it, since the location of the abdominal organs changes, and the nature of the pain may also change. Sometimes the stomach hurts during pregnancy not as a result of dysfunction of any organ, but the growing uterus forces its neighbors to crowd out, which leads to some discomfort.
Possible causes of discomfort
If the lower abdomen hurts during pregnancy, many fear that this is the beginning of a spontaneous abortion. But if there is no threat of miscarriage, then in most cases it is ordinary indigestion, which appears due to an unbalanced diet. Eating certain foods can negatively affect intestinal motor function, leading to spasms and aching pain in the lower abdomen.
It is possible that nagging pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is the result of natural changes occurring in the body. Namely:
- Crick;
- pressure on organs;
- fetal movement;
- change in diet.
The growing embryo enlarges the uterus, the muscles stretch and this causes pain. They are especially intense with active movement or sneezing. The discomfort is stronger if the abdominal muscles are poorly developed.
If the stomach hurts severely, the pregnant woman should undergo an examination to find out the cause.
After the twentieth week of gestation, abdominal pain occurs due to the child’s physical activity. It is accompanied by heartburn, heaviness in the stomach, and lack of appetite. During pregnancy, a woman's taste preferences may also change.
And if the expectant mother has an irresistible desire to eat spoonfuls of butter or drink liters of milk, then doctors advise satisfying the need, of course, within reason. It is believed that the body tells a person on a subconscious level what microelements and vitamins he lacks and where he can get them.
Consumption of increased amounts of certain foods or incompatible products can provoke metabolic disorders, increased gas formation, accelerated peristalsis, and changes in intestinal microflora. All this leads to unpleasant sensations.
Only a doctor can find out why your stomach hurts during pregnancy after conducting a laboratory test. If blood and urine tests do not show abnormalities, then there is no need to worry. A pregnant woman needs to rest more, avoid negative emotions and eat right.
Pregnant women can benefit from medications that improve intestinal motility and reduce gas formation.
When medical attention is needed
The growing uterus puts pressure on neighboring organs of the excretory and digestive systems. This affects the functioning of the intestines, bladder, liver, and gall bladder, so aching pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is rare, but is a symptom. During pregnancy, the stomach can hurt in different parts (top and bottom). The nature of the pain also differs; it is divided into aching, stabbing, pulling, and cramping.
Intestinal infection
During pregnancy, a woman's immunity decreases significantly. This is necessary so that the antibodies do not attack the fetus. Since the immune system is weakened, it is less able to resist foreign viral or bacterial agents. Accordingly, a pregnant woman has a greater chance of contracting an intestinal infection, the first sign of which is abdominal pain.
Symptoms of poisoning:
- dizziness;
- nausea, vomiting;
- headache;
- diarrhea;
- pressure change;
- fever, chills;
- nagging pain in the abdomen.
Appendicitis
During pregnancy, the risk of inflammation of the appendix is increased. Since the enlarged uterus puts pressure on the intestines, this leads to poor blood circulation in the appendix, its swelling and inflammation.
Another reason for the development of appendicitis is the increased production of progesterone. This hormone relaxes smooth muscles, including those of the intestines.
Due to its action, food is delayed and constipation appears. Fecal stones can clog the lumen of the appendix, which will cause inflammation.
Abdominal pain with appendicitis is quite severe and at the first stage of the disease it is spread throughout the entire abdomen. Only a few hours later it is localized in the right side. In addition to pain, the following symptoms appear:
- increased body temperature;
- the pain is more intense when the abdominal muscles are tense;
- nausea, vomiting;
- bowel disorder.
Painful sensations decrease with a certain position of the body, for example, if you lie on your right side.
If the appendix is located near the bladder, then signs of cystitis appear. When the appendix is inflamed, the upper abdomen hurts during pregnancy, since the appendix is located behind the uterus.
Diagnosis of the disease is somewhat difficult, since ultrasound is uninformative and x-rays are not used. To make a diagnosis, the doctor will palpate the patient's abdomen, collect anamnesis, and review laboratory results.
Cystitis
Pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is possible due to inflammation of the bladder. Every tenth pregnant woman develops cystitis. The disease is associated with an increase in bacterial microflora, since general and local immunity is reduced and is unable to sufficiently resist bacteria.
The causative agent of infectious cystitis is opportunistic bacteria (Escherichia coli, staphylococci, Trichomonas vaginalis, mycoplasmas, streptococci, chlamydia). Pathology can also develop during drug therapy, when altered substances are excreted in the urine and irritate the tissues of the bladder.
Inflammation is also caused by hypothermia of the body, for example, sitting in the cold. Symptoms of cystitis:
- frequent urge to urinate;
- when urine passes through the urethra, the patient feels a burning sensation;
- there may be blood in the urine;
- urine is cloudy with a strong odor;
- hyperthermia;
- pressure in the lower abdomen.
If your lower abdomen hurts, you should not apply heat.
Do not confuse frequent urge to go to the toilet, which is normal during pregnancy, with cystitis. In the absence of pathology, the pregnant woman does not feel a burning sensation or discomfort when emptying the bladder.
