Subcostal pain in pregnancy

The process of bearing a fetus sometimes presents unpleasant surprises, including pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy. Should the expectant mother worry? What are the causes of discomfort and pain, tingling and pulling sensations? And most importantly, what should you do?

The described conditions may indicate a restructuring of the entire body of a pregnant woman. The enlargement of the uterus, displacement of internal organs, mobility of the bones of the ligamentous apparatus occur with some degree of pain. However, such discomforts may become harbingers of the development of dangerous diseases.

If the pain is persistent, accompanied by fever, vomiting, you should call emergency medical care. Other cases can wait for a scheduled consultation.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ]

Causes of pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy

An obstetrician-gynecologist and gastroenterologist will help you deal with unpleasant symptoms during pregnancy. Mild, short-term pain should not cause fear and anxiety in pregnant women. Rest and consultation with a specialist will help you cope with anxiety.

Gastrointestinal tract dysfunctions due to hormonal changes often lead to intestinal stagnation. To prevent pain, it is recommended to eat more often, but in small portions.

Common causes of pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy:

• nervous exhaustion;
• hypomotor dyskinesia (change in motor function) of the bile ducts and gall bladder. The problem is associated with an increase in the level of the hormone progesterone, which has a relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of the organs;
• cholecystitis (inflammatory process in the gallbladder);
• failure to follow the recommended diet;
• vegetative crisis;
• increased emotionality.

It should be noted that due to psychological fears and imaginary experiences, pain in the hypochondrium very often occurs during pregnancy.

[ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Symptoms of pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy

The process of pregnancy development often occurs with obstetric pain, less often accompanied by pain of non-obstetric nature. Obstetric pain is associated with tissue stretching, an increase in the size of the uterus, and fetal movement. It manifests itself in conditions associated with the natural course of pregnancy. Non-obstetric pain accompanies pathologies of internal organs.

Pulling, pressing, short-term symptoms of pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy, in most cases, reflect the natural and absolutely normal processes of restructuring of the woman's body. Hormones relax the muscles of the internal organs, which changes their normal functioning. For example, constipation appears.

Pains that should alert the expectant mother:

• sharp, sudden against the background of a generally stable condition;
• lasting up to half an hour;
• with increasing intensity;
• appearing with other symptoms - pallor, weakness, bleeding, fainting.

Such painful manifestations are a reason to seek medical help.

Pain in the right hypochondrium during pregnancy

Unfortunately, sometimes the expectation of a baby is marred by the development of gallstone disease. In turn, chronic diseases of the gallbladder provoke pain in the right hypochondrium during pregnancy. Dyskinesia of the gallbladder is divided into hypo- and hypermotor. Hypomotor disorders are characterized by a slowdown in the outflow of bile due to the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the smooth muscles of the internal organs. The symptoms of chronic cholecystitis are caused by dull, aching pain in the area of the shoulder blade, shoulder and collarbone on the right. Sometimes patients describe a feeling of heaviness, complain of pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy on the right side. Hypermotor dyskinesia occurs with acute, cramping attacks accompanied by a bitter taste in the mouth. Nausea, heartburn, bloating, belching are often observed. Pregnancy can exacerbate an existing disease. Cholecystitis is also a cause of early and prolonged toxicosis.

Skin burning in the right hypochondrium, discomfort in the right shoulder blade area should not cause concern. The so-called hypersensitive zones react painfully to fetal movement and growth.

Increased emotionality, nervous exhaustion, and poor dietary adherence can lead to the appearance or intensification of a bursting painful sensation under the right rib.

Pain in the left hypochondrium during pregnancy

The expectant mother should be alerted by sudden, sharp, acute pain sensations lasting about half an hour. And do not "play the daisy". Such symptoms can be extremely dangerous.

It is important to understand that the abdomen is conventionally divided into four quadrants: two upper ones - left and right, two lower ones respectively. Concentration of pain at the top left can become an indicator of problems with the spleen, stomach, pancreas, intestinal loop and part of the diaphragm. The spleen performs the function of removing red blood cells after the completion of their life cycle, which is 120 days. Dysfunctions of the organ cause changes in size, stretching of the capsule walls, which causes pain. Injuries, infectious lesions of the spleen are dangerous due to the possibility of damage to the integrity of the organ. An alarming symptom will be cyanosis of the umbilical area caused by blood accumulation.

