What do abdominal pains mean during early pregnancy. Rezi, sharp pain in the abdomen in early pregnancy, causes

It is known that with the help of the pain syndrome, our body notifies that not everything is in order inside. It is quite natural that in this situation a person seeks to find out what caused such sensations. But pain in the early stages of pregnancy is of particular concern, because in the 1st trimester a pregnant woman and her baby are more than ever at risk of developing complications. If pain is felt in the abdomen, this can even cause panic in the expectant mother. But excessive excitement in such a delicate position is completely useless, so the first task in this case is to determine why the stomach hurts in the early stages of pregnancy.

Norm or pathology?

In the period from 1 to 12 weeks of bearing a child, a huge number of serious changes occur in the body of a pregnant woman.

Often, pains in the lower abdomen in early pregnancy appear precisely due to physiological reasons that do not pose a danger to either the pregnant woman or her baby.

But it should be borne in mind that only a certain nature of pain can indicate that nothing threatens the course of pregnancy. They should not be sharp or sharp, but a aching belly may well be one of the signs of a successful conception, since such pains sometimes occur when the embryo is introduced into the uterine wall. This is called implantation of the ovum. Sometimes soreness can be accompanied by a faint pinkish discharge - implantation bleeding.

If the expectant mother has pain in the lower abdomen, the reason for this may be:

unstable work of the stomach and intestines. In such a situation, during early pregnancy, pain spreading to the abdomen is accompanied by specific symptoms of digestive dysfunction - difficulty or lack of defecation, bloating and flatulence.
hormones produced during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the amount of progesterone increases. This substance softens the ligaments and joints, contributing to the gradual formation of the birth canal and preparing the woman's body for the birth of a child. The action of progesterone does not bypass the uterine ligaments. They become more elastic and begin to undergo stretching, which causes the characteristic pain during early pregnancy.
growth and rise of the uterus in the abdominal cavity. Toward the end of the 1st trimester - at 10-12 weeks - the uterus is already changing its size and from the small pelvis begins to rise into the abdominal cavity, therefore, during this period, pain in the abdomen may be associated with stretching of the muscle tissue of the organ and its increase.

As already mentioned, all these manifestations of pregnancy are not considered dangerous, and their duration is usually short, but experts still recommend reporting them at the next appointment with a gynecologist. If the doctor deems it necessary, he will send the expectant mother for additional examination, but as a rule this is not required if there are no other symptoms.

Abdominal pain in pregnant women

When a future woman in labor has a stomach ache during early pregnancy, this is not always associated with physiological changes in her body. Sometimes pain during pregnancy can become a manifestation of serious gynecological pathologies that threaten the life and health of the baby and his mother. Therefore, when such sensations appear, you should always pay attention to how and where the pain syndrome manifests itself.

The most common pathological source of abdominal pain in expectant mothers is uterine hypertonicity, which threatens miscarriage in the early stages. With an increased uterine tone, the lower abdomen “hardens” and hurts a lot, and the back in the lumbar region often aches. Sometimes the sensations are sharp and intense. A frequent companion of an incipient miscarriage is a symptom such as spotting from the vagina.

Sometimes a frozen pregnancy becomes a source of pain syndrome - a serious pathology, which is accompanied by signs of intoxication of the body. With an undeveloped pregnancy, the temperature often rises, the body aches, nausea and vomiting appear. In addition, shortly before the pathology is detected, a woman ceases to notice the characteristic signs of a successful conception: for example, toxicosis stops abruptly and breast sensitivity disappears.

Another reason is painful. In women with this pathology, the fetus is in the fallopian tube. When the embryo begins to grow, the pregnant woman feels aching pains at the place of its attachment. Inattention to this symptom can lead to complications: the fallopian tube ruptures, and then the pain becomes sharply pronounced. Pain in early pregnancy, developing outside the uterine space, can be closely associated with spotting.

If a woman has a stomach ache during early pregnancy, the reason for this may be an exacerbation of some chronic diseases of the female genital organs, but this is no longer as dangerous as the phenomena listed above.

Nevertheless, if intense pain occurs in the lower abdomen during pregnancy, you should immediately seek help from a medical institution to find out if the pain syndrome can be associated with obstetric pathologies.

It is worth paying attention to vaginal discharge and be sure to inform the gynecologist about a change in their consistency, color or smell, since such symptoms always indicate the presence of certain problems in the state of women's health.

Are internal organs in order?

A woman should be able to recognize abdominal pain during pregnancy, they are not always associated with childbearing and gynecological problems. The stomach may ache due to disturbances in the functioning of internal organs and acute surgical pathologies. Among them, the most common are:

Gastritis. The stomach in pregnant women can hurt very often, especially if the inflammation of the mucous membrane has already become chronic. With exacerbation of gastritis, pain is localized mainly in the upper abdominal cavity, but can also be given to the lower part.
Cholecystitis. This is an acute disease of the gallbladder, accompanied by bouts of severe pain in the right abdominal region, vomiting, high fever.
Pyelonephritis, better known as inflammation of the kidneys, usually occurs less frequently in the early stages than in the later ones, but it is impossible to exclude the possibility of developing this pathology, because the immunity of a pregnant woman in the 1st trimester is greatly reduced. This disease is characterized by dull aching pain in the abdomen, spreading to one or both sides, and aching in the lumbar region. Blood and urine tests easily detect an inflammatory process, and edema appears on the face and limbs of the expectant mother.
Cystitis is a disease that affects the lining of the bladder. Painful sensations affect the area above the pubis and are accompanied by frequent and difficult urination.
Appendicitis. With this pathology, a long-term attack of abdominal pain is noted. The intensity of sensations increases gradually, the pain can radiate to the stomach, lower back, lower abdominal cavity. Body temperature may rise, repeated vomiting may occur.

It is impossible to independently identify the true cause of intense abdominal pain in early pregnancy, since most of the above pathologies are diagnosed only after a series of urgent studies.

What to do?

The first thing a woman should do if she is worried about pain in her stomach in the early stages is to go to the doctor. First you need to visit a gynecologist to make sure that nothing threatens the course of pregnancy.

Many pregnant women are embarrassed to once again disturb their doctor “for nothing” and do not always seek help on time.