Pancreatitis
Abdominal pain is likely during pregnancy due to inflammation of the pancreas. Exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis is more common, but its occurrence cannot be excluded. The cause of the pathology is poor nutrition, chronic pathologies of the digestive organs or diabetes, hereditary predisposition.
During pregnancy, the lower abdomen hurts greatly, since the pancreas experiences serious overload associated with the woman’s hormonal background, as well as due to compression of the organ by the enlarging uterus and its displacement to the side.
Signs of pancreatitis:
- nausea, vomiting;
- low-grade fever;
- pain on the left under the rib. They are encircling in nature;
- stool disorder.
To treat pancreatitis, doctors prescribe a strict diet for several days to reduce the functional load on the gland. You cannot do without drug treatment. You will need to take enzyme preparations, agents to improve peristalsis, and choleretic medications.
Cholecystitis
Pain in the upper abdomen during pregnancy is possible due to inflammation of the gallbladder. Sometimes the disease is aggravated by unfavorable factors, and sometimes it develops due to hormonal changes, stagnation of bile, the formation of stones or associated infection.
There are also congenital anomalies of the gallbladder, for example, dyskinesia, bends or abnormal location of the organ. This occurs quite often and does not cause any inconvenience before conception, but when carrying a child, due to natural changes in the body, the disease manifests itself. That is, pregnancy leads to an exacerbation of the process, and does not provoke it.
A growing child causes the abdominal organs to become more crowded. The liver and gall bladder are also slightly displaced. Bile does not pass into the ducts, but stagnates, which contributes to the appearance of stones and inflammation.
If bile does not enter the intestines in sufficient quantities, this leads to indigestion, slower evacuation of food and the proliferation of microorganisms, which affect the development of inflammation of the gallbladder.
In addition to mechanical pressure, bile in the bladder can stagnate due to the relaxing effect of hormones, which leads to atony of the organ.
With an exacerbation of cholecystitis, a pregnant woman complains of deterioration in health, nausea after eating fried or fatty foods. Heaviness appears in the area of the right hypochondrium, pain can spread and be felt in the scapula or right hand. When the disease occurs, the skin acquires a yellowish tint, which is caused by a deterioration in the outflow of bile and the circulation of bilirubin in the bloodstream.
Liver diseases
During pregnancy, the amount of circulating blood increases, and accordingly, the liver experiences more stress. If a woman is forced to take medications to treat an aggravated disease and she has serious illnesses that affect the functioning of the gland, then the liver may not cope.
For example, if a pregnant woman suffers from arterial hypertension, suffered from respiratory diseases and was forced to take tetracycline, then there is a possibility of developing hepatic fatty degeneration.
Symptoms of the disease are nonspecific (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice) and begin to bother you in late pregnancy. In case of liver dysfunction, the upper abdomen hurts severely during pregnancy.
What to do?
The probable cause of abdominal pain during pregnancy is obstetric pathology that threatens the life of the child. Separation of the placenta, spontaneous abortion, and ectopic pregnancy are possible. Severe pain is a reason to urgently seek medical help. Of course, a pregnant woman may have pain in the lower abdomen as a result of the development of pathologies completely unrelated to pregnancy.
Of course, if a pregnant woman has pain in her lower abdomen, she should go to the clinic and have a diagnosis done so that the doctor can make a diagnosis and tell her what needs to be done to eliminate the symptom. It is important for a pregnant woman to avoid stress, so there is no need to panic when experiencing abdominal pain and assume the worst case scenario.
First of all, if your stomach hurts slightly during pregnancy, then it’s worth remembering what you ate and whether it could have caused indigestion and flatulence. If pain occurs only after certain foods, then you need to exclude them from the diet.
Determine where your stomach hurts and what nature the pain is. If it is tugging, not intense and short-lived, then most likely it is not dangerous for either the expectant mother or her child, but it is still worth telling the doctor about the unpleasant sensations during a routine visit.
If your body temperature rises, dizziness begins, or the pain does not go away within an hour, you should consult a doctor and undergo the necessary tests.
As a rule, with diseases of the digestive system, diarrhea, vomiting or constipation appears, which almost never happens with obstetric pathologies
If abdominal pain in pregnant women is much stronger than during menstruation and it does not decrease with changes in body position, there is spotting, or the temperature has risen, then you need to call an ambulance.
The expectant mother needs to adhere to a diet and limit the consumption of heavy, fatty or spicy dishes, as well as products that cause increased gas formation. Physical activity is also important for normal digestion.
If pregnant women experience pain in the lower abdomen, there is no need to try to eliminate them with the help of traditional medicine. It is recommended to consult a doctor to understand why the symptom occurs. And if the discomfort does not threaten the health of the expectant mother or the health of her child, then it is up to her to take or not take the prescribed medications.
But it happens that during pregnancy the stomach hurts due to a serious pathology that requires surgical intervention or drug therapy. In this case, the sooner the patient consults a doctor, the lower the risk of complications.
Many pregnant women are interested in why the stomach hurts during pregnancy, especially if it occurs in the lower abdomen.
Perhaps this is the question most often asked by expectant mothers, because they consider these types of pains to be the most dangerous.
