^
A
A
A

Pancreas in pregnancy

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
 
Fact-checked
х

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

The pancreas during pregnancy is an organ responsible for digestion processes and an integral part of the endocrine system. Let's consider what dangers may lie in wait for a woman during pregnancy with pancreatic diseases and how to treat this organ.

The pancreas performs external and internal secretory functions, the organ is responsible for the production of hormones and the digestion process. It is the pancreas that produces glucagon, insulin and lipocaine. During pregnancy, many women develop pancreatitis, that is, inflammation of the pancreas. This disease is accompanied by severe pain, which is very dangerous for the expectant mother and her baby.

Pancreatic diseases during pregnancy can cause serious exacerbations and complications during childbirth. Therefore, before planning a pregnancy, it is recommended to undergo a medical examination and treat diseases of the pancreas and other organs, as they can worsen during the period of bearing a child.

In diseases of the pancreas, sharp pains appear that encircle the entire body, but most of all they hurt under the navel. The pain appears after eating and lasts for quite a long time. If painful sensations appear during a meal, the first thing you need to do is stop eating. You need to relieve the load from the pancreas. To do this, it is best to lie on your back and apply a cold compress to the sore spot.

trusted-source[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Pain in the pancreas during pregnancy

Pain in the pancreas during pregnancy is a dangerous and alarming symptom that cannot be ignored and medically diagnosed. As soon as a pregnant woman begins to experience severe girdle pain during or after eating, she must immediately seek medical help. Since this is the first sign that a woman has pancreatitis - a disease of the pancreas.

Most often, the cause of pain is overeating or failure to follow the prescribed diet. In this case, to eliminate the pain, the doctor prescribes antispasmodics and other medications that will relieve the woman of painful sensations. Antibiotics for the treatment of the pancreas during pregnancy are not prescribed, as they pose a danger to the body of the mother and child. An excellent solution for pain in the pancreas will be taking enzyme preparations that will reduce the load on the organ and relieve discomfort.

Inflammation of the pancreas during pregnancy

Inflammation of the pancreas during pregnancy is pancreatitis. The danger of this disease for pregnant women is that it is difficult to diagnose. If the disease appears in the first months of pregnancy, then most often it is confused with toxicosis, which, like pancreatitis, is accompanied by pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. But if a woman had problems with the pancreas before pregnancy, then the pain that appears is a sign of inflammation, which must be treated without fail, as it can cause serious complications.

Inflammation is diagnosed using a biochemical blood test and urine analysis. Urine analysis will reveal diastasis, and blood will allow determining amylase enzymes. In addition to medical diagnostics, special attention is paid to the symptoms of the disease. Symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas depend on the form of inflammation. There are two types of inflammatory diseases of the pancreas - asymptomatic inflammation and dyspeptic.

  • With the dyspeptic form of the disease, a woman experiences digestive disorders, diarrhea, vomiting, flatulence, weight loss, etc. Such symptoms provoke the growth of bacteria in the intestines and cause dysbacteriosis. Inflammation of the pancreas and dysbacteriosis cause vaginal candidiasis, food allergies and hypovitaminosis. As a result, serious complications for pregnancy.
  • If a woman has an asymptomatic form of the disease, the main symptom is pain during or after eating. This form of pancreatitis is very difficult to diagnose. There is also a painful form of the disease, in which the pregnant woman feels pain in the upper abdomen

At the first symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas, that is, pain, it is necessary to immediately seek medical help. The doctor will prescribe tests and prescribe the most effective and safe treatment that will not have a negative impact on the body of the pregnant woman and the future baby.

Treatment of the pancreas during pregnancy

Treatment of the pancreas during pregnancy is complicated and requires qualified medical care. There are methods and specific recommendations for treatment, let's look at them.

  • First of all, it is necessary to reduce or completely abandon the medications and synthetic vitamin preparations used. Since they put additional stress on the inflamed pancreas.
  • Special attention is paid to the pregnant woman's nutrition during treatment. It is necessary to completely eliminate products that irritate the pancreas from the diet. These include spices and herbs, sweets, smoked, fatty and fried foods, and coffee. It is necessary to eat small portions five to seven times a day, and the basis of the diet should be fruits, vegetables, fermented milk products, lean meat and fish.
  • Many women are prescribed medications to treat the pancreas during pregnancy. The most popular are Mezim and Pancreatin. Also, medications are prescribed that reduce stomach acidity and speed up the process of bile excretion.
  • To treat dysbacteriosis, which appeared due to inflammation of the pancreas during pregnancy, women are prescribed prebiotics and probiotics.

The pancreas during pregnancy requires special attention, since when inflamed, this organ causes severe pain, discomfort and causes a lot of complications. It is possible to treat the pancreas during pregnancy, but only a doctor should do this. Taking any medications on your own is strictly prohibited, since this is a direct threat to the life of the mother and the future baby.

More information of the treatment

You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.