Diseases of the stomach cause aching pain in the left hypochondrium during pregnancy, usually with nausea and vomiting. Any irritation of the mucous membrane is fraught with unpleasant sensations. Only a specialist can say for sure whether it is gastritis, diaphragmatic hernia or cancer based on a laboratory study.

Pain at the top left, in the middle or on the right is caused by problems with the pancreas. Discomfort also appears when the organ is intoxicated. The pain is sharp, encircling, and can spread to the back area. Coming from the inside, the pain occurs against the background of fever, nausea, and vomiting.

Treatment of pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy

The solution to the problem of pain syndrome is carried out by a specialist. The expectant mother is required to be attentive and follow all the instructions of the attending physician. The similarity of symptoms in various painful conditions makes it difficult to independently identify the affected organ.

The following research methods help to establish an accurate diagnosis:

• blood and urine tests;
• ultrasound diagnostics of abdominal organs;
• additional methods (X-ray, MRI).

Treatment of hypochondrium pain during pregnancy is carried out from the position of not harming the baby and mother. For example, to solve the problem of cholecystitis, choleretic agents and a number of enzymes are prescribed. In particularly acute cases, when it is necessary to reduce pain, antispasmodics and antibacterial substances are used. The drug "metoclopramide" is indicated for gastritis, stomach dysfunctions, chronic pancreatitis, nausea, liver and kidney diseases, for medical diagnostics (X-ray, probing, gastroscopy). It is prohibited in the first trimester of pregnancy. The drug in tablets is used three times a day, half an hour before meals with a single dose of 10 mg.

In order to restore normal bile flow in case of biliary dyskinesia, a set of measures is used:

• building a healthy diet - splitting the diet into 6 parts. The products should help the gallbladder contract. It is appropriate to use unsaturated broths based on meat or fish, sour cream, vegetable or butter, rosehip decoctions. Cottage cheese, cod, products with a high content of fiber and magnesium salts (buckwheat, oatmeal, apples, carrots) will be beneficial;
• use of choleretic decoctions or teas. To prepare, you will need four volume parts of immortelle flowers, three (two is possible) parts of yarrow and two parts of coriander. Dry mixture (1 tbsp.) is brewed with two glasses of boiling water, kept for 30 minutes, filtered. Drink half a glass three times a day, before meals (approximately half an hour). A mixture of corn silk, tansy and rose hips is often used as tea. Use between the main diet up to three times during the day.

The doctor may recommend performing “blind” probing (tubage) with any of the following means:

• corn oil (olive oil is also possible) in an amount of up to 40 ml;
• salt from Karlovy Vary (1 teaspoon per glass of water is enough);
• xylitol/sorbitol (you need to take 1 tbsp and dissolve in a glass of water);
• half a liter of warm mineral water, if there is no swelling.
• in the second part of pregnancy with pronounced swelling, use "flamin" (a dry, concentrated substance based on immortelle flowers) - one or two tablets three times a day. Take half an hour before meals. You can use "holosas" (rosehip syrup) two to three times a day at a dosage of 1 teaspoon.

It should be noted that dyskinesia in no way affects the development of the fetus and the course of pregnancy itself, and does not interfere with the natural birth process. In the postpartum period, the gallbladder restores its tone, as a rule, within a month.

How to prevent pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy?

To avoid unpleasant symptoms such as bloating, heartburn, constipation, and also to prevent pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy, following simple advice will help. Very often, discomfort appears from the intestines. Prevention of pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy includes the following recommendations: •

• enriching the diet with fiber;
• limiting the consumption of legumes and cabbage, which leads to bloating and a distended feeling;
• if necessary, use chamomile tea and activated charcoal;
• eat natural products with a pronounced laxative effect. Grated beetroot (or its juice) mixed with a teaspoon of honey, dissolved in a glass of boiled water at room temperature, is irreplaceable. Drink this remedy on an empty stomach and lie on your side. Of course, everything is individual. For some, seaweed, plum puree, etc. will be a more effective method;
• refrain from foods with astringent properties - pears, poppy seeds, bird cherry jam, etc.;
• stay active – go for walks, visit a sports center, do exercises;
• watch your thoughts. They should fill you with harmony, happiness and be only positive.

If all the above recommendations do not reduce the pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy, be sure to make an appointment with a specialist. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment for your condition.