Pain as a sign of pathology
And there is every reason for this opinion.
After all, one of the first signs of various types The pathologies that arise over the course of 9 months are precisely the pain that covers the lower abdomen.
For example, in the case of placental abruption, you will feel pain in the lower abdomen (the period is not decisive).
Pain in this place will appear in case or during.
How can we understand what the sensations that arise in this area indicate?
First of all, there is no need to experience panic when your lower abdomen begins to ache, be it the first month or the ninth.
Pain can not only be an indicator that something out of the ordinary has happened, but it can also be a common occurrence.
However, in any case, it is important to consult a doctor immediately if the feeling is strong, stabbing and its intensity only increases over time.
Normal or problem
Please note: the pain that occurs during the process of bearing a baby, at some point becomes expectant mother just the norm of life.
Of course - after all, they accompany a woman throughout her entire pregnancy, not retreating even for a week!
- first, the ligaments that support the growing uterus begin to ache;
- As the period increases, the back hurts more and more often;
- pulls in the stomach;
- at the end of the term, there is a feeling that the whole body hurts: your own weight has increased, the baby is kicking, the uterus is pressing on the organs.
During pregnancy, the lower abdomen may hurt from the very first day, as if warning you that the fusion of sperm and egg has occurred.
But some will only experience them closer to giving birth. It all depends on individual characteristics every woman!
It is this type of sensation that is characterized by the fact that it informs the pregnant woman about a variety of changes occurring in her body.
It’s not for nothing that doctors divide the pain that affects the lower abdomen of a pregnant woman into two groups: obstetric and non-obstetric.
- The first group includes those that warn about existing pathologies, sometimes even in the first month (ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption) or talk about the threat of miscarriage.
- The second is those that arise in connection with changes in the “pregnant” body, some of which are associated with the growth of the abdomen.
This means that there are stretched ligaments, increased weight, or characteristic changes in the gastrointestinal tract.
This also includes pain in the lower peritoneum caused by various diseases that can be eliminated surgically (for example, appendicitis).
Causes of pain in the 1st trimester
The first months are a period during which you need to especially carefully monitor your body, paying special attention to pain that occurs in the lower abdomen.
The fact is that most miscarriages occur during this time. And the reasons could be:
- Most often in the first month the stomach (its lower part) hurts simply because the body is preparing for pregnancy and hormonal changes occur.
In this case, sometimes the lower back also hurts
- Already in the first month, the uterus grows, so the ligaments, which are not accustomed to even such a load, begin to ache.
The time will come when they will become thicker, and the belly will be very large - spasms will cover its lower part at the end of the day if the pregnant woman is overly active
- a woman may experience rejection of the embryo or fertilized egg, which will result in a miscarriage.
In this case, spasms may be accompanied by bleeding. Sometimes the process, if the deadline is very early, can go unnoticed.
The stomach will simply ache or there will be periodic spasms in the lower peritoneum, as during menstruation, or it can be confused with the onset of menstruation
- at ectopic pregnancy Severe abdominal pain will occur, but not in the first month of an interesting situation, but in the second.
It is important to see a doctor on time, otherwise there is a risk of rupture of one of the fallopian tubes. When the stomach is seized by a piercing sharp pain that cannot be tolerated, perhaps the process is in full swing.
Features of the first 3 months
It is worth noting: in the first (second) month, spasms that “affect” the lower abdomen, during which bleeding occurs, do not always indicate that the pregnant woman is experiencing a miscarriage.
In almost every fourth pregnant woman, something similar happens, as a feature of the course of pregnancy, which can continue safely.
But during an involuntary abortion, the pain in the lower abdomen does not stop, and there will be so much blood that you cannot do without a pad.
It happens that shortly before the ovum is rejected, other “delights” of pregnancy disappear.
By the way, each stage of the process has its own pain. If you try to distinguish them, then by contacting a doctor in right time, you can save the pregnancy. They are accompanied by heaviness in the lower abdomen and unpleasant sensations in the sacrum area.
There is no need to immediately run to the hospital yourself, even when the time limit is not long, and your stomach does not hurt so much that it could keep you at home.
Pain in the 2nd and 3rd trimester
Why does the stomach hurt if the pregnancy has already “passed” the 7th month?
- Most often this is due to digestive problems, which are sure to arise in almost everyone.
And they are caused by the pressure of the uterus on the intestines and a menu that combines antagonistic foods.
Overeating and eating large portions can also affect the gastrointestinal tract.
Bottom line: a pregnant woman experiences gas, even colic.
Naturally, sometimes they can cause very unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen - this is what distinguishes the period of 5-9 months.
- The ligaments that hold the uterus are in constant tension.
If a pregnant woman walks a lot or lies in one position, she feels nagging pain in the lower abdomen, which goes away when she changes position or rests.
Such sensations intensify when sneezing or laughing: at this moment, the stomach below seems to be pierced by an electric discharge. The pain may even be sharp, but the time during which it will be felt strongly is minimal.
- Late term is a time when a woman gets tired incredibly quickly, especially with...
- It happens that the stomach hurts for a very banal reason - overstrain of the abdominal muscles (especially after the 5th month, you are familiar with this).
