Why does the stomach hurt during early pregnancy?

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The first trimester is often accompanied by new unusual sensations for the expectant mother. Changes that occur under the influence of hormonal processes can provoke pain in the abdomen and in the lumbar region. But how to understand if it is normal or hides pathological causes? Let's try to understand what it means if your stomach hurts during early pregnancy.

Physiological causes

We are talking about cases when there is a variant of the norm. This means that the pain in the abdomen, up or down, is triggered by natural changes, usually hormonal changes. You should not be afraid of such unpleasant sensations, since a woman is able to endure them without consequences for pregnancy.

The first sensations of discomfort may appear as early as 1 week after conception. This is the time when the fertilized egg is fixed in the uterine cavity and takes its permanent position. Immediately afterwards or after a few days, you may notice a small amount of blood on the laundry. This phenomenon is due to trauma to the lining of the uterus and may be accompanied by slight pain. They are sometimes confused with premenstrual ones for a number of reasons.

What other options for physiological pain are possible in this case:

1. Provoked by natural changes in the structure and function of the uterus. As soon as pregnancy begins, blood begins to actively approach this organ. Good blood circulation is a prerequisite for normal uterine function. After all, it increases over time, stretches and shifts somewhat.
2. Due to hormonal changes. A change in hormonal levels leads to the fact that a pregnant woman may experience flatulence or constipation. This leads to the fact that the woman feels barely perceptible cutting pains, a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen. Usually it is enough to add daily walks in the fresh air (1 hour each) at a moderate pace and adjust the menu.
3. Pain during the period when menstruation usually began before pregnancy. If you have experienced soreness during your period before, you may experience similar sensations after conception. Experts recommend in such cases to pay more attention to rest and change the position of the body in case of discomfort.

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There are other situations where pain in the 1st trimester is not a cause for concern:

1. Rare and pulling. Such sensations are usually not intense, they are noted on the right or left, sometimes they are felt over the entire area of the abdomen. They say that your uterus is gradually stretching, which puts a certain pressure on the ligaments that ensure it is able to support the weight of the fetus.
2. Unexpected spasms that are inconsistent. This phenomenon is also a consequence of hormonal changes.

When talking about pathological causes

There are also pains that pose a potential danger to the mother and fetus during pregnancy. They are characterized by a cramping character, sometimes they seem to be piercing and are accompanied by secretions. In such cases, experts recommend seeking medical attention as soon as possible.

Obstetric pathologies that cause pain in the short term:

1. Frozen pregnancy. This is the name of the situation when the embryo no longer develops. There may be several reasons for this. Usually, chronic pathologies, genetic abnormalities due to a collision with various infections in the mother's body are indicated. A frozen pregnancy is detected after a planned ultrasound scan. Also in the analyzes, a decrease in the content of chronic gonadotropin is determined. The woman herself also notices unusual phenomena, for example, her symptoms of toxicosis disappear by themselves. At the same time, pulling pains in the abdomen appear. Scraping is done to avoid inflammation in the uterus. As a result of this procedure, it is possible to establish the root cause of a frozen pregnancy in a woman.
2. Securing the ovum outside the uterus. In some women, this phenomenon is accompanied by cramping abdominal pains, which are explained by inflammation of the fallopian tube. If an embryo is entrenched here, then over time it begins to grow, which leads to painful sensations. According to the results of an ultrasound scan, a fertilized egg cannot be detected in the uterus. Chorionic gonadotropin is also significantly below normal. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, it is necessary to promptly carry out surgical intervention in order to prevent complications. Competent treatment in the future will help to avoid a recurrence of the pathology.
3. Tubal abortion. In this case, an ectopic pregnancy is also observed, which is interrupted by itself. In this case, a characteristic feature is the movement of the ovum into the peritoneal region or directly into the uterus. It is worth saying that the ovum in such cases can either die or gain a foothold in one of the abdominal organs. By the way, a woman feels this through pain in the lower abdomen, increased heart rate and the appearance of discharge. The pains are cramping and require urgent specialist intervention.

Pain not related to the gynecological sphere

Pains that have nothing to do with pregnancy or with any gynecological problems can be pulling, sharp and sharp. They sometimes seem to penetrate soft tissues, while pain can either be on the left or on the right.

In some cases, soreness is felt in the lower abdomen, a little goes into the lumbar region. Such pain does not lead to discharge. A pregnant woman may have symptoms of hypertension, weakness, and anxiety. If the lower area near the groin is worried, then the reason why a woman has a stomach ache during early pregnancy may be:

1. Cystitis. Painful sensations in the case of this pathology are characterized by a pulling character, accompanied by an increase in the number of urination. Excretion of urine can be characteristic, although the volume of the secreted fluid itself is quite small.
2. Pyelonephritis. In addition to pain, this pathology is accompanied by swelling in various parts of the body, and especially on the face. This pregnancy is classified as a risk category. The expectant mother is not ignored if there are such manifestations, and is taken under special control. She needs to drink plenty of fluids and follow a special diet.
3. Bloating. To avoid such phenomena, it is necessary, with the help of the gynecologist conducting your pregnancy, or the local therapist, to choose the optimal diet that excludes certain foods. This is food that can lead to gassing. This includes black bread, milk, all varieties of cabbage, etc.

Pathological pain during pregnancy can also occur in more threatening conditions, such as intestinal obstruction and appendicitis. Of course, these phenomena are rare, but you should still carefully listen to your body so as not to miss a threatening condition.

The abdomen can also hurt in case of damage to the gastrointestinal tract. This may be the case for the expectant mother in the case of cholecystitis or pancreatitis.

What to do

What should the expectant mother take if she has a stomach ache during early pregnancy? Regardless of the location of the pain, only a specialist can determine its exact cause. Diagnostics involves various methods, including those aimed at excluding a frozen or ectopic pregnancy.

If the abdominal pain has a physiological cause, then you will be advised to adjust your rest and nutritional regimen. If serious pathologies are found, the appropriate therapy will be carried out. If it is possible to postpone surgical interventions for the period after childbirth, this will be done on a mandatory basis.

If serious health problems are found, minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopy may be considered as an alternative.

Outcomes

1. The causes of abdominal pain in early pregnancy can be both physiological and pathological. The exact cause can be determined when contacting a specialist and after conducting additional diagnostics.
2. Physiological pain usually goes away on its own when changing the position of the body or adjusting the diet of the pregnant woman.
3. If unpleasant sensations are provoked by pathological factors, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to get rid of them without any specialized measures.
4. Sharp pains that cause significant discomfort can lead to thoughts about a possible pathology. In the case of gynecological problems, discharge is usually added to the pain.