Nagging pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy always causes fear and horror in pregnant women. Yes, losing a pregnancy, especially a long-awaited one, or getting critical complications that can impair the development of the baby is a sad 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 a pathological course of pregnancy.

The doctor will purposefully interview the expectant mother about the nature of the pain, its intensity, and exact location. Be sure to clarify what the pregnant woman herself associates with the occurrence of pain.

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

Since nagging pain can also occur due to pathology of organs adjacent to the uterus, the specialist will clarify whether there is a connection between these symptoms and the functioning of the intestines or urinary system.

Causes

Above I listed an incomplete list of situations in which pregnant women may experience stomach pain. But these are not causes, but external manifestations, symptoms of these causes. The reasons themselves will be discussed below.

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

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

For example, the enlargement of the uterus itself 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 it naturally creates discomfort. Such pain goes away on its own and does not require any treatment.

Pathological causes include those changes in the body of a pregnant woman that can lead to 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, nagging pain in the lower abdomen, especially in the early stages, can be associated with some physiological processes in the body of a pregnant woman. But it is not at all necessary that she will appear.

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

It is worth mentioning here about the pain threshold, the level of which is different for each person. That is, each person feels pain in their own way.

For example, women with a low pain threshold are more susceptible to any pain, discomfort and abdominal tugging. At the same time, women with a high pain threshold do not pay attention to the irregular monotonous nagging 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 cause panting in the lower abdomen.

On the seventh day after conception, the fertilized egg (zygote), having descended through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity, seems to be drilling a place in the uterine wall in order to fix itself there. In this case, sensitive women may experience pain similar to menstrual pain.

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

During pregnancy, hormonal levels change, which helps relax muscles and ligaments, especially the pelvic muscles.

The hormone progesterone helps relax muscles. It is also called a pregnancy-preserving hormone, since it prevents excessive tonic contraction (hypertonicity) of muscles in the pregnant woman’s body. 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 joint ligaments and cartilage of the joints of the pelvic bones occurs.

The pelvic bones diverge slightly, adapting to the increasing load of the heavy uterus. The volume of the pelvis increases, which ensures 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 intestines. This leads to disturbances in intestinal motility in pregnant women. As a result, flatulence or unstable stool (either constipation or diarrhea) are frequent companions of pregnancy.

Such phenomena, as a rule, always make themselves felt by symptoms of distension, heaviness and stretching of the lower segment of the abdomen.

Consequently, discomfort in the lower abdominal segment in pregnant women may not always be associated with changes in the pelvic organs.

Physiological changes causing pain in later stages

The fact is that this time is characterized by the most intensive growth and high motor activity of the baby. The uterus is also growing rapidly and is greatly overstretched. Additionally, the muscle fibers of the uterus react by contracting to the motor activity of the fetus.

As a consequence of the action of all these processes in combination, rare, non-intense stretching of the lower abdominal segment occurs in the middle of pregnancy and in the later stages.

And this occurs quite often among expectant mothers. In late pregnancy, starting from about the 37th week, short and moderate nagging pain in the lower abdomen is considered completely normal.

This is how the woman’s body is already preparing for childbirth. The uterus begins to contract periodically. So-called training contractions appear.

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 start of labor occurs in stages and not quickly.

If the gestational age is more than 37 weeks, the pregnancy is considered full-term. Therefore, when at this stage the nagging pain increases and turns into cramping, it’s time to go to the maternity hospital.

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

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

Obviously, no two pregnancies are the same. Each stage occurs differently for everyone. But we can identify several signs of nagging pain in the lower abdomen that does not require medical intervention.

These include:

• The pain is not constant, not intense, monotonous, and not cramping or acute.
• The pain goes away 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 dramatically disrupt her usual way of life).
• 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 disorder).
• Taking one tablet of No-shpa or another antispasmodic (if there are no contraindications) permanently relieves nagging pain in the lower abdomen.
• Apart from pain, there are no other signs of health problems.

That is, there is no decrease in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, increased sweating or cold clammy sweat, clouding of consciousness or lightheadedness. 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 nagging pain in the lower abdomen

In this section of the article we will look at the causes of so-called obstetric pain associated with miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, etc. We will also talk about the causes of nagging pain associated with any surgical pathology of pregnancy (appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, etc.).