In this case, it is better to lie down and everything will pass. You need to reduce the load, reduce the speed when walking..
- The stomach, or rather its lower part, hurts if the baby (people say about this phenomenon “stomach sagging”)
This is a signal for you: everything is getting closer.
In this case, the pressure on this area increases, sometimes unpleasant sensations alternate with distension of this area, pain in the legs, which are also similar to weak discharges of electric current.
What to pay attention to
There are other reasons that cause stomach pain. And they require mandatory medical intervention.
- For example, sometimes during pregnancy there is an exacerbation of chronic diseases such as pancreatitis and intestinal obstruction occurs.
This does not happen in the first month of an interesting situation; more often this happens when at least half the term has passed. Such trouble will be indicated not only by an aching stomach, but also by nausea, fever, and dizziness. In such cases, you must definitely call an ambulance.
- Pain may indicate gynecological problems. It is possible that the woman has some kind of infection that can affect the baby’s health.
It is important to get rid of this problem as quickly as possible. After all, even if the child does not become infected during pregnancy, the infection will affect him when he decides to leave the mother’s belly and passes through the birth canal.
Pregnancy obliges a woman to be organized and very responsible. Only by taking care of her health and psychological comfort will the expectant mother be able to raise new life inside yourself. That is why, during all nine months of the baby’s intrauterine life, it is so important to pay attention to the slightest alarm bells: physical and psychological discomfort, pain, heaviness, etc. For example, almost all future mothers have encountered such a symptom as nagging pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy. mommies. How dangerous is this for the woman and the fetus? What do such sensations warn of? We will try to answer these and other questions in the article.
An unpleasant feeling of discomfort in the lower abdomen may be an indirect hint of pregnancy when menstruation is delayed. The pain is almost always nagging and aching in nature. After fertilization, the egg enters the uterus and begins to implant into its wall an average of a week after conception. At the moment the embryo attaches to the inner surface of the uterus, a woman may feel cramping pain and notice slight vaginal discharge. Doctors assure that these symptoms at the very beginning of the long nine months are natural.
Pain in the lower abdomen in the early stages of pregnancy: normal or pathological?
The fact that with the appearance of a little man under a woman’s heart various painful sensations begin to annoy her can, without any doubt, be taken as a variant of the norm. To verify this, it is enough to analyze what changes occur in the female body after conception.
The appearance of an embryo stimulates a number of physiological metamorphoses in a pregnant woman. Let's list just a few of the most obvious ones:
- Restructuring of hormonal levels, due to which the uterus and breasts begin to increase in size.
- Increased blood volume in the body.
- Changes in blood chemical parameters.
- Increased heart rate.
- Expansion of the area of blood vessels in the chest and lower abdomen.
- Softening of the ligaments and abdominal muscles in anticipation of heavy loads. As pregnancy progresses, they begin to stretch and thicken.
- Displacement and compression of the pelvic organs.
- Decreased intestinal motility, the appearance of colic and constipation.
Obviously, some of these changes are directly related to the appearance of pain.
Restructuring processes are most active before the 16th week of pregnancy. And this time is not easy for the expectant mother: she is constantly overcome by drowsiness, nausea, heartburn, increased sweating, and constipation. In addition, periodically during pregnancy, the lower abdomen and lower back hurt. All these sensations are associated with the characteristics of the growth and development of the fetus, and therefore are considered normal. What happens in the body of the expectant mother if she is bothered by pain in the lower abdomen in late pregnancy? Naturally, such sensations can greatly agitate a woman, so you must definitely find out why this happens and whether special treatment is required in such a situation.
Why does the lower abdomen feel tight during pregnancy?
The reasons why painful contractions of the uterine muscles occur are obstetric and non-obstetric.
Obstetric pain refers to symptoms caused by spontaneous abortion or placental abruption. The factors that cause non-obstetric pain are prosaic: colic, constipation, flatulence, sprained ligaments and muscles, divergence of the pelvic bones due to heavy load. When a woman has pain in her lower abdomen during pregnancy, it is very important to quickly find out whether this is due to a physiological disorder or due to overload.
Let's consider the factors that provoke the expectant mother to experience painful discomfort in the lower abdominal cavity:
- Transformation of ligaments due to pregnancy. In the first weeks after conception, the female body is just beginning to adapt to its new status: the round ligaments located on the sides of the uterus become toned. The uterus itself begins to gradually shift to take its place in the center of the pelvis. This process undoubtedly manifests itself in the form of painful discomfort in the lower abdomen. It has been noted that the lower abdomen hurts in early pregnancy mainly in women who have previously had painful periods.
- Softening and increased mobility of the joints, as a result of which the woman develops a “duck” gait and the lower abdomen hurts from the first weeks of pregnancy.
- Uterine tone. With the onset of pregnancy, the uterus, being a large organ that consists exclusively of muscle tissue, begins to periodically contract. As a result, a woman during pregnancy may feel that her lower abdomen hurts like during menstruation, but in fact this is nothing more than a state of increased uterine tone. Most often, this kind of tension is observed in the first and last trimesters.
