What Causes Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy?

by Abbas Jahangir · June 15, 2024

Abdominal pain is among the common complaints during pregnancy. This complaint, which usually does not indicate any serious problem, requires caution as it can sometimes be a sign of a serious illness. When the causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy are examined, these conditions can be grouped into two groups: lower abdominal pain and upper abdominal pain.

What Causes Pain in the Lower Abdomen During Pregnancy?

Feeling pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is generally considered normal. Hormonal changes in the body and the gradual growth of the fetus may cause various discomfort in the abdominal area as pregnancy progresses. There are many conditions that can cause lower abdominal pain during pregnancy, and these conditions are generally considered harmless. If the severity of the pain increases and does not go away, it is useful to consult a specialist physician, as the underlying condition may be a sign of a serious illness. Although urinary tract infections are among the common conditions in pregnant women, they can be easily treated by gynecologist physicians after applying to health institutions. Urinary tract infections occurring at any time during pregnancy may cause the following complaints in the expectant mother:

Pain in the lower abdomen
Pain and burning sensation while urinating
Fire
feeling extremely tired
frequent urination
Bad smelling urine
Foamy or red urine

Urinary tract infections are diseases that can be diagnosed with a simple urine test. They can be easily controlled with appropriate antibiotic treatment that can be used during pregnancy. Gas can cause pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy. Gas accumulation with restricted movement in the intestines may occur due to reasons such as slowing down of digestive movements due to hormonal changes, especially during pregnancy, the pressure of the growing uterus on the digestive system organs, or the development of pregnancy-related constipation. During early pregnancy, cramps similar to menstrual pain may occur. These cramps, which occur as pain in the lower abdomen, are usually caused by the implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterus. Another condition that may cause pain in the lower abdomen in the early stages of pregnancy is ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. The fertilized egg, which should be inside the uterus under normal conditions, settles in a region outside the uterus, especially the fallopian tubes, in cases of ectopic pregnancy. The growth of the egg in these areas may cause the tubes to rupture and cause serious internal bleeding. Some early warning signs of the presence of an ectopic pregnancy are as follows:

Moderate pain in the lower abdomen and groin area
vaginal bleeding
Backache
Unilateral groin cramp

These symptoms may worsen as the ectopic egg grows. If the egg growing in the fallopian tube ruptures this structure, different symptoms may be added to the disease picture:

Sudden onset, persistent abdominal or groin pain
Shoulder pain
Weakness
Dizziness

It should not be forgotten that rupture of the fallopian tube is a situation that requires urgent medical intervention. Unlike these conditions, Braxton-Hicks contractions, also called false pregnancy contractions, may also cause pain in the lower abdomen later in pregnancy. Braxton-Hicks contractions are contractions that the body creates to prepare itself for birth, and they usually occur a few weeks before birth. With these false labor contractions, thinning and softening of the neck of the uterus, called the cervix, occurs. Some expectant mothers may feel pain in the lower abdomen when these contractions occur, but this pain usually disappears after the person changes position or takes a light walk.

What Causes Pain in the Upper Abdomen During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, expectant mothers may feel pain in the lower abdomen and may also experience discomfort in their lower parts. This situation is especially evident in the last trimester. When Braxton-Hicks contractions occur, expectant mothers become uncertain about whether these contractions are real labor contractions or whether the pain is caused by simple reasons such as tension in the skin. Pain in the upper abdomen during pregnancy is generally considered normal. In some women, upper abdominal pain may be felt as a stinging or dull pain. Pain in the upper abdomen during pregnancy is generally harmless, but if the severity of the pain increases and does not go away, it is recommended to consult a health institution and get support from specialist physicians.

Constipation is a common complaint during pregnancy. Constipation, which occurs due to hormonal changes in the early stages of pregnancy, is caused by the growing fetus putting pressure on the intestines towards the last stages of pregnancy and restricting the movement of these organs. Feeling full in the upper abdomen may be a sign of severe constipation. Apart from the feeling of fullness, other complaints such as gas and difficulty in defecation are also among the symptoms of constipation. Eating fiber-rich foods is among the most important steps that can be taken against this problem.