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

A nagging pain in the lower abdomen may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. During an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo is implanted not in the uterine cavity, as usual, but in the fallopian tube itself.

Much less frequently, 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 bothered by regular severe pain. Unilateral localization of pain is characteristic (from the side of the attached embryo in the fallopian tube).

The pain usually increases as the embryo grows. Often the pain intensifies with pressure or physical activity. Irradiation of pain to the lower back, anus or legs is also typical.

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 pipe rupture and massive bleeding.

Spotting bloody discharge from the vagina appears. At the same time, symptoms of general malaise are added: dizziness, headache, weakness, decreased blood pressure.

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

With early diagnosis, it is possible to save the fallopian tube by performing timely surgery. But an ectopic pregnancy, from the point of view of its continuation, is always doomed to failure.

Threat of miscarriage

When there is a threat of miscarriage, a woman is bothered by nagging pain in the lower abdomen, which does not subside even in a calm state. Any physical activity causes increased pain.

The appearance of bloody discharge of varying intensity is characteristic. The woman feels general weakness and lethargy. Darkening or “spots” in the eyes and dizziness often appear. In late pregnancy, such symptoms may be accompanied by cramping pain.

This condition requires emergency care; you must immediately contact a medical facility.

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

The threat of miscarriage is often caused by nervous strain, physical exertion, stress, infectious diseases, and hormonal changes.

Often the threat of miscarriage is preceded by uterine hypertonicity. Women, in addition to nagging pain, feel a sharp tension in the uterus. They describe this feeling as if their stomach was turning to stone.

Such a symptom cannot be treated without due attention. After all, increased uterine tone can provoke a miscarriage.

With timely detection and proper treatment, this pathology has a favorable prognosis.

Frozen pregnancy

Another cause of nagging pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is frozen pregnancy. The reasons why the embryo stops developing may be failures at the gene level, hormonal imbalance, or poor parental lifestyle. There is also a high risk of “embryo failure” during artificial insemination.

There are so-called critical periods of pregnancy, 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 frozen pregnancy may not have any complaints at all. But more often there is some kind of discomfort or periodically a nagging pain is felt in the lower segment of the abdomen.

Diagnosis of this condition involves an ultrasound examination.

The diagnosis of a frozen pregnancy is confirmed if the baby’s heartbeat is not detected during an ultrasound.

Also, to confirm the diagnosis, the level of hCG in the venous blood of the pregnant woman is determined. During 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. The causes of placental abruption can be injuries, sudden changes in blood pressure, previous infectious disease, physical activity, emotional stress, and a short umbilical cord of the fetus.

With premature placental abruption, a woman feels sharp or cramping pain 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 and becomes painful. A vessel ruptures inside the uterus, resulting in bleeding. Bleeding may vary in 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 fetal death.

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

Quite often, a woman experiences nagging pain in the lower abdomen that is not related to 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 aggravates existing chronic diseases.

Thus, 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 must undergo a full examination when registering at the antenatal clinic.

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

With cystitis, in addition to pain, a woman is bothered by frequent and/or painful urination, “false” urges or urination in small portions, and 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, it is impossible to do without specific treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor for examination and treatment of this unpleasant disease.

Nagging pain in the lower abdomen can also cause digestive problems.

I have already written above about the relaxing effect of progesterone on the intestines. As a result, almost every woman suffers to one degree or another from disorders of the gastrointestinal tract during pregnancy (constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, heartburn, nausea).

There are drugs that help normalize intestinal motility and combat 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 partial results and will temporarily relieve the symptoms of the disorder. After all, the digestive problems described above cause completely natural changes in the pregnant woman’s body (hormonal levels).

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

I deliberately focus attention on this point, since I know from experience that almost none of pregnant women take seriously the doctor’s recommendations about a healthy lifestyle.

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

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 small portions, drink enough clean water, avoid fast food and harmful drinks. At the same time, no one encourages a pregnant woman to fast or limit herself to any foods.

I got a little distracted, let's get back to the topic.

Nagging pain in the lower abdomen can be caused by various surgical pathologies.