- Excessive physical activity: running, standing for long periods of time, lifting weights. In the last months of pregnancy, such frivolous actions will cause not only nagging pain in the lower abdomen, but also premature birth.
- Psychological state of the expectant mother. Often, under the influence of hormones, a pregnant woman finds it difficult to get used to her new role. She cannot cope with the emotions she experiences and does not know how to suppress the feeling of nervousness and irritation characteristic of the early stages of an “interesting” situation. This uncertainty and lack of self-control gives rise to muscle tone and pain in the lower abdominal cavity.
- Digestive problems. Pressure of the uterus on the intestines, especially later pregnancy, weakens the functioning of the digestive system and causes a whole range of disorders - flatulence, colic, constipation. Naturally, this condition leads to the fact that the expectant mother suffers from pain and heaviness in the lower abdomen.
- Gynecological diseases often lead to vaginal discharge and pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy.
- Abdominal pain can appear due to non-obstetric disorders: appendicitis, inflammation of the pancreas, intestinal obstruction. During pregnancy, such problems require immediate correction through treatment prescribed by a qualified specialist.
If there are no serious internal disorders, the expectant mother encounters unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen at the beginning (up to 8 weeks) and at the end of pregnancy (8, 9 months). The enlarged belly acquires noticeable weight only after the 7th month. From 3 to 7 months of bearing the baby, the woman’s condition is stable, and the sensations are generally comfortable. If the expectant mother begins to experience strange pain in the lower abdomen, the nature of which is not clear to her, there is no point in delaying a visit to the doctor.
How to avoid pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy
Sometimes it is enough for the expectant mother to adjust her diet and daily routine in a certain way in order to feel better.
Diet for lower abdominal pain during pregnancy
A balanced diet will help improve the functioning of the digestive system:
- Eating green vegetables, fruits and nuts stimulates intestinal motility.
- The presence of fermented milk products in the daily diet will maintain microflora in order and provide the body with a sufficient amount of enzymes to digest food. In addition, this is an excellent prevention of intestinal colic.
- A reasonable drinking regime is the basis of water balance. You can’t drink too little or too much: every woman should find a middle ground for herself. An excess of water, as well as a lack of it, provokes the formation of edema in the body of a pregnant woman.
- Refusal of fats, coffee, smoked foods, baked goods and sweets will prevent the development of inflammatory reactions in the digestive tract and will lead to a significant improvement in the well-being of the expectant mother.
Ideally, a pregnant woman's diet should be simple and natural.
Physical activity for lower abdominal pain during pregnancy
Moderate physical activity during pregnancy is a necessary measure for targeted stretching of the muscles and ligaments of the perineum. Regular gymnastic exercises prepare the body for childbirth. Here is an approximate complex that every pregnant woman can take note of:
- Get down on your knees, spread them shoulder-width apart and sit between them on your buttocks. This is a classic pose for stretching the perineal ligaments. If physical fitness allows, the woman can slowly and carefully lower herself from this position onto her back - this position is known as the “fish” position.
- Sit on a flat surface, bend your knees and pull your legs towards you, grabbing your heels. Now rest your feet against each other, and try to reach the floor with your knees apart. This exercise is called the “butterfly”.
- To relieve pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy, a woman needs to learn to relax and contract the muscles of the perineum. It is enough to master the following exercise: imagine that you really want to go to the toilet “in a small way,” but there is no way to empty your bladder, so you have to endure it. To do this, you need to force your willpower to tense the muscles of your perineum for 10 seconds and then relax. Repeat the exercise several times in a row, it is especially important to do this when there is very little time left before giving birth.
Walking for lower abdominal pain during pregnancy
Leisurely walks on fresh air“accelerate” blood through the veins and stimulate oxygen access to all important organs female body and placenta. On this basis, the removal of toxins from the mother’s body is accelerated. It has already been proven that the most severe pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy torments women who lead a sedentary lifestyle, not bothering themselves with even minimal physical activity. Hiking should be present in the life of a pregnant woman regularly, and not from time to time.
Psychological state and pain in the lower abdomen
Expectant mothers, who spend most of their pregnancy at the mercy of hormones, react to everything that happens around them very emotionally. While expecting a baby, a woman may become irritable, whiny, explosive or touchy. To maintain an even psychological state and internal comfort, the expectant mother should try to keep all her experiences under control.
Everything in the human body is interconnected: the work of organs and systems completely depends on consciousness. In other words, thoughts, both positive and negative, are certainly reflected in bodily sensations. Very often, destructive emotions such as anger, irritation, indignation, fear and panic provoke sharp spastic contraction of the muscles of the face, limbs, abdomen and perineum. As a result of this reaction, the blood vessels that supply the fetus with oxygen and other useful substances, are compressed. If this happens regularly, the baby receives physiological trauma due to prolonged oxygen starvation.
