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Side pain in pregnancy
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Pain in the side during pregnancy can be a manifestation of chronic or hidden diseases. A woman may not even suspect them, but pain in the side will let her know about them. In this case, additional examination is needed so as not to miss the initial stages of diseases.
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When the left side hurts during pregnancy
On the left side of the abdominal cavity are such vital organs or parts of them as the stomach, pancreas, spleen, intestines and diaphragm.
Pain in the spleen area
This organ is very close to the skin surface, closer than any other organ. The spleen removes red blood cells from the blood, this happens after 120 days of their presence in the blood. This is a natural process. The role of the spleen is to capture red blood cells, then break them into segments, some of which are sent to the bone marrow, and new ones are created in their place.
If the spleen is sick, it has been hit or the woman has fallen and hit herself, the spleen can become larger in size and stretch, and this causes pain. The capsule of the spleen is so elastic that it can rupture when stretched. A rupture of the spleen can also occur due to infections, in particular, infectious mononucleosis. Then the spleen becomes soft, loose, its tissues stretch and may not withstand - burst.
A sign that the spleen has burst may be severe pain in the side, as well as increased sensitivity of the skin in this area, the skin may turn blue even around the navel. This means that blood has accumulated in this area.
Causes of pain in the left side during pregnancy: stomach
The stomach may be irritated and for this reason the person feels pain in the left side. Stomach irritation most often occurs in the area of the mucous membrane, from this the stomach becomes inflamed, ulcers and scratches, small wounds may form on it.
The diagnosis for such a lesion is dyspepsia or gastritis.
The pain associated with these pathologies is usually not acute, but long-lasting and aching.
A pregnant woman may feel sick, vomiting may occur. In this case, antacid drugs recommended by a doctor will help. Self-medication without a prescription is not worth it.
Stomach pain can be of different origins – not only gastritis, but also ulcers. Or it can be cancerous tumors. To know the exact cause, endoscopy and additional laboratory tests are needed.
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Diaphragmatic hernia
With this pathology, pain in a pregnant woman can also occur in the left side.
The opening in the diaphragm can become pinched, causing severe pain in that area. In that case, you should call a doctor immediately.
Diaphragmatic hernia occurs when the muscles become weak and have poor control over the size of the opening around the diaphragm. Then the upper part of the stomach moves from the abdominal cavity into the chest cavity. Then doctors diagnose the condition as a diaphragmatic hernia. And the pain is felt because the acidic environment of the stomach can spill over it and burn.
Risk groups include people who lift heavy objects, women over 50, and people with gastrointestinal diseases.
Pancreas
This organ can also be the cause of severe and constant pain in the left side during pregnancy. The pancreas is located in such a way that it passes through the entire abdomen - its upper part. When the pancreas is inflamed, it can cause pain in the left side.
The pain can move to the right side or to the left, and the stomach can hurt in the middle.
The cause of pain in the pancreas and its inflammation can be toxicity of the body, cancerous tumors, steroids, alcohol abuse, smoking, diuretic medications. Concomitant diseases with inflammation of the pancreas can be diabetes, arthritis, pancreatitis.
If the pain is very strong and does not go away within half an hour, you should immediately call an ambulance. The pain may be accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting and nausea.
This means that the pancreas is affected, especially if the pain is like a belt, as if squeezing from the inside.
Pain in the left side of the abdomen during pregnancy is a sign of diseases of any organ that is located on the left in the abdominal cavity: pancreas, intestines, stomach, spleen, diaphragm. Appendicitis cannot be the cause of pain on the left - only on the right.
Mechanical causes of pain in the side in pregnant women
When a woman is carrying a child, the mechanics of her internal organs may be disrupted. The uterus is growing, so it presses on other organs, and they may stretch and hurt. Often, the gallbladder and liver suffer from this, as they are in the wrong position. The outflow of bile is disrupted, and the woman is bothered by pain.
The nature of pain in the gallbladder and liver can be dull and aching or sharp and acute. The pain can be in the right or left side, radiating to the back or hypochondrium on the right or left. Symptoms of this condition in pregnant women can be a feeling of heaviness and distension in the side, nausea, headache, weakness, shortness of breath, belching, heartburn, bitterness on the tongue, the stomach may seem bloated.