Often during pregnancy, women's appendix becomes inflamed. Moreover, due to the displacement of the internal organs and intestines by the pregnant uterus, appendicitis cannot always be easily recognized by the location of the pain.

Appendicitis is characterized by a dull, aching pain, usually in the right iliac region or slightly above. There is also an increase in temperature within 37-38 o C, nausea, and often single vomiting.

The above signs are undoubtedly a reason to call an ambulance and be hospitalized.

I hasten to reassure you that surgery for this pathology will not affect the child’s development in any way. But delaying such symptoms can lead to massive inflammation inside the abdominal cavity - peritonitis.

Quite rare, but there are cases of intestinal obstruction in pregnant women. The pain during intestinal obstruction is sharp, cramping, diffuse, with clearly repeating attacks every 10-15 minutes (as a peristaltic wave moves through the intestines).

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

In case of intestinal obstruction, emergency surgery is indicated.

On a note!

To summarize, I will highlight several critical symptoms for which you urgently need to seek medical help.

• Regular pain in the lower abdomen is sharp and increasing.
• The pain does not go away after resting in a horizontal position.
• Cramping pain in the lower abdomen, regardless of its intensity.
• Vaginal discharge (bloody, bloody, spotting).
• Disorders of the digestive system (nausea, vomiting, change in stool).
• Increasing pain when pressing on the site of painful sensations, regardless of the location of the pain.

Undoubtedly, there are many reasons why the lower abdomen feels tight during pregnancy. I probably didn’t 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 consult the doctor monitoring your pregnancy once again for a minor reason, you will avoid missing something serious.

Many pregnant women are interested in why the stomach hurts during pregnancy, especially if it occurs in the lower abdomen.

Perhaps this is the question most often asked by expectant mothers, because they consider these types of pains to be the most dangerous.

Pain as a sign of pathology

And there is every reason for this opinion.

After all, one of the first signs of various types of pathologies that arise over the course of 9 months is pain that covers the lower abdomen.

For example, in the case of placental abruption, you will feel pain in the lower abdomen (the period is not decisive).

Pain in this place will appear in case or during.

How can we understand what the sensations that arise in this area indicate?

First of all, there is no need to experience panic when your lower abdomen begins to ache, be it the first month or the ninth.

Pain can not only be an indicator that something out of the ordinary has happened, but it can also be a common occurrence.

However, in any case, it is important to consult a doctor immediately if the feeling is strong, stabbing and its intensity only increases over time.

Normal or problem

Please note: the pain that occurs during the process of bearing a baby, at some point becomes simply the norm for the expectant mother.

Of course - after all, they accompany a woman throughout her entire pregnancy, not retreating even for a week!

• first the ligaments that support the growing uterus begin to ache;
• As the period increases, the back hurts more and more often;
• pulls in the stomach;
• at the end of the term, there is a feeling that the whole body hurts: your own weight has increased, the baby is kicking, the uterus is pressing on the organs.

During pregnancy, the lower abdomen may hurt from the very first day, as if warning you that the fusion of sperm and egg has occurred.

But some will only experience them closer to giving birth. It all depends on the individual characteristics of each woman!

It is this type of sensation that is characterized by the fact that it informs the pregnant woman about a variety of changes occurring in her body.

It’s not for nothing that doctors divide the pain that affects the lower abdomen of a pregnant woman into two groups: obstetric and non-obstetric.

• The first group includes those that warn about existing pathologies, sometimes even in the first month (ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption) or talk about the threat of miscarriage.
• The second is those that arise in connection with changes in the “pregnant” body, some of which are associated with the growth of the abdomen.

This means that there are stretched ligaments, increased weight, or characteristic changes in the gastrointestinal tract.

This also includes pain in the lower peritoneum caused by various diseases that can be eliminated surgically (for example, appendicitis).

Causes of pain in the 1st trimester

The first months are a period during which you need to especially carefully monitor your body, paying special attention to pain that occurs in the lower abdomen.

The fact is that most miscarriages occur during this time. And the reasons could be:

• Most often in the first month the stomach (its lower part) hurts simply because the body is preparing for pregnancy and hormonal