How to reduce painful sensations if the lower abdomen pulls during pregnancy
If the expectant mother is sure that the pain that bothers her is not periodic and does not tend to intensify, that is, caused by physiological reasons, some measures can be taken to alleviate them:
- a warm bath for 15 - 20 minutes - this will help relax the muscles and relieve spastic tension in the lower abdominal cavity;
- rest in a lying or half-sitting position for 30 minutes;
- regularly wearing a bandage, which will reduce stretching of the abdominal muscles and thus get rid of pain in the lower part;
- Before visiting a doctor, you can take an antispasmodic drug that is not prohibited for use by pregnant women. No-shpa in the form of tablets or Papaverine in the form of suppositories are suitable. If the pain does not go away 1 hour after using the medicine, you can take 1 more tablet, provided that the pain does not intensify.
What kind of pain in the lower abdomen should alert an expectant mother?
When an expectant mother feels that her lower abdomen has begun to pull, she must definitely take into account the intensity of these sensations and how often they are repeated. Of course, you should be alert to the feeling of heaviness, which intensifies and develops into pain. It is also suspicious when the nagging pain becomes girdling, spreading to the lower back.
The most important symptom is the frequency of pain in the lower abdomen - if painful discomfort occurs with alarming regularity, this may warn of the onset of spontaneous abortion or premature birth. In this case, the pain may be accompanied by mucous discharge with blood clots. Then prompt measures must be taken to save the child.
Feelings in the abdomen in early pregnancy. Video
Almost every woman during pregnancy at least once experienced nagging or tingling pain in the lower abdomen or a feeling of discomfort. And this is understandable: with the birth of a new life, our body begins to rebuild itself (stretching of muscle fibers, swelling and stretching of ligaments, “divergence” of the pelvic organs occurs). A woman usually experiences such pain in the first few months of pregnancy. Moreover, they most often occur in women who had dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) before pregnancy.
However, pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is not always the result of changes occurring in the body. The appearance of any pain in the abdomen should alert a pregnant woman, since it may pose a possible threat to the fetus (miscarriage). But there is no need to sound the alarm in advance; it is necessary to determine the nature of the pain, its intensity and what it is associated with. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor even if you experience the slightest discomfort in the abdominal area.
Why does my stomach hurt a lot during pregnancy?
Poor nutrition.
So, it is clear that pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy can occur even in an absolutely healthy woman. What are the main causes of pain? Very often, poor nutrition can provoke spasms of the digestive system, which result in pain in the lower abdomen, which is aching in nature. Pregnancy is one of the causes of hormonal changes in the body. Against this background, a woman’s taste preferences also change. While carrying a child, a woman can consume foods that cause various metabolic disorders. For example, a pregnant woman’s abuse of spicy and sour foods can cause irritation of the stomach walls; frequent consumption of sweets can provoke fermentation processes in the intestines and the appearance of dysbiosis. The latter, in turn, can cause bloating. In this case, you should consult with your doctor, who will prescribe special treatment, and of course, switching to a healthy diet is mandatory.
Sprained muscles and ligaments.
Quite often, nagging pain in the lower abdomen in a pregnant woman is a consequence of sprained ligaments and muscles that support the uterus. As the fetus grows, the uterus also increases in size, resulting in increased pressure on the ligaments, and as a result, increased pain in the lower abdomen. That is why, with sudden movements, sneezing or coughing, you can feel a sprain, which manifests itself in the form of sharp pain in the lower abdomen. They can also be observed due to overstrain of the abdominal muscles. In this case, pain in the lower abdomen does not pose a danger to the fetus. Such pains during pregnancy do not require any treatment, just a good rest is enough. Doctors recommend relieving cramping pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic area that accompanies a sprain with a warm bath, sitting in which you should relax well.
Enlarged uterus.
If a pregnant woman experiences pain in the upper abdomen, the reason for this may be an enlarged uterus, which begins to compress the organs of the chest cavity (liver and gall bladder, digestive organs). The result of this may be a disruption of the bile secretion process, which may be accompanied by pain in the upper abdomen.
Often during pregnancy, a woman feels pain in the abdomen on the right. As a rule, this is due to the position of the fetus in the uterus. Painful sensations may increase when the fetus moves. Usually this process is accompanied by loss of appetite and a feeling of heaviness. Pressure on this area Abdomen can also cause heartburn, bitterness in the mouth, and bloating.
Ectopic pregnancy.
Pain in the lower abdomen can occur against the background of an ectopic pregnancy, in which a fertilized egg is fixed and develops not in the uterine cavity, but in the fallopian tube (probably due to adhesions). It is very simple to identify an ectopic pregnancy, if you are absolutely sure of your pregnancy, by the accompanying symptoms: fainting, dizziness, nausea, sharp abdominal pain, spotting. A woman is usually referred for an ultrasound examination to reduce the risk of tubal rupture and preserve fertility. The egg, increasing in size, ruptures the walls of the fallopian tube, which is accompanied by unbearable pain and internal bleeding. As a rule, this occurs in the fifth to seventh week of pregnancy. In this case, surgical intervention is necessary.
Threat of miscarriage.
Pain in the lower abdomen in a pregnant woman can also be observed when there is a threat of miscarriage. The cramping pain radiates to the lower back and is long-lasting and aching in nature. In addition, as a rule, such pain is combined with discharge from the genitals, which has a different consistency and color (from brown to bright red). A woman with such pain is immediately sent to the hospital, where hormonal levels are examined, the condition of the fetus is determined, and tests are done for the presence of infections that can cause a miscarriage. Once the cause of the pregnancy disorder has been identified, the specialist prescribes appropriate treatment.