Severe pain in the side during pregnancy, but it can become even stronger when the baby moves. Stress and nervous tension aggravate the situation. If a woman at this time also eats improperly, impoverishes her menu or, on the contrary, overeats, the pain in the abdominal area can increase.
This may be accompanied by pain in the heart, head, increased heartbeat, numbness in fingers and toes, increased sweating, and insomnia. The diagnosis may sound like a vegetative crisis.
In this case, you need to see a doctor for treatment, and also be sure to change your diet, sleep and rest regimen - perhaps this is where the cause of the disease lies.
Symptoms of different diseases and pain in the side
There are many organs in the abdominal cavity that can signal pain when inflamed or dysfunctional. If this pain does not subside for more than half an hour, you should immediately call an ambulance to prevent negative consequences for the body.
These negative consequences may be kidney stones or pancreatic stones, as well as inflammation of the appendix or another serious disease. Then a surgeon's intervention will be needed, delay is unacceptable. Especially for a pregnant woman, who is now responsible not only for her health, but also for the life of the baby.
Pain in the right side during pregnancy
The right side contains vital organs or parts of them. Damage to any of these organs can be the cause of pain in the right side of a pregnant woman. The following can hurt: the gallbladder, liver, intestines, diaphragm (its right part). If these organs are inflamed or injured, the right side can hurt a lot. This is an indicator of internal malfunctions in the organs.
How severe the pain is, how long it lasts, and what its nature is (sharp, aching, periodic) depends on the type of disease.
It can cause sharp pains in the right side with a recoil under the rib. The liver can be affected by infections, in particular, viral hepatitis. This causes pain in the side on the right. This is a very dangerous condition for a pregnant woman, in which the child can be infected.
Hepatitis A, B, C can occur from contact with a sick person, transmitted through saliva, blood through a wound, with contaminated water. And also through a syringe, if it is not disposable, or medical needles.
The liver can also become ill due to an overdose of chemicals, poisoning with toxins, paints, sprays with chemical elements that are sprayed in small rooms. Toxins can cause toxic hepatitis, which is also dangerous for the body of a pregnant woman.
Hepatitis can also be caused by alcohol – due to overdoses and abuse of this harmful product.
Liver diseases can also be caused by heart failure, in which the heart muscle begins to pump blood very poorly, which feeds the heart tissue. Then some of the blood begins to stagnate in the lungs, which causes shortness of breath, stretching of the lung tissue, liver, and also as a symptom - severe pain in the right side.
If you experience these symptoms, you should definitely call an ambulance.
Gallbladder
If a pregnant woman has pain in the right side, the cause may be a malfunction of the gallbladder. Bile is a very poisonous substance that can help digest food, but can also cause severe heartburn. If more bile is formed than normal, it accumulates in the gallbladder. Then the gallbladder gives some of it to the intestines. The more fatty foods a woman eats, the more bile is required to digest it. Then, with an excess of bile, a woman's right side may hurt and burn when digesting food.
This means that the pancreas or liver is not functioning properly, or that stones have formed in the gallbladder.
Pancreas
It is also called the pancreas. It is an organ consisting of many glands located in the abdominal cavity. When the pancreas hurts, the pain is felt deep inside, because the organ itself is deep. The pancreas is located as an elongated organ from right to left. It goes through the entire abdomen, and if it hurts, then the pain can be on the right, and on the left, and in the middle of the abdomen.
One of the most common diseases of the pancreas, in which a woman vomits, has nausea, severe pain in the right or left side, the pain even radiates to the back. By these signs, as well as by profuse sweating, one can recognize pancreatitis - that is, a disease of the pancreas.
Pancreatitis can also be recognized by the fact that the pain becomes stronger when a person is lying down, and weaker when a person leans forward in a sitting position.
A pregnant woman should remember this and ease her condition by changing her position to a sitting position with a forward bend before the ambulance arrives.