But experts strongly advise telling the gynecologist leading the pregnancy about all your feelings, especially about unpleasant ones.

Firstly, it will help to identify the pathology in a timely manner, if any.
Secondly, it will allow the expectant mother to calm down and feel safe if the doctor does not find any deviations in the development of the child and the process of bearing it.

In addition, a woman who has noticed bloody vaginal discharge should urgently call an ambulance team, since in this situation she is in serious danger.

If the examination and examinations did not reveal pathological changes during pregnancy, then most likely the cause of abdominal pain lies in the physiological restructuring of the female body, but only on condition that the discomfort does not increase and appears only from time to time. There is no need to treat such pain: in a few weeks it will pass on its own. To avoid pain in the abdomen caused by constipation and gas formation, the expectant mother should take care of her diet.

If the examination by the gynecologist revealed no problems, and the pain in the abdominal cavity continues and begins to be accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, you should see a therapist in the near future to determine the true cause of such sensations. In the presence of any diseases of the internal organs of a pregnant woman, proper care and safe effective treatment are required.

If abdominal pain is sharp, this may be a sign of dangerous surgical pathologies, such as appendicitis, so you should not hesitate in such a situation. Appendicitis in pregnant women is successfully treated surgically with timely detection.

Any discomfort during childbearing should be strictly controlled by the doctor observing the pregnancy, so the expectant mother should definitely inform her gynecologist about pain in the abdomen, especially if they bother her in the early stages.

Numerous changes in the body of a woman are characteristic of the early stages of pregnancy. Various unpleasant sensations that are localized not only in the lower back, but on the right and left of the lower abdomen often make the expectant mother alert.

Some sensations may indicate the physiological processes that a woman is experiencing. But if the pains are pulling, sharp, strong, cramping or constantly aching, they are an alarm signal for a woman to see a doctor. Indeed, in addition to hormonal changes and exacerbation of any chronic diseases, lower abdominal pain in the early stages of pregnancy may indicate a serious pathology that requires immediate medical intervention. In any case, a woman should contact a specialist, describing her condition in detail.

Character

Early pregnancy is usually characterized by gynecological and non-gynecological pain. In the first case, the pain can be both pulling and aching, and sharp, strong, cramping. This may indicate normal processes in the body of a pregnant woman and the pathology associated with its course. Non-gynecological sensations are the result of a pathology that can develop in other organs of the abdominal cavity. The pain can be localized at the top or bottom of the abdomen, on the right or left.

A woman should not worry if the nature of the disease is as follows:

Drawing, non-intense pain that occurs on the left or right. Sometimes they can be observed in the entire abdomen. This indicates that the ligaments that hold the uterus are stretched.
Sharp pains that are spasmodic in nature, but they are unstable and not intense. This is about hormonal changes.
Weak intensity with a small release of drops of blood indicates the attachment of a fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus. In this case, the pain can be localized to the right or left, which indicates exactly where it is fixed.

Serious gynecological pathology has a special syndrome:

Severe pain can permeate the entire abdominal cavity
Strong, pulling paroxysmal sensations similar to contractions, may appear often or rarely
Severe, sharp pain may be accompanied by loss of consciousness, the appearance of mild bleeding when a rupture or tear of the fallopian tube occurs.

An ectopic pregnancy is not always accompanied by a sharp, sharp pain at the time of the rupture of the tube. Drawing pains in the lower abdomen and in the lower back, spasmodic in nature, a woman can experience for a month from the moment of conception.

If the sensations are non-gynecological in nature, they can be pulling on the right or left of the abdomen, in the lower back, which indicates the manifestation of inflammatory processes of a different nature that accompany chronic diseases.

Serious concern and immediate medical attention should cause sharp, paroxysmal pain, accompanied by general poor health. Non-gynecological pain is never accompanied by spotting. With them, body temperature may rise, a sharp headache, nausea, dizziness, fall or rise in blood pressure appear.

Possible reasons

Pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is common, but their causes can be different. Some of them should not bother a woman, others pose a serious threat to the mother and fetus.

Physiological pulling pains can be on the right or left of the abdomen or manifest in the lower back. They testify that:

A fertilized egg implants in the endometrium, causing microscopic damage to the mucosa or blood vessel, which can even cause bleeding from a few drops. This happens during the first week of pregnancy and the woman does not pay attention to them, because the sensations are similar to premenstrual syndrome.
There is a restructuring of the hormonal background, the amount of progesterone in the blood increases
Tension of the ligaments that support the uterus
The center of gravity of the body changes.

Physiological pain, indicating a serious pathology, is most often caused by:

A frozen pregnancy, when the fetus dies for various reasons, the woman's body rejects it, and the uterus begins to contract. Sharp, gradually increasing pain will be accompanied by bleeding
An ectopic pregnancy, when a fertilized egg is fixed in one of the tubes. It causes pain due to the fact that the pipe is bursting with a growing fetus. The problem is accompanied by profuse bleeding, sharp pain, which is localized in a certain place on the right or left, nausea or vomiting, loss of consciousness
The threat of miscarriage, when the detachment of the egg or placenta occurs. Symptoms may be different, and the pain intensifies in the lower abdomen. Bleeding can be weak or profuse, it is not always accompanied by acute sensations, rather a pulling character.
A corpus luteum cyst that develops at the site of a burst follicle. The corpus luteum, as a temporary organ, is designed to produce progesterone in early pregnancy until the placenta is formed. Sometimes it develops pathologically, accumulating fluid in itself and increasing in size. The condition is characterized by a pulling pain in the lower abdomen, which is localized in a certain place.

Non-gynecological pains of a different nature, from mild to acute, can be an independent problem or arise against the background of a developing pregnancy. They are caused by problems of the abdominal organs:

Cystitis, which is accompanied by frequent urination and sharp discomfort in the lower abdomen. The problem is caused by an infection and requires treatment under medical supervision
Pyelonephritis, an inflammatory disease of the kidneys and urinary system, when a bacterial infection can be defeated under the supervision of a doctor with drugs
Appendicitis. Its manifestation is accompanied, in addition to a sharp pain on the right, with additional symptoms. The problem requires urgent surgical intervention
Cholecystitis, when the pain is localized on the right. It is caused by a problem in the work of the digestive organs and bile ducts, eating fatty foods, high cholesterol
Excessive flatulence or intestinal obstruction that often accompanies early pregnancy. The pain can be localized in different places of the abdomen, on the right, on the left, below, above, have a pulling character. Often cramping pains in the intestines bring great anxiety. Consulting a doctor, changing the diet and diet helps to solve the problem.