If such pain and accompanying symptoms occur, you should immediately call a doctor. Most likely, in order to maintain the pregnancy, the woman will be admitted to a hospital for some time.
Premature placental abruption.
Premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus can also cause sharp pain in the lower abdomen. This phenomenon can be caused by several reasons: toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy, abdominal trauma, hypertension, physical overexertion, etc. In this case, there is a rupture of blood vessels. This process occurs with the simultaneous occurrence of bleeding into the uterine cavity and severe pain. Such symptoms are a good reason to quickly call a doctor, because the only solution in this situation, rapid delivery and stopping bleeding in the pregnant woman are essential.
Surgical diseases.
Surgical diseases in a woman during pregnancy can also cause pain. Often, acute stabbing pain is a sign of acute appendicitis. If a pregnant woman experiences cramping, stabbing pain in the right hypochondrium, there is a possibility that this is inflammation of the gallbladder or cholecystitis. During the period of bearing a child, inflammation of the pancreas or pancreatitis may also occur, which also manifests itself severe pain in the upper abdomen. Women in this position often experience nagging pain, which becomes intensely stabbing as the bladder fills. In this case, unbearable pain appears precisely at the moment of urination. Such symptoms indicate cystitis or inflammation of the bladder. Quite often, such symptoms are signs of the presence of infectious diseases that are sexually transmitted.
Stitching pains can appear with hypertonicity of the uterus. If the pain is minor, it is enough to lie quietly for an hour. If you experience intense pain accompanied by vaginal discharge, you should immediately seek medical help.
Stitching pain can be observed during pregnancy and in the intestines due to decreased motility of the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to stagnation of feces, flatulence, constipation, resulting in pain.
While expecting a baby, some women experience stabbing pain in the tailbone. Moreover, they can be localized and can radiate to the thigh, lower abdomen, and also to the perineum. They can be caused by many reasons: psycho-emotional stress, hormonal changes, and even the threat of miscarriage.
It is necessary to talk separately about the pathological phenomenon - isthmic-cervical insufficiency. A similar pathology occurs against the background of injury to the isthmus and cervix due to abortion, childbirth (large fetus), or the use of obstetric forceps. Because of this, the cervix is unable to hold the fertilized egg, which sinks down. This process is accompanied by severe stabbing pain in the vagina. This can cause spontaneous miscarriage. As a rule, this occurs in the sixteenth week of pregnancy.
Hiatal hernia.
A hiatal hernia or hiatal hernia can also be a source of pain. With this anatomical anomaly, part of the stomach enters the chest cavity through a natural or pathological opening in the diaphragm. A similar phenomenon is observed quite often in people with weight problems. In addition, hiatal hernia can occur due to frequent coughing, smoking and stress. The main symptoms of this anomaly are: acid reflux (liquid contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus), pain in the chest and in the upper part of the stomach.
Physical exercise, smaller meals, and avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and chocolate will help reduce the symptoms of this anomaly. In particularly difficult cases of this disease, urgent surgical intervention is required.
A pregnant woman is responsible for the life inside her, so she should treat her body with special care and reverence. Therefore, at the first signs of discomfort or pain, a woman needs to call a doctor who will determine the cause of the pain and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.
During pregnancy, many women experience pain in the lower abdomen. Pain syndrome is quite natural for this condition, although it causes discomfort for expectant mothers. However, not every pain is considered normal, so you need to be careful about all the body’s reactions. If you have doubts about the occurrence of pain, you should urgently seek professional help. Why can the lower abdomen pull on the left and right in pregnant women?
Causes of pain in the lower abdomen at different stages of pregnancy
Pain in the lower abdomen (left or right) during pregnancy can have different etiologies:
- physiological;
- pathological.
- changes occurring in a woman’s hormonal background (an increase in the level of the hormone progesterone leads to increased blood flow in the genitals, an increase in the secretory activity of the endometrium and the synthesis of other biologically active substances in the body);
- toxicosis (for early stages this condition can provoke an exacerbation of chronic diseases of the stomach and duodenum);
- sprain of the uterine ligaments (typical mainly in the second trimester, when the uterus begins to rapidly increase in size);
- increase in fetal size in the 2nd trimester;
- increased mobility of the symphysis pubis;
- the baby’s activity (the most painful sensations are if the baby lies with his legs down);
- rise of the uterine fundus in the last stages (leads to compression of the liver, stomach and pancreas);
- pressure of the baby's head on the pelvic floor (typical of the end of the third trimester).
- threat of spontaneous abortion;
- isthmic-cervical insufficiency;
- ectopic pregnancy;
- untimely separation of the placenta;
- appendicitis;
- diseases of the urinary system;
- food intoxication;
- disruptions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)
In the early stages, there is a risk of losing the baby. First signs of miscarriage:
- brownish vaginal discharge with bloody spots;
- aching pain in the lumbar region and lower abdomen on the right or left side;
- cramping nature of the pain syndrome.
