- Abdominal pain at the beginning of pregnancy
- Abdominal pain in later pregnancy
- Abdominal pain at the end of pregnancy
Abdominal pain in pregnancy is usually a normal symptom. Pain is a signal that your baby is growing and moving. But a stomach ache can also mean that something is wrong. If you are concerned about the pain, it is best to report it to your doctor. When is belly pain in pregnancy the norm and when does it mean trouble?
Abdominal pain in pregnancy , which feels differently in the next stages of pregnancy, is often disturbing, but usually it is a physiological symptom that accompanies changes that occur in your body. From the moment you find out that you are pregnant, you will certainly listen carefully to your body and analyze its signals, asking yourself what is a normal pregnancy symptom and what should make you contact your doctor. .
Abdominal pain at the beginning of pregnancy
The first weeks are a period of a real hormonal storm - your body is tuning into the "motherhood" function. After implanting in the mucosa of the uterine cavity, the embryo gradually transforms and grows very intensively. At the end of week 4, it's about 4 millimeters, but a week later it's already 12 millimeters! So the uterus is also growing at the same time. It must contain not only a Very Important Tenant, but also a flat that is to provide him with comfort and safety - the placenta and amniotic sac. Therefore, by the 12th week of pregnancy, you are already 2 kilograms heavier, even though your baby weighs only 14 grams.
Don't do thatDuring pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, you must not take any medications on your own. So check with your doctor what you can take to relieve abdominal pain. Often a moment of rest is enough - lie down, rest your legs a little higher, e.g. on a pillow. Breathe calmly and deeply. Place your hand on your stomach, its warmth will ease painful contractions.
Such violent changes in your body are unlikely to be completely imperceptible. And indeed:
- Due to the increase in hormone levels, more blood flows to the reproductive organs than usual, making them swollen and very tender. Therefore, you may initially feel full in your abdomen and feel pains in your lower abdomen. Many women compare them to discomforts that occur before the menstrual period.
- Growing uterus stretchesligaments holding it in place, which can cause a 'pulling' feeling, especially in the groin. In addition, it begins to put pressure on other organs lying nearby, e.g. the bladder, which also often causes pain in the lower abdomen.
- Don't forget that in the first trimester of pregnancy you have the highest risk of miscarriage. Therefore, you must not consider lower abdominal pain - even if it is not very troublesome - to be a normal symptom. If you are concerned or doubted about it, it is always better to contact your gynecologist to dispel your concerns. And when the pains are painful, regular contractions, the situation is probably serious and you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Contact your doctor immediately:
- when the pain is accompanied by spotting or bleeding from the genital tract - it may indicate detachment of the placenta, a symptom of a beginning miscarriage or premature birth; the pains become stronger then, often occurring regularly every few to several minutes
- if the pains are contractile, i.e. they occur rhythmically, they are accompanied by hardening of the abdomen, and this situation repeats more than 10 times a day - this may be a signal of the beginning of labor - timely or premature
- when abdominal pain is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea or fever - this may indicate food poisoning, appendicitis or bladder inflammation.
Abdominal pain in later pregnancy
All organs are already developed and now they are further developed. Your baby is growing much faster than before, almost hour by hour. In the 24th week of pregnancy, she measures approximately 30 centimeters and weighs nearly 800 grams. The rapid growth of the baby is, of course, associated with the equally rapid growth of the uterus and further stretching of its ligaments. This can cause periodic, sometimes quite severe pain in the lower abdomen and groin. But during this period of pregnancy, there may also be other kinds of harmless pains, although it would be more appropriate to call them aches and pains.
- Around 18-20. During the week of pregnancy, you will begin to feel your baby move. It will be quite violent fidgeting at times, but not painful kicks. At first, you might consider them contractions and get worried, but you will quickly find out what the problem is.
- After the 20th week of pregnancy, the so-called Braxton-Hicks contractions to prepare you for childbirth. These contractions are palpable but painless - the uterus hardens and then returns to normal. Sometimes it is accompanied by malaise or low back pain. Cramps can come and occur fairly regularly throughseveral hours, then suddenly disappear.
Abdominal pain at the end of pregnancy
The beginning of the third trimester is still a very rapid growth of the baby, which means that as the uterus grows at the same time, it puts pressure on the surrounding organs. In addition, your baby is more and more mobile and stronger, has less and less space, so you can feel his movements more. After the 36th week, the so-called predictive contractions, which make the abdomen harden and can be painful. You may feel them several times a week. The characteristic feature of these contractions is that they occur irregularly. Predictive contractions are a sign that the uterus is training vigorously before the zero hour. But only regular pains lasting several hours, the frequency and intensity of which increases with each contraction, are a sign that labor is finally beginning.
"M jak mama" monthly