First aid

Many women ask when they should immediately see a doctor or call an ambulance.

Early pregnancy sometimes ends in fetal death for various reasons. A woman should be wary of her health and any painful manifestations.

A cause for concern may be pronounced sensations that have:

Growing character
obsessive state
Strict localization
Weak or heavy discharge of blood.

A consultation with a doctor and a subsequent hardware examination with tests will help to clarify the clinical picture.

Treatment Methods

Physiological changes do not require treatment, but consultation by a doctor and monitoring of the woman's condition. Identified chronic, inflammatory, infectious diseases require treatment with drugs under the strict supervision of a physician.

A diagnosed serious problem of a gynecological or non-gynecological nature, which threatens the health of the expectant mother and child, should be resolved only in an inpatient department. Surgery and subsequent rehabilitation are often required.

Pulling pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy always causes fear and horror in women in position. Yes, losing a pregnancy, especially a long-awaited one, or getting critical complications that are fraught with impaired development of the baby is a gloomy prospect.

And sometimes it is very difficult even for a specialist to figure out what is the cause of such a symptom and how dangerous it is.

Therefore, pregnant women with such manifestations should definitely talk about this complaint to the gynecologist. And the doctor, in turn, must examine the patient and exclude the pathological course of pregnancy.

The doctor will purposefully interview the future mother about the nature of the pain, their intensity, exact localization. It will definitely clarify what the pregnant woman herself associates with the appearance of pain.

For example, pain in the lower abdomen can occur after physical or emotional overstrain, strong feelings. Pain may occur even when coughing, sneezing or taking a deep breath.

Since pulling pains can also occur in the pathology of organs adjacent to the uterus, the specialist will clarify whether there is a connection between these symptoms and the work of the intestines or urinary system.

The reasons

Above, I have listed an incomplete list of situations in which pregnant women can get sick in the stomach. But these are not causes, but external manifestations, symptoms of these causes. The reasons themselves will be discussed below.

Among the causes of pulling pains in the lower abdomen, two groups can be distinguished - physiological and pathological.

Physiological can be called the reasons that naturally occur in the body of all, without exception, women who are carrying a child. After all, the body of a woman during this period undergoes a lot of changes.

For example, the very enlargement of the uterus can already cause discomfort in the lower abdomen.

This is a completely natural change. As a rule, it does not entail any negative consequences for the body of the expectant mother and baby. Although discomfort, of course, creates. These pains go away on their own and do not require any treatment.

Pathological causes will include those changes in the body of a woman in position that can lead to a deterioration in the health of the mother or fetus. And here it is important not to miss a dangerous situation and seek help from a specialist in time.

Yes, pulling pain in the lower abdomen, especially in the early stages, may be associated with some physiological processes in the body of a pregnant woman. But it doesn't necessarily have to show up.

Painful sensations at the beginning of pregnancy in a certain physiological situation may or may not be. Every woman begins and ends pregnancy differently. All processes are individual.

Here it is worth mentioning the pain threshold, the level of which is different for each person. That is, each person experiences pain in their own way.

For example, women with a low pain threshold are more susceptible to any pain, discomfort, and stretching of the abdomen. At the same time, women with a high pain threshold do not pay attention to irregular, monotonous, pulling pain in the lower abdomen.

So, let's move on to the physiological changes in the body of a pregnant woman, which can provoke pain in the lower abdomen in the early stages of pregnancy.

With the onset of pregnancy, the shape of the uterus changes from pear-shaped to ovoid. The blood supply to this genital organ also increases, which can provoke sipping in the lower abdomen.

On the seventh day after conception, a fertilized egg (zygote), having descended through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity, seems to drill a place for itself in the uterine wall in order to fix itself there. At the same time, sensitive women may experience pains similar to menstrual periods.

In some cases, this may be accompanied by scanty bloody or bloody discharge from the vagina, which women may perceive as the start of menstruation ahead of time.

During pregnancy, the hormonal background changes, which helps to relax the muscles and ligaments, especially the muscles of the small pelvis.

Muscle relaxation is promoted by the hormone progesterone. It is also called a hormone that preserves pregnancy, as it prevents excessive tonic contraction (hypertonicity) of the muscles in the body of a pregnant woman. This also applies to the muscles of the main muscular organ - the uterus.

Under the influence of progesterone and another important substance, relaxin, loosening of the ligaments of the joints, cartilage of the joints of the pelvic bones occurs.

The pelvic bones diverge slightly, adjusting to the increasing load of the weighty uterus. The volume of the pelvis increases, which ensures an easier passage of the baby through the birth canal.

But at the same time, not only the muscles of the uterus relax, but also the muscular layer of the intestine. This leads to violations of intestinal motility in pregnant women. As a result, flatulence or unstable stools (either constipation or diarrhea) are frequent companions of pregnancy.

Such phenomena, as a rule, always make themselves felt by symptoms of fullness, heaviness and sipping of the lower abdominal segment.

Therefore, discomfort in the lower abdomen in pregnant women may not always be associated with changes in the pelvic organs.

Physiological changes that cause pain in the later stages

The fact is that this time is characterized by the most intensive growth and high physical activity of the baby. The uterus also grows intensively and strongly overstretches. Additionally, the muscle fibers of the uterus react by contraction to the motor activity of the fetus.

As a result of the action of all these processes in combination, a rare, non-intense sipping of the lower abdominal segment in the middle of pregnancy and in the later stages takes place.

And it happens quite often in expectant mothers. In late pregnancy, starting from about the 37th week, a short and moderate pulling pain in the lower abdomen is considered quite normal.

So the woman's body is already preparing for childbirth. The uterus begins to contract periodically. There are so-called training fights.

This stage of "training" or, in other words, "warm-up" is very important in the process of preparing for childbirth. After all, childbirth is not a spontaneous process, as it might seem at first glance. The launch of labor activity occurs in stages and not quickly.

