Abdominal pain in pregnancy

Many pregnant women experience abdominal pain, and in most cases these pains are very serious. There are many possible causes of such pain, which speak about the most complex diseases.

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Causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy

Sometimes abdominal discomfort is a common complaint during pregnancy, but it can also be a sign of a serious problem. Strong or unceasing pain in the abdomen during pregnancy can not be normal. The moment when a person experiences abdominal pain or cramps along with spotting, bleeding, fever, chills, vaginal discharge and weakness, it is necessary to visit a doctor. Symptoms such as discomfort during urination, nausea and vomiting, or persistent pain after several minutes of rest, also require a doctor's consultation.

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Complex causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy

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Ectopic pregnancy

This is one of the possible causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy, when a fertilized egg is implanted into the abdominal cavity outside the uterus, it usually gets stuck in one of the fallopian tubes.

The problem is usually found during the first three months of pregnancy, or even before the woman finds out that she is pregnant. If ectopic pregnancy is not detected and treated in time, it can lead to rupture of the uterus and become life-threatening. Therefore, a woman should call an ambulance immediately if she has any of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Pelvic pain
• Vaginal spotting or bleeding (they may be red or brown, heavy or lean, continuous or intermittent)
• Pain that increases with exercise or during feces
• Cough, shoulder pain
• Any sign of shock, sweat, pale, sticky skin, dizziness, or weakness

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Miscarriage

Bleeding is considered the first symptom of a miscarriage, after which the pain in the abdomen can last from several hours to several days. Pain can be spastic, similar to menstrual cramps. Some women feel it as a mild back pain, others like dull abdominal pain or pressing pelvic pain, but both types of pain refer to the same problem - a miscarriage.

It is important to know that a pregnant woman should immediately call an ambulance if she has all the signs of a miscarriage, such as severe pain or heavy bleeding.

Premature birth

A woman can have severe abdominal pain if she has contractions, which extends the cervix to 37 weeks of pregnancy. Any pain symptom in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, which is combined with discharge from the vagina, is a sign of danger, it must be reported to the doctor. If the discharge is particularly watery or bloody, and even if it is pink or just dyed with blood, they should be considered as a potential symptom of premature birth.

In addition, vaginal bleeding or bleeding, abdominal pain, menstrual cramps, more than four uterine contractions per hour, increased pelvic pressure or low back pain, especially if previously it was not observed, should be checked by a doctor.

Placental abruption

Placental abruption is the partial or complete separation of the placenta from the uterus. This means that the woman has serious problems, especially if such a condition worries before the baby is born. There are significant differences in symptoms of placental abruption. Sometimes abruption of the placenta can cause sudden bleeding, but in some cases, bleeding may not be.

Some women suffer only mild bleeding or spotting. A woman may have soreness of the uterus, back pain or frequent contractions, or a woman may experience cramps or uterine contractions that do not go away. Then the woman needs immediate medical help.

Other causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy

Abdominal pain during pregnancy can be accompanied by other symptoms that a woman needs to know about.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (late toxicosis) is a common disease during pregnancy, which causes spasms and other changes in the blood vessels. It can also affect a variety of organs, including the liver, kidneys, brain and placenta. Preeclampsia is diagnosed if a woman has high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy and a protein in the urine is found. This condition is usually accompanied by swelling of the face or swelling around the eyes of a pregnant woman.

Slight swelling of the hands or excessive or sudden swelling of the legs or ankles may also occur during preeclampsia. Water retention can also lead to rapid weight gain. In severe pre-eclampsia, a woman may experience severe pain in the upper abdomen, severe headache, visual impairment, or nausea and vomiting. As with any other problem in pregnant women, pre-eclampsia requires a doctor.

Urinary tract infections

In a state of pregnancy, a woman is more susceptible to urinary tract infections of all kinds, including kidney infections. Symptoms of a bladder infection are pain, discomfort or burning sensation when urinating, pelvic discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen and a frequent and irresistible urge to urinate, even when there is very little urine in the bladder. Fetal urine can also be a sign of a bladder infection.

Unexpected infection of the bladder can also lead to kidney infection and premature birth. These symptoms woman should not ignore. Signs that the infection has spread to the kidneys and that it is time to see a doctor may include fever, chills, or sweat. Pain in the lower back or in the side right under the ribs, on one or both sides, nausea and vomiting, and possibly the blood in the urine are symptoms that you must always consult a doctor.

Many other diseases can cause abdominal pain, a pregnant woman or not. Some of the most common causes of abdominal pain are virus or food poisoning, appendicitis, kidney stones, hepatitis, gallbladder disease or pancreatitis. These symptoms are often the result of gallstones, the most common during pregnancy. Intestinal obstruction also occurs, and it can be caused by the pressure of the growing uterus on the intestinal tissues. This is most likely to occur in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Which symptoms are harmless with abdominal discomfort during pregnancy?

Not all abdominal pain is a sign of serious problems. For example, a pregnant woman may experience small cramps from time to time. Nevertheless, if they last for long, this is perfectly normal and should not bother a woman. Below are some of the most common causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy, for which you should not worry.

• Gas and bloating occur during pregnancy due to hormone rearrangements, which provoke slow digestion and pressure of the growing uterus on the stomach and intestines.
• Constipation is another common cause of discomfort in the abdomen during pregnancy, caused by hormones that inhibit the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract, and the pressure of the growing uterus on the rectum.
• The pain when stretching the round ligament is usually either short, acute, or the woman experiences stitching pains, or longer, dull pains. Pregnant women feel pain in one or both sides of the lower abdomen or deep pain in the groin.

This pain usually begins in the second trimester, when the ligaments supporting the uterus on the pelvic area thicken to accommodate their growing size. A woman can also feel pain when she changes position, for example, rises from a bed or chair, or when she coughs, turns over in bed, or exits the bathroom. It is important to pay attention that this sensation does not pass even after rest.

Treatment of abdominal pain during pregnancy

The best advice a woman can follow, when she feels a pain in her stomach, is to sit down and relax. Rest should quickly remove any pain symptoms. Other things that a woman can do to avoid pain: walking, doing light housework, or changing the position when lying down. This can help relieve some of the symptoms, for example, abdominal pain during pregnancy.

Problems with the abdomen during pregnancy

It is well known that stretching a round ligament can cause minor or even moderate pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy. A round ligament is a small thin strip of connective tissue consisting of fibers. This ligament is attached to the uterus from two sides, it connects the uterus and labia. When the uterus increases, it becomes heavier, and the round ligament can stretch.

A pregnant woman should distinguish between cramps and cramps that can not be called. Cramps are easily confused with a slight muscle contraction that occurs from time to time and can not be a cause for concern. It's just a signal that the uterus is preparing for the forthcoming birth.

There are several possible causes of seizures and pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy, but for the most part, there is nothing serious about this. So this is still a question, is it normal for pregnant women to experience abdominal pain, and what problems can cause abdominal pain?