Of course, pancreatitis cannot be distinguished by visual signs alone; additional tests will also be needed. Such tests are done in a hospital setting. They include an analysis of enzymes secreted by the pancreas to determine their composition.
Kidneys
A pregnant woman's kidneys are under constant strain - the fetus may be putting pressure on them. If the kidneys were not working well before pregnancy, the disease may worsen. Kidney pain may radiate to the abdomen, back, right and left sides.
An infection of the right kidney can cause pain in the right side when a sac of pus forms and festers. Then the pain is twitching. With kidney stones, the pain can be sharp and intensify over time. If a kidney stone has passed, it can end up in the ureter and bother the pregnant woman with circular pains that sometimes surge, sometimes weaken. Such pain can radiate to the groin area.
Pain in pregnant women on the right side in the lower part of the side
The ureter, appendix, and fallopian tubes are located in this area of the peritoneum.
If a pregnant woman has pain in the lower right side, it means that one of these organs is inflamed or damaged. The most common problem is the appendix, which can become inflamed. The appendix should remain under suspicion for doctors until the diagnosis is proven false.
A ruptured appendix is a very serious problem for a woman, especially during pregnancy. Therefore, it is necessary to take timely measures to eliminate it. The first and main symptom of appendicitis will be pain on the right, which increases when pressing on the painful area and remains at the same level for more than 12 hours without subsiding. The pain is mainly in the navel area.
Ectopic pregnancy: pain on the right
With an ectopic pregnancy, pain can be localized in the abdominal cavity on the right. If the egg is already fertilized, but does not reach the uterus, but remains in the fallopian tube, then the woman has an ectopic pregnancy.
Viruses: pain in the right side
Pain in the right side of the abdomen can also be caused by infections – viral or bacterial. For example, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, etc.
Pain on the right: ovarian cysts
If an ovarian cyst ruptures, bursts, it can cause severe pain. Ovarian tumors can also be the cause of pain. Endometriosis can be the cause of pain on the right.
Pregnancy in the last weeks: pain on the right
If a pregnant woman feels pain on the right side or in the right hypochondrium, this may be a symptom of a serious illness, and she should immediately consult a doctor.
In addition to pain, a pregnant woman may be bothered by a feeling of heaviness in the side, the pain radiating to the right hypochondrium. The fewer days remain before the birth, the stronger the pain and feeling of heaviness may be. The side seems to press and burst at the same time.
This could be biliary dyskinesia or gallbladder dyskinesia.
The latter disease can provoke the formation of stones and inflammation in the bile ducts. And also chronic cholecystitis, which causes severe pain in the pregnant woman in the lower abdomen and on the right.
Bile ducts and gallbladder
They can become inflamed due to irritation of the stomach by rough or spicy food. The stomach receptors react to this by transmitting pain impulses to the bile ducts, which causes them to respond with pain.
The health of the gallbladder depends on the health of the nervous system. For example, dystonia of the nervous system can provoke a disruption in the functioning of the muscles of the gallbladder and its coordination with the work of the sphincter located near the gallbladder, then the outflow of bile is delayed. This can cause sharp pain in the area of bile stagnation.
If a woman is nervous, has experienced stress, the work of the gallbladder and the secretion of bile may also be disrupted. Then, in the area of the right side of the pregnant woman, severe pain may occur. This is a reason to check the condition of the bile ducts and pancreas.
If the muscles of the bile ducts are weak and cannot perform their functions, the cause may be a poor menu, strict diets, or a hormonal imbalance in the body.
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Hormones that disrupt
If a woman has abdominal pain on the right or left, the cause may be hypomotility of the internal organs. What does this term mean? It means that the internal organs are no longer as active as they should be, given age and general health. The motor activity of the organs is impaired, and a general examination and restoration of hormonal balance will help restore it.
Why can the motility (motor activity) of organs be impaired due to hormones? For example, the hormone progesterone works to relax the uterus during pregnancy, to reduce its tension. This is the prevention of miscarriages, bleeding and premature birth.
But along with the uterus, the neighboring organs that have smooth muscles also relax. This is, for example, the gallbladder, from which not all the liquid comes out during emptying, and then the bladder stretches and hurts, the pain radiates to the right side.