If the gestational age is more than 37 weeks, the pregnancy is considered full-term. Therefore, when at such a time the pulling pain grows and turns into cramping, it's time to get ready for the hospital.

How to distinguish the physiological causes of pulling pain in the lower abdomen?

To do this, you need to carefully listen to the nature of the pain, trace its connection with other signs of dysfunction of internal organs (for example, the intestines).

Obviously, no two pregnancies are the same. Each stage is different for everyone. But there are several signs of a pulling pain in the lower abdomen that does not require medical intervention.

These include:

The pain is not constant, not intense, monotonous, not cramping or sharp.
The pain disappears after a short rest in a horizontal position.
The pain does not increase and does not interfere with the woman's daily activities (does not drastically disrupt her usual way of life).
At the same time, there is no bloody or bloody discharge from the vagina.
There are no other signs of dysfunction of internal organs. For example, there are no signs of digestive or urinary disorders (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, general malaise, urinary disorders).
Taking one tablet of No-shpa or another antispasmodic (if there are no contraindications) steadily relieves pulling pain in the lower abdomen.
In addition to pain, there are no other signs of impaired well-being.

That is, there is no decrease in blood pressure, palpitations, increased sweating or cold clammy sweat, clouding of consciousness or pre-syncope. These signs are manifestations of dangerous pathologies that require urgent medical intervention (for example, rupture of the fallopian tube during an ectopic pregnancy).

Pathological causes of pulling pain in the lower abdomen

In this block of the article, we will consider the causes of the so-called obstetric pain associated with abortion, ectopic pregnancy, etc. We will also talk about the causes of pulling pain associated with any surgical pathology of pregnancy (appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, etc.).

Obstetric pain: how to recognize and how to be examined?

Drawing pain in the lower abdomen may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo is fixed not in the uterine cavity, as usual, but in the fallopian tube itself.

Much less often, but there are cases when a fertilized egg can be implanted even in the abdominal cavity.

With an ectopic pregnancy, a woman in such cases is disturbed by regular severe pain. One-sided localization of pain is characteristic (from the side of the attached embryo in the fallopian tube).

The pain usually increases as the embryo grows. The pain is often aggravated by pressure or exercise. Irradiation of pain in the lower back, anus or legs is also characteristic.

By the fifth to seventh weeks of pregnancy, the embryo occupies a significant part of the fallopian tube. Therefore, at this time there is a real threat of rupture of the pipe and massive bleeding.

Smearing bloody discharge from the vagina appears. At the same time, symptoms of general malaise join: dizziness, headache, weakness, and blood pressure decreases.

With an ectopic pregnancy, the test is positive, but the content of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the blood is reduced. Ultrasound is helpful in diagnosing this condition.

With early diagnosis, it is possible to save the fallopian tube by performing a timely operation. But an ectopic pregnancy in terms of its continuation is always doomed to failure.

Threat of abortion

With the threat of termination of pregnancy, a woman is disturbed by pulling pains in the lower abdomen, which do not subside even in a calm state. Any physical activity causes increased pain.

Characterized by the appearance of bloody discharge of varying intensity. The woman feels general weakness, lethargy. Often there is a darkening or "flies" in the eyes, dizziness. In late pregnancy, such symptoms may be accompanied by cramping pain.

This condition requires emergency care, you need to urgently contact a medical institution.

Hospitalization in case of threatened miscarriage is mandatory. Do not try to avoid it, as both the child and the mother need constant monitoring and complex treatment.

The emergence of a threat of termination of pregnancy is often caused by nervous overstrain, physical exertion, stress, infectious diseases, and changes in hormonal levels.

Often, the threat of abortion is preceded by uterine hypertonicity. Women, in addition to pulling pain, feel a sharp tension in the uterus. They describe this feeling as if they have a "hardening of the stomach."

It is impossible to treat such a symptom without due attention. After all, an increased tone of the uterus can provoke a miscarriage.

With timely detection and competent therapy, this pathology has a favorable prognosis.

Frozen pregnancy

Another cause of pulling pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is a frozen pregnancy. The reasons why the embryo stops developing may be malfunctions at the gene level, hormonal imbalance, and the wrong lifestyle of the parents. There is also a high risk of “embryo freezing” during artificial insemination.

The so-called critical periods of the course of pregnancy are distinguished, when the embryo is especially vulnerable. There are several of them: first it is 3-4 weeks of pregnancy, then - 8-11 weeks and 16-18 weeks of intrauterine development.

Sometimes women with a missed pregnancy may not have any complaints at all. But more often there is some kind of discomfort or pulling pain in the lower abdomen is periodically felt.

Diagnosis of this condition is to conduct an ultrasound study.

The diagnosis of a missed pregnancy is confirmed if the baby's heartbeat is not detected during an ultrasound scan.

Also, to confirm the diagnosis, the level of hCG in the venous blood of a pregnant woman is determined. With a frozen pregnancy, there is no increase in the concentration of this hormone in the blood.

Premature placental abruption

Premature placental abruption can occur at any stage of pregnancy. Placental abruption can be caused by trauma, sudden changes in blood pressure, an infectious disease, physical exertion, emotional stress, and a short umbilical cord of the fetus.

With premature detachment of the placenta, a woman feels sharp or cramping pains in the lower abdomen. In order to somehow alleviate the condition, a woman often takes a forced position. That is, she tries to find the most comfortable position and stay in that position for a long time.

The uterus is very tense, it becomes painful. Inside the uterus, a vessel ruptures, as a result of which bleeding opens. Bleeding can be of varying degrees of intensity. There is an increase in placental hematoma (bruising).

The main danger of placental abruption is malnutrition of the fetus (oxygen starvation). With a significant degree of detachment, there is a threat of intrauterine death of the fetus.

Thus, placental abruption is a reason for emergency hospitalization and, if the duration of pregnancy allows, operative delivery by caesarean section.

Quite often, a woman has pulling pains in the lower abdomen that are not associated with the development of the fetus. But the conditions that will be discussed further are no less dangerous for the health of the expectant mother and her baby.

Often, due to a decrease in immune defense, a pregnant woman develops various inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system or exacerbates existing chronic diseases.