Reflux disease and the complaints it causes can be detected in almost one third of expectant mothers. The pregnancy hormone called progesterone is the chemical that is mainly blamed for the occurrence of complaints such as reflux. The pressure it creates on the internal organs as the uterus grows is another cause of reflux. Reflux disease caused by these reasons during pregnancy has a more pronounced course, especially when the expectant mother is in a lying position. Pain in the upper abdomen due to reflux can also be felt in the esophagus and chest area in some people. In some pregnancies, pain in the abdominal area may be caused by excessive stretching of the skin in this part. In these cases, practices such as gently massaging the affected area with a lotion suitable for pregnancy and taking a warm bath may be beneficial. Apart from the skin, tension in the muscles in the abdominal area is also among the causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy. The pressure created by the growing uterus in the lower abdomen reaches a level that makes it difficult for some expectant mothers to move; It may predispose you to muscle damage.

If the pain in the upper abdomen during pregnancy occurs under the ribs, on the right side, problems with the gallbladder should come to mind. Upper abdominal pain that comes in the form of attacks accompanied by complaints such as nausea and vomiting may be associated with the formation of stones in the gallbladder, so caution should be exercised. Gallstones that are not treated properly can cause liver problems by creating blockages in the channels connected to this organ. Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can cause a condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. When this condition develops, the first complaint of expectant mothers is usually itching. Apart from itching, some women may also experience other symptoms such as pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting, or yellowing of the skin. Physicians closely monitor women who develop intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. If the condition progresses, initiating labor may be necessary to prevent harm to the baby.

When Does Abdominal Pain Start During Pregnancy?

Abdominal pain during pregnancy can occur at any time during pregnancy. Feeling pain in the abdominal area during pregnancy is considered normal, especially during the first trimester, when hormonal changes occur intensively. During this period, symptoms such as intense morning sickness generally begin to recede towards the middle of the second trimester, when approximately 20 weeks of pregnancy is completed. Abdominal pain may reoccur during the third trimester due to the growth of the uterus and its pressure on surrounding organs. Some expectant mothers may also experience abdominal pain due to conditions such as stretching of the skin in the abdominal area or reflux. During the third trimester, some characteristics of abdominal pain should be careful as it may indicate a serious underlying condition. The characteristics of third trimester abdominal pain that should be generally taken into consideration and the underlying cause of which should be clarified by consulting a healthcare institution are as follows:

Occurrence with other complaints such as itching
Sudden and intense onset
failure to regress
Concentration in a particular area
Accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea and vomiting
Occurrence following vaginal bleeding

Is Abdominal Pain Normal During Pregnancy?

It is considered normal to experience low-severity abdominal pain and cramps during pregnancy. However, if there is a change in the severity of these complaints, it is very important to apply to health institutions. Situations such as ectopic pregnancy, abruptio placenta (separation of the placenta from the uterus) or miscarriage are among the causes of severe abdominal pain. Therefore, knowing the symptoms of these disorders is important in distinguishing between normal and abnormal abdominal pain during pregnancy.

Does Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy Harm the Baby?

In general, abdominal pain that occurs during pregnancy is a complaint of pain alone and if it is of low intensity, no damage to the baby is expected. In some cases, abdominal pain during pregnancy may harm the baby, depending on the underlying cause. One should be aware of complaints such as nausea, vomiting, back pain and vaginal bleeding, especially in the pain occurring in the groin and lower abdomen, as they may indicate miscarriage. Symptoms of abdominal pain that may require urgent intervention can be generally summarized as follows:

Unbearable pain concentrated in the upper part of the abdomen, especially on the right side,
Accompanied by vaginal bleeding,
Contractions occurring at regular intervals,
Addition of fever symptom to abdominal pain,
Occurrence of symptoms such as high blood pressure, dizziness, shortness of breath, headache and extreme fatigue,
Itching, yellowing of the skin and vomiting.

What is Good for Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy?

It is generally not possible to prevent abdominal pain, which occurs especially in the last stages of pregnancy. The reason for this situation is that the main mechanism for the emergence of pain is due to the physical changes brought by pregnancy. The best step to take in determining the conditions that may be good for abdominal pain is to consult with specialist physicians about which method is most suitable.

Mild abdominal pains that occur during pregnancy are usually temporary. For causes of abdominal pain that do not require urgent medical intervention, painkillers prescribed by your physician and indicated to be suitable for use during pregnancy can be used. Apart from the use of medication, there are various practices you can do without the knowledge and advice of your physicians to control abdominal pain during pregnancy:

Taking regular rest
Using a hot water bottle,
Gently massaging the abdominal area,
Using relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation,
Doing light intensity exercise.

It is common to experience abdominal pain during pregnancy. Any symptoms that occur during pregnancy should be explained to physicians during regular check-ups and information should be obtained on how to proceed. If the warning symptoms mentioned in the article are present in abdominal pain occurring during pregnancy, it is recommended to contact health institutions as soon as possible and get support from specialist physicians.