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Why pulls the lower abdomen at 36 weeks of pregnancy and what to do?

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
 
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With the arrival of the thirty-sixth week, pregnant women may experience transparent or translucent discharge, heaviness in the lower back, and pain in the abdomen, which has a pulling character.

Causes 36 weeks of pregnancy with lower abdominal pulling sensations

Pregnant women should immediately pay attention to the fact that pain of a pulling nature, which can appear in the late stages of pregnancy, is a fairly common occurrence. Therefore, there is no need to worry right away.

This may be a consequence of the increase in the size of the uterus, and this increases the pressure on the internal organs that are located nearby. The belly gradually grows, which means that the center of gravity changes, as does the background of female hormones, and the joints relax. All this causes the appearance of unpleasant pain of a pulling nature in the pubis, hips, abdomen and lower back.

Starting from the 35th week of pregnancy, a woman may develop or worsen hemorrhoids, which can cause such unpleasant sensations.

Sometimes such pain may appear after so-called "practice contractions". In this case, the pain is sudden and short-lived.

If the pain constantly increases or other accompanying symptoms appear, it is best to contact your obstetrician-gynecologist.

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Symptoms 36 weeks of pregnancy with lower abdominal pulling sensations

The most common symptom that pregnant women experience at the end of the pregnancy is pain, which is very similar to the discomfort before menstruation. You should not worry about this if the pain is bearable and you do not have any bleeding. The fact is that the baby is growing, during this period its head is at the bottom, so the woman has a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.

Sometimes the pulling pain in the lower abdomen also radiates to the lower back, it does not go away even after sleep or rest in a lying position, it continues for several days in a row. In this case, it is best to consult a doctor, as this may indicate oligohydramnios, and if vaginal discharge is added - premature birth.

Pain may appear suddenly and disappear just as quickly, but remain quite tolerable. The lower back, pelvic area, and pubic area may also hurt.

Pain in the lower back and abdomen at 36 weeks of pregnancy

In addition to the lower abdomen, pain may also appear in the lumbar region. It is very important for a pregnant woman not to panic in this case, since nervous tension can have a negative effect on health. Such pain is directly related to all the changes that occur in the woman's body. In addition, among the most common causes of such pain, the following can be distinguished:

  1. Colds or other infectious diseases. The lower back hurts especially often if it is blown.
  2. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause such unpleasant sensations.
  3. The increased weight puts more strain on your back.
  4. If a pregnant woman walks a lot or stands for a long time, this can lead to pain.
  5. If you already have lower back problems, they may get worse after the thirty-sixth week of pregnancy.

Complications and consequences

Sometimes a nagging pain in the lower abdomen can cause more serious problems. For example, if the uterus is in tone, which is undesirable for pregnancy in the later stages, as it causes oxygen starvation of the fetus, which can lead to a delay in the development of the future child.

Increased uterine tone can also cause premature labor. If the pain is accompanied by spotting, this may indicate placental abruption, which can be dangerous for the baby.

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Treatment 36 weeks of pregnancy with lower abdominal pulling sensations

A nagging pain in the lower abdomen after the thirty-fifth week of pregnancy can be caused by a variety of reasons, so pregnancy management at this stage should be carried out under the strict supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist. If you feel increasing pain, it is best to lie down and rest a little. Most often, after rest, the discomfort goes away. If this does not help you, you need to visit your gynecologist or call an ambulance.

Medicines

In the later stages of pregnancy (starting from the 36th week), a woman is already allowed to take some medications. A nagging pain in the lower abdomen can be relieved with no-shpa.

No-shpa is a drug from the group of antispasmodics based on the active component drotaverine hydrochloride. It is prohibited to take in case of liver failure, heart failure, severe renal failure, lactose intolerance, intolerance to the components of the drug.

Take 120-240 mg of the drug two or three times per 24 hours. No more than 80 mg of the drug can be taken at a time. May cause rapid heartbeat, headaches, nausea, insomnia, constipation, allergic reactions.

Prevention

As a rule, nagging pains in the lower abdomen appear in all pregnant women at the end of the term. This means that labor will begin soon. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of such a condition. In order to reduce pain, you can consult with your doctor. Usually, women do special light physical exercises, eat right, walk or take medications prescribed by a gynecologist.

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Forecast

In most cases, the prognosis is favorable, since nagging pains appear due to the enlargement of the uterus and the development of the fetus. But it is still worth consulting a doctor to rule out the possibility of early labor.

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