So, some infections, including those that are sexually transmitted, worsen during pregnancy. They can also cause discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen.

To exclude acute or chronic inflammatory processes, a pregnant woman, when registering in a antenatal clinic, must undergo a full examination.

In pregnant women, various infections of the kidneys and genitourinary system are often observed. The most common infection during pregnancy that can cause nagging pain in the lower abdomen is acute cystitis (inflammation of the bladder).

With cystitis, in addition to pain, a woman is concerned about frequent and / or painful urination, “false” urges or urination in small portions, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder. Urine becomes cloudy due to impurities of protein, leukocytes, mucus, salts, and sometimes blood.

In this case, you can not do without specific treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor for examination and treatment of this unpleasant disease.

Drawing pain in the lower abdomen can also provoke digestive problems.

I already wrote about the relaxing effect of progesterone on the intestines above. As a result, almost every woman suffers to some extent from disorders of the gastrointestinal tract during pregnancy (constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, heartburn, nausea).

There are drugs that help normalize intestinal motility and fight increased gas formation. But only a doctor who knows all the nuances of the ongoing pregnancy has the right to prescribe them.

But any therapy to normalize the functioning of the digestive system will give only a partial result, temporarily extinguish the symptoms of the disorder. After all, the above problems with digestion cause completely natural changes in the body of a pregnant woman (hormonal levels).

Imagine what will happen if errors in the nutrition of a pregnant woman are added to these regular changes! That's right, there will be more problems with pain, and they will become more acute.

I deliberately focus on this point, because I know from experience that almost none of the pregnant women take seriously the doctor's recommendations for a healthy lifestyle.

Many justify themselves with the traditional stereotype that a pregnant woman should not deny herself anything. Like, the child needs, he demands.

Although, in fact, this is the most “proper nutrition” during pregnancy, it is not so difficult. You just need not to overeat, eat often, but in fractional portions, drink enough clean water, exclude fast food and harmful drinks. At the same time, no one encourages a pregnant woman to starve or limit herself in any products.

A little distracted, back to the topic directly.

Pulling pain in the lower abdomen can be provoked by various surgical pathologies.

It is not uncommon for women to have an inflamed appendix during pregnancy. At the same time, due to the displacement of the internal organs and intestines by the pregnant uterus, it is not always easy to recognize appendicitis by the localization of pain.

Appendicitis is characterized by aching dull pain, usually in the right iliac region or slightly higher. There is also an increase in temperature in the range of 37-38 ° C, nausea, more often single vomiting.

These signs are, of course, a reason for calling an ambulance and hospitalization in a hospital.

I hasten to reassure that the operation in this pathology will not affect the development of the child. But delay with such symptoms can lead to massive inflammation inside the abdominal cavity - peritonitis.

Rarely enough, but there are cases of intestinal obstruction in pregnant women. Pain in intestinal obstruction is sharp, cramping, diffuse, with clearly recurring attacks every 10-15 minutes (as a peristaltic wave goes through the intestines).

In this case, in addition to pain in the abdomen, there will be a delay in feces and gases. The abdomen is swollen asymmetrically, appetite is reduced, there is a feeling of weakness. Over time, more formidable signs of pathology will appear, in particular, repeated indomitable vomiting, which leads to rapid dehydration of the body.

In case of intestinal obstruction, emergency surgical intervention is indicated.

On a note!

Summing up, I will highlight a few critical symptoms that urgently need to seek medical help.

Regular pains in the lower abdomen are sharp and growing.
Pain does not go away after resting in a horizontal position.
Cramping pains in the lower abdomen, regardless of their intensity.
Vaginal discharge (bloody, bloody, spotting).
Gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting, stool changes).
Increasing pain with pressure at the site of pain, regardless of the localization of pain.

Undoubtedly, there are a lot of reasons due to which the lower abdomen is pulled during pregnancy. Probably, I did not manage to describe them all, I missed something. But it's not that important.

It is important that you draw the main conclusion from this article: in any case, you need to be attentive to yourself, listen to new sensations so as not to miss a dangerous situation and seek medical help in time

And even if you once again consult a doctor observing your pregnancy for a frivolous reason, than miss something serious.

During pregnancy, changes occur throughout the female body: the hormonal background is rebuilt, all body systems begin to work differently. This is especially noticeable in the early stages.

Tingling, mild pain, heaviness, bloating are normal for a future mother. Discomfort "in the abdomen" in early pregnancy is characteristic of the vast majority.

The process of getting pregnant

Every woman at least approximately knows how conception occurs: ovulation, sexual intercourse, millions of sperm rushing to the egg.

Two cells - male and female - merge into one (zygote), and then it moves and continuously divides: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32. Conception occurs only if the growing lump is attached (implanted) to the wall of the uterus. This, like the creation of the world, takes 7 days.

If pregnancy has occurred, then the female doctor considers this very short period (1-2 days) from ovulation to fertilization to be the beginning of the embryonic (cellular) period. But since it is very difficult to calculate by days, they also came up with an obstetric period - from the beginning of the last menstruation.

The entire pregnancy is divided into three almost equal parts (stages or trimesters). The first trimester (early stage) has 12 weeks and is a real test for the expectant mother. It's all about hormones that force the whole body to reconfigure for a new, but very important task - to bear a child. These same hormones (progesterone and) make a woman feel her condition more and more clearly.

When Mom Finds Out She's Mom

"Was it a boy"? Most pundits are skeptical that ovulation, conception or implantation can be felt. However, many experienced mothers note that they just felt these “events”. Each person is unique, and therefore his body is the same. Therefore, there are such sensitive ladies who can “hear” the changes taking place in the body.

You can most likely feel ovulation, since this is the peak of follicle growth and ovarian enlargement. And at this moment it is quite possible to feel some pressure in the side. During the release, the egg breaks the membrane, which is accompanied by characteristic secretions.

Observant girls notice this moment. And if pregnancy is long-awaited for a woman, it is not surprising that she notices all the nuances.

Direct fertilization, apparently, is not felt. Everything happens at the cellular level, albeit inside the female body, but without coming into contact with it. However, some ladies claim that they caught this moment too.

