Pain in pregnancy
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Pain during pregnancy can occur in the back and in the perineum, in the chest, in the navel, in the kidneys. During pregnancy, women develop various pains of a different nature, degree of intensity and localization. Sometimes, it seems that everything can hurt at once or separately. The head and pelvis, heart and, finally, joints can be ill. Pain can be permanent and periodic, aching, pricking and pulling. It is possible to enumerate for a long time, in detail, but it is better to learn in more detail about the causes, the consequences of which are pain - fear and panic of any pregnant lady.
Probably, the greatest fear in pregnant women, cause pain during pregnancy with localization in the abdomen, because this is the "house" of the baby and once it hurts, it means that the child is ill. Painful sensation during pregnancy can be due to several reasons:
- the growth of the abdomen (stretching of the muscles);
- hormonal changes in the body (high muscle tone of the abdominal region);
- exacerbation of "old" diseases, "awakened" in response to turbulent processes in the body.
The pains in pregnancy that arise in the abdomen cause fear of its unknown, because the stomach is a "container" of a large number of organs and, look at it, which of them is hurting at the moment. One can only assume, in many cases with a high probability, in the nature of the pain, that the organ sends an alarm signal. Consider the types of pain during pregnancy. To divide the pain associated with bearing the fetus from the pain associated with the direct disease of specific organs, in medicine, a conditional division into obstetric and non-obstetric pain in pregnancy is adopted.
[Obstetric pain during pregnancy
Obstetric pain during pregnancy can occur due to a strong fetal movement, especially in later terms. Rapidly occurring and rapidly passing, minor pains in the sides, connected, again, with finding a fetus that "pulls" the walls of the abdominal cavity, causing their overexertion, especially in the evening hours. This kind of pain is associated with physiological changes in the body, so they are considered not dangerous for either the woman or the baby.
Anxiety should cause pain of cramping and pulling character in the lower abdomen or pulling in the area of the sacrum. Pains of this kind are harbingers of an early miscarriage, and are often accompanied by spotting. In such cases, you need to contact the doctor as soon as possible, every missed minute can cost the life of the baby.
Sharp pains during pregnancy in the lower abdomen in the first weeks, especially if a woman does not suspect her condition, can signal that implantation has occurred not in the uterus cavity, but in the tube, in other words - an ectopic pregnancy has arisen. The pain indicates that the fallopian tube, like the health of a woman and the life of a fetus, is under threat.
Dangerous obstetric pain during pregnancy can be justified by premature detachment of the placenta, which can occur at any time. As we see from many of the examples given, any pain is not a small cause for concern. To maintain confidence that you are doing everything right, do not ignore the discomfort and trust your doctor more during pregnancy.
Non-obstetric pain in pregnancy
The pain of this type is a consequence of the disease of one or several internal organs, not related to the process of pregnancy:
- inflammation of the appendix (appendicitis);
- inflammation of the bladder (cystitis);
- cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder);
- inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis);
- chronic gastritis and duodenitis;
- toxicinfections.
With each type of disease, the pain is characterized by high intensity, constant or cramping. In any case, you can not tolerate pain during pregnancy. Any suspicions of inflammatory processes in the abdominal cavity or in the pelvic cavity, require urgent intervention by health professionals. Pregnancy should always be under the supervision of a gynecologist.
Diagnosis of pain during pregnancy
The organism of a pregnant woman is difficult to examine for the presence of any disease with the help of special apparatus. The maximum permitted procedure is ultrasound examination, in difficult situations computer diagnostics is possible or, in the absence of modern equipment, on the basis of a medical institution, in severe cases, a simple x-ray examination is possible. As a rule, a simple examination based on anamnesis collection (the history preceding the onset of pain), gynecological examination and palpation of the painful zone, delivery of common blood and urine tests, is enough to correctly establish a diagnosis and prescribe a sparing treatment, taking into account the gestational age and individual characteristics of the woman's body. It is important to remember that pain during pregnancy is just so rare.