If there was previously a threat of spontaneous abortion, the pregnant woman should closely monitor her condition. In addition, regular ultrasound will help exclude the development of possible diseases.
Ectopic pregnancy and uterine hypertonicity
In the 1st trimester, patients are often diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy. With this complication, the zygote is fixed in the fallopian tube (oviduct), ovary or in the peritoneal epithelium, without having time to reach the uterine cavity. Such a pathological pregnancy is quite dangerous for women's health(from rupture of the fallopian tube and severe bleeding to death), therefore requiring urgent surgery. Its first symptoms usually appear towards the end of the second month, when the embryo and the surrounding membranes, increasing in size, begin to stretch the oviduct.
The main symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:
- sudden appearance of aching pain to the left or right of the center of the abdomen with an increase in movement;
- when bleeding begins in the abdominal cavity, the pain may spread to the legs or anus;
- profuse uterine bleeding, which can sometimes resemble normal menstruation.
Another one possible reason the appearance of pain in the abdominal area during the gestational period - uterine hypertonicity (reflex contraction of the muscles of the organ, which is accompanied by painful sensations). In the 1st trimester of gestation, uterine hypertonicity can provoke miscarriage, and in later stages – premature delivery.
Preparing for childbirth (training contractions)
The first difference is their short duration. They can last no more than a minute, and then stop abruptly. True contractions are rhythmic and become more pronounced each time.
Constipation, intestinal colic
Disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract can also lead to unpleasant sensations in the lower part of the abdominal cavity during the gestational period. Often, pregnant women suffer from constipation, which occurs as a result of changes occurring in the body of the expectant mother at the hormonal level. In addition, women often have intestinal upset and excessive gas formation. To avoid the occurrence of such problems, expectant mothers should monitor the menu and the regularity of bowel movements.
Causes of stool retention include:
- lack of physical activity;
- synthesis of progesterone, which slows down gastrointestinal motility;
- poor nutrition and lack of fluid in the body;
- pathologies of the digestive system;
- compression of nearby internal organs by the uterus.
Intestinal colic is another reason why pregnant women may have lower abdominal pain. Many women expecting a baby experience painful cramps in the intestines. They can be caused by severe bloating and tightness of the colon muscles. Intestinal spasms are characteristic of the period when the zygote is implanted into the endometrium of the uterus.
Various diseases
Unpleasant sensations in the lower abdominal cavity during the gestational period can also occur in connection with various diseases. The most common are:
- viral hepatitis;
- cystitis;
- inflammation of the appendix;
- cholelithiasis;
- gastritis;
- inflammation of the pancreas;
- kidney diseases of inflammatory etiology, etc.
The nature of the pain
Painful sensations in the lower abdomen (both on the left and right sides of the abdomen) can be of a different nature (see also:). The pain may be:
- pulling;
- aching;
- piercing;
- cramping.
A woman may not worry in the following cases:
- the stomach hurts slightly, periodically on the left and right, sometimes there is a feeling that something is tugging (such pain indicates a stretching of the ligaments that hold the uterus);
- painful sensations appear sharply, but not often, and are spasmodic in nature (this is how the body talks about ongoing hormonal changes);
- the lower abdomen does not hurt much, there may be slight bleeding (this means that the zygote has attached to the endometrium of the uterus).
You should be concerned if the pain:
- has a strong piercing or cramping character;
- accompanied by profuse bleeding up to the point of fainting;
- pulling, radiates to the lumbar region, has a spasmodic nature and does not go away for more than a month (this indicates an ectopic pregnancy);
- stabbing (often a sign of liver or pancreas diseases, as well as appendicitis, pancreatitis, cystitis, cholecystitis or infectious pathologies).
Diagnostic methods
Pregnancy is that period in a woman’s life when many examinations are completely contraindicated for her. The permitted research methods are ultrasound, CT or X-ray, but the latter are carried out only in particularly severe cases.
If the pregnancy proceeds without any complications, the following will be enough for the doctor to make a diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment:
- collect anamnesis (information about the duration of painful sensations, location and nature of manifestation);
- read the conclusion of the specialist who examined the patient;
- palpate the pregnant woman's belly;
- review the results of urine and blood tests.
What to do and how to alleviate the condition of a pregnant woman?
If a pregnant woman has pain in the lower abdomen, she needs:
- lie down and relax;
- in consultation with the gynecologist leading the pregnancy, take an antispasmodic drug (No-Shpa, Papaverine suppositories are allowed).
If the pain does not go away after 60 minutes, you need to take the medicine again. If there is no reaction to taking the drug, the pain increases all the time, the pregnant woman needs to urgently consult a doctor.
In order to reduce the likelihood of a painful syndrome on the left or right side of the abdomen, pregnant women must follow simple rules:
- keep an eye on proper nutrition, introduce as many vegetables and fruits into your diet as possible;
- observe drinking regime;
- exclude flour, fatty, spicy foods, as well as coffee and strong black tea from the menu;
- do not forget about moderate physical activity (during the gestational period, swimming, walking, and special gymnastics for pregnant women are allowed);
- protect yourself from stressful situations.