The process of implantation is quite aggressive: the embryo "bites" into the tissue of the uterus. In some cases, this is accompanied by bloody discharge from the fact that capillaries and blood vessels have been damaged. So, everything is individual here, for someone the attachment of the embryo will go unnoticed, and someone may think that menstruation began ahead of schedule. Many feel a pulling pain in the lower abdomen.

Time for an ultrasound

Most often, a woman finds out about her "interesting position" due to a delay in the menstrual cycle. She goes to the doctor, and he prescribes an analysis for hCG and ultrasound.

Girls who do not track the cycle can understand the changes by other symptoms:

nausea is a classic sign of pregnancy;
general malaise, because after fertilization, immunity decreases slightly, all "forces" are thrown at the beginning of a new life. The temperature may rise slightly, stuffy nose, "attack" drowsiness and weakness;
heaviness or tingling in the uterus;
painful tenderness of the breast, especially the nipples;
emotional instability and lability, frequent changes in mood, when a woman can cry out of nowhere and immediately laugh;
excessive irritability and even outbursts of aggression;
frequent headaches.

In any case, everything ends with a trip to the doctor, a hormone test and ultrasound.

Sensations at an early stage: such different “bellies”

Feelings of the expectant mother at an early stage of pregnancy

Most of the sensations of the expectant mother at an early stage of pregnancy are concentrated in the abdomen. And, most often, they are associated with natural physiological processes.

What most women feel most often:

Slight tingling at the bottom. It occurs due to the fact that blood begins to flow to the place of attachment of the embryo, and through it nutrients and oxygen (until the placenta has formed). It is a sensitive sensation, but not painful.
Pulls the lower abdomen. If sipping is not pronounced, then this is normal. This feeling is not constant, and, as it were, wanders - "it will pull here, then here." It's all about stretching the muscles in the abdomen, which is "prepared in advance" for an increase in the uterus. He does this, of course, not by himself, but under the influence of the hormone relaxin.
The uterus is in tension (in good shape). Already in the first trimester, you can feel some mild heaviness and pressure in the lower abdomen. The main condition for a normal state is that the sensation should not be strong and painful, no “petrification”. A slight tone is a consequence of the fact that the fetus and uterus grow and increase. This is one of the reasons why pregnant women often go to the toilet: the uterus presses on the bladder, irritating it.
Feeling that the stomach is "inflated" all the time. And that's okay too. First, the intestines, like other parts of the body, are rebuilding themselves to prepare for future changes. Secondly, the hormone progesterone, which is important at this stage, has a “side effect”, it reduces the muscle tone of the digestive organ, hence not only bloating, but also constipation.

All discomfort in the abdomen associated with natural processes is within the normal range and should not disturb women.

"Don't panic" or "call a doctor"

When should you "sound the alarm"? How to understand that here - "still the norm", but here - no longer?

There are certain signs, or a set of signs, in the presence of which, you need to immediately call an ambulance:

Drawing (or contraction-like) pain and bleeding. Cramps are very similar to pain in the lower abdomen, as with menstruation, while bloody discharge is found on the underwear, perhaps even profuse. These symptoms can result in miscarriage, which most often occurs in the early stages of pregnancy.
Constant pain in the lower abdomen on one side (in the same place). Sometimes accompanied by back pain. This could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. There is pain even before the rupture of the pipe. And you need to have time to get to the hospital before internal bleeding opens and the woman loses consciousness.
The stomach is like a stone. This is how excessive tone is manifested from the fact that the required level of the hormone progesterone decreases in the body. Headache, chills and minor spotting may also be added. If a woman experiences all the symptoms, then it is better to call a doctor at home than to go herself and wait at the office for her turn. Most likely, the doctor prescribes pills that reduce.
Mild, but not passing (even after painkillers) pain below, on one side of the abdomen. Occurs after exercise or sexual intercourse. Sometimes fever comes along with the pain. Such signs are characteristic of a corpus luteum cyst. It is formed at the site of a burst follicle. The cyst, filled with fluid, presses on the lower abdomen. It is not a dangerous disease, but it is better for the expectant mother not to get involved in active sports. And be sure to tell your doctor about it.

If a pregnant mother did not find the listed symptoms in herself, but something worries or worries her anyway, it is better to consult a doctor for advice, where he will dispel all doubts than to endure until the “last” without seeking help from a doctor, and get complications or even miscarriage.

Mom is not only a pregnant person

Due to the fact that immunity weakens during pregnancy and gestation, latent diseases may be discovered or chronic diseases may become aggravated.

Most often in the early stages in pregnant women, the stomach may hurt from such concomitant or recurrent diseases as:

Acute cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. It can arise not only from the fact that the girl is not dressed for the weather or from non-observance of elementary hygiene rules, but also from excessive pressure of underwear, as well as pressure from the growing uterus on the bladder. It feels like aching pain in the lower abdomen and in the perineum, and during urination the pain becomes sharp.
Cholecystitis is a complication of gallstone disease. Due to the hormone progesterone, the tone of the bladder walls may decrease, which provokes the disease. Feels like heaviness in the abdomen and a sharp pain just above, under the ribs. This can be very dangerous for both mother and baby in the first and third trimesters.
Disease of the duodenum. It can be dangerous because it has its own increased tone, it also increases the uterus. This disease, being infectious, can cause miscarriage. Feels like pain in the navel.
Appendicitis. Drawing pain in the lower abdomen moves to the right side, and becomes sharp, almost unbearable. Pain with appendicitis is difficult to confuse with something.

A representative of the weaker sex can simply "pick up a sore" that has nothing to do with her special condition. That is why it is very important to take care of yourself during this important period of every woman's life.

The main advice to any pregnant woman who has learned about her situation is to register with the antenatal clinic and confirm the presence of pregnancy, its normal course. And do not ignore further visits to the gynecologist.

This is necessary not only for the health of the mother and child, but also for subsequent material payments after the birth of the baby.

Tips for early terms, in essence, are no different from tips for other terms, they are universal:

Take care of yourself: dress warmly, do not lift weights, follow all the doctor's recommendations, drink vitamins, eat well, and so on.
Monitor the emotional sphere: do not be nervous, avoid stress and worries. Surround yourself with objects and phenomena that give positive emotions.
Physical activity is important at this stage, but should not be overused. It is better to walk more than to do speed runs. Constant walks organized in the "green zone", the most comfortable activity of the mother for the child.
Remember that the best medicine is healthy sleep. You need to sleep at least 9 hours.
Give up bad habits (for example, smoking).
More rest.
If possible, do not ride in crowded public transport, this will save the woman from pushing and shaking.
If you experience disturbing painful symptoms, immediately consult a doctor.

Tips for pregnant women

Most of the pain is natural in nature, associated with physiological processes. Here you have to wait until the body is rebuilt.

But in some cases, the expectant mother can help herself:

Follow nutrition. Many women note that at the beginning of pregnancy, their taste habits change dramatically. This can provoke all kinds of gastrointestinal diseases. If we add here a weak peristalsis (movement of the walls) of the intestine, then regular constipation, stomach pain and bloating for the expectant mother are guaranteed.
Consider a complete balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and plenty of fluids.
From bloating, it is recommended to do special exercises for the lower back and relax the abdominal muscles. 15-20 minutes a day of such exercises will help reduce pain.
From the increased tone, the doctor prescribes special drugs such as No-shpy.
In order to relieve tingling or other discomfort, you can briefly (5-10 minutes) take a warm bath (no more than 37 degrees) with sea salt.

What Not to Do

There are a number of rules from the category of “absolutely impossible” that all pregnant women must follow:

Do not self-medicate, do not use traditional medicine, inform the doctor about all medications taken, but it is better to consult with him before use.
It is impossible to vaccinate, because it is, although weakened, but live bacteria and viruses. The body will begin to "fight" with them, producing antibodies. This can be dangerous for the fetus.
Do not drink alcohol. Alcoholic drinks are especially dangerous in the early stages, when all the baby's organs are "layed down".
Perform heavy physical exercises or engage in active sports: pump the press, run long distances, jump into the water, winter or water skiing.
Lift weights. Any physically hard work is prohibited.
Do not go to a hot bath or sauna, do not take a hot bath, this increases the tone. It is better to soak in warm water, it soothes.
To be located where the repair is taking place, so as not to inhale harmful substances from all kinds of mixtures, paints, acetones and other liquids.

Pregnant women, especially with their first child, observe their “interesting” position in detail and meticulously. They measure body temperature, listen to sensations inside the abdomen, panic at the first slight

Why does it hurt, ache, prick the stomach, lower abdomen during pregnancy. Why do pregnant women have a stomach ache like during menstruation.

Pregnancy is, in any case, stress for the female body. His reaction is hard to predict. Some people tolerate their new condition perfectly, while others may experience various problems, including pain in the abdomen.
The reasons for the appearance of such pains in expectant mothers are different, and if they arise, you must, of course, consult a specialist who will help establish their true cause.

The first month of pregnancy and in the early stages, the stomach hurts like during menstruation: causes

From the moment of fertilization of the egg and up to the birth itself, processes occur in the body of the expectant mother that can give painful sensations. And although these feelings are not very pleasant for the expectant mother, neither she nor the baby is in danger.

The fertilized egg moves towards the uterus and settles in it. A fertilized egg, penetrating into the endometrium, irritates or slightly damages the mucous membrane of the uterus or even a small blood vessel. This causes slight pain, similar to those that occur before the onset of her menstruation.
Later, in the first month of pregnancy, the hormonal background of a woman changes dramatically. In particular, progesterone is actively synthesized, which is responsible, among other things, for preparing the endometrial layer so that the fertilized egg is fixed in it, and the pregnancy is carried out normally. It may also cause some pain in the uterine area.
In the same period, the woman's ligaments gradually stretch in anticipation, the state of the spine changes, as changes in the center of gravity of the body occur. After all, the uterus, together with the embryo in it, not only becomes larger, but also changes its position in the nutria of the body. Its bottom rises higher relative to the organs, respectively, the ligaments holding the uterus are stretched

Pain over the pubic bone shortly after conception may accompany the attachment of the embryo to the wall of the uterus.

Ectopic pregnancy

If a woman in the early stages constantly hurts under the navel, pains that increase in intensity, radiating to the leg, hypochondrium, rectum, the gynecologist, first of all, will send her for an ultrasound scan to make sure that the fetal egg is where it should be, in uterine cavity.

Necessary exclude ectopic pregnancy, which happens if the fertilized egg has not completed its passage to the uterus, but has attached itself outside its cavity - in one of the fallopian tubes, the cervix, etc. The fetal egg grows and develops, bursting the fallopian tube. Pain develops. In the end, if this process is not stopped at the start, an overgrown fetal egg, exceeding the diameter of the fallopian tube, can break it.

An ectopic pregnancy is a serious obstetric and gynecological problem and threatens a woman's health with organ rupture and internal bleeding.

The threat of miscarriage

IMPORTANT: A future mother can also get sick in the lower abdomen due to the threat of a miscarriage

The tone of the uterus increases, which provokes detachment of the fetal egg and its expulsion
At the same time, the pregnant woman aches and pulls over the pubic bone, gives to the lower back. She develops bloody discharge - from slight, pinkish, to bright red-scarlet
If there is a suspicion of a threat of spontaneous abortion, the only solution here is an ambulance and hospitalization. While waiting for the arrival of an ambulance, the woman should be at rest

Cyst of the corpus luteum

Pain in the internal genital organs in a pregnant woman may appear due to a cyst of the corpus luteum.

The corpus luteum is a temporary organ that produces progesterone, its function is to maintain pregnancy, the formation of the placenta.
Sometimes it happens that the corpus luteum grows, its dimensions do not correspond to the norm.

This condition is called a corpus luteum cyst. The cyst of the corpus luteum does not pose a particular threat to the pregnant woman, however, it can give not strong and not sharp, but pain localized in one place. With a corpus luteum cyst, a pregnant woman is recommended to rest and some changes in the behavioral regime, which the gynecologist will tell her about.

Relapses of chronic diseases

There is a tendency that during the period of bearing a child, expectant mothers exacerbate those diseases that they chronically suffered from before pregnancy, and from which the lower abdomen hurts.

Chronic diseases of the abdominal organs during pregnancy often relapse.

For example, if before she became pregnant, a woman had diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or the genitourinary system, then they can become aggravated during pregnancy or due to violations of the regimen.

Appendicitis

IMPORTANT: Appendicitis is another possible cause of abdominal pain in a woman who is expecting a baby.

Improper nutrition

Uncomfortable sensations are not necessarily associated with an "interesting position." Everyone knows the whims of future mothers in food when you want a cake, and after it - half a jar of pickles, then - sweets, and after them - shrimp. Such sharp jumps in nutrition provoke a violation of intestinal motility, flatulence, and the onset of pain. In order for the discomfort to go away, a woman needs to more or less balance her diet.

VIDEO: Why does my stomach hurt in the early stages of pregnancy?

Why does my stomach hurt at night during pregnancy, like during menstruation?

If the expectant mother does not have chronic diseases and does not have any pathologies associated with bearing a child, in principle, she should not have pain, especially such aching and cramping as during menstruation.

Pain can occur due to the reasons described above, or when:

overwork

prolonged stay of a woman in one position

However, there is a real reason to call an ambulance or at least call your doctor if:

a woman painfully feels like a shrinking, pulling and aching lump in the lower abdomen
if the discomfort increases both at rest (at night) and after physical overload

The cause of such sensations may be a cramping contraction of the uterus during an impending or initiated spontaneous abortion.

IMPORTANT: If the uterus is in hypertonicity, it is tense and hurts, regardless of the time of day. Women often experience similar sensations in the first days of menstruation. Starting from the second half of pregnancy, such a pathological preliminary condition must also be monitored by a doctor.

Why does the lower abdomen hurt during pregnancy?

Discomfort in the lower abdomen in a woman who is expecting a baby often occurs when:

the uterus grows with the embryo in it
tense abdominal muscles
the growing uterus changes its position relative to other internal organs - the muscles and ligaments that support it can stretch
violation and changes in the diet of a pregnant woman
disruption of the digestive tract, constipation occurs
there is a threat of spontaneous abortion or premature birth
the embryo implants outside the uterus
extragenital inflammation occurs

Why does the stomach hurt on the left during pregnancy?

If a pregnant woman has pain on the left side of her abdomen, an urgent consultation with a doctor is needed.

In the abdominal cavity and pelvic area of a woman, there are a large number of internal organs held by a corset of muscles and ligaments. This explains the fact that if pain occurs, it can not only spread over the stomach, but also be localized in one place or another.

If it hurts on the left, then it is most likely given by one of the overstretched ligaments that support the grown uterus. Often enough to rest or change the position of the body to feel good.

There is a possibility of pain syndrome due to inflammation of the organs in the pelvis and abdominal cavity:

left ovary
left appendage
Bladder
left kidney

If the embryo inside the uterus is attached to the left, this sometimes leads to some pain discomfort in the woman due to spasms.

IMPORTANT: In any case, it is best to ask your doctor about your specific individual reason for such pain.

Why does the stomach hurt on the right during pregnancy?

Pain on the right side of the abdomen during pregnancy should be taken more seriously.
The reasons for it may be:

The fertilized egg is attached to the uterus on the right side, which causes painful spasms in the pregnant woman
Overstretching or pinching of the muscle and ligaments that support the pregnant uterus
The child moves in the uterus on the right side, his tremors for the mother can sometimes be painful for her
The fertilized egg implanted in the right fallopian tube (some symptoms of this: pain in the right abdomen, bleeding, weakness of the woman)
Appendicitis
Infringement of muscles and ligaments, adhesions
Right cyst rupture
Inflammatory processes in the internal organs

Why does the stomach hurt like during menstruation during pregnancy at 15-16 weeks?

At 15 - 16 weeks from conception, toxicosis, if it was, disappears. The fruit is actively developing. In a pregnant woman, in the absence of pathologies, it can hurt in the lumbar spine due to the increased load on it. The natural cause of pain, similar to menstrual, may be the growth of the uterus and the restructuring of the musculoskeletal apparatus associated with it.

Why does the stomach hurt during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester at 20-21 weeks?

In the middle of pregnancy, the belly of the expectant mother may hurt, again, due to natural causes. But it can also signal varying degrees of serious problems with bearing a baby.

Physiology can be explained if the lower abdomen of a woman is slightly ill and hurts:

occasionally
when changing the position of the body
overexertion of the abdomen, back or legs

Perhaps there is a threat of placental abruption or spontaneous abortion if:

pain syndrome increases
the pain doesn't go away for a long time
it radiates to the lower back
discharge appeared

In the second trimester, the expectant mother can be tormented by painful uterine hypertonicity.

Why does the stomach hurt during pregnancy at 30-31 weeks?

At 30 - 31 weeks of pregnancy, the weight of the baby in the womb, and, accordingly, of the woman, increases. The load on her spine, organs and joints also increases.
During this period, the stomach should not hurt, except perhaps if a woman ate something wrong and irritated the intestines, causing flatulence.

Why does the stomach hurt like during menstruation during pregnancy at 33 weeks?

Overwork, physical overload and training contractions are the causes of abdominal pain in expectant mothers in the last two months before giving birth.

Perhaps the uterus began to shrink and there is a risk of premature birth.
Also, training contractions can give some soreness. To make sure that everything is fine, it is better to contact the gynecologist leading the pregnancy, or call an ambulance.

Why does the stomach hurt during pregnancy at 35-36 weeks?

If during this period the stomach not only hurts, but also there is a feeling of its petrification, then the tone of the uterus increases, which can lead to premature birth.

Why does the stomach hurt during pregnancy at 37-38 weeks?

At 37 - 38 weeks, the expectant mother's stomach may hurt for quite understandable reasons. Her body is preparing for childbirth, the cervix begins to gradually open. This process is accompanied by cramping aching pains. At this point, you need to relax, take a comfortable position or take a shower.

Drawing pains in the lower abdomen at 38 weeks means that the uterus is preparing for childbirth, coming into tone and relaxing.

Why does my stomach hurt during pregnancy at 40-41 weeks?

The pregnancy period has come to an end, and if a woman has a stomach ache, she may have contractions. Contractions may be minor at first, with significant intervals of time between them. Then they become more frequent, and the period of time between them is reduced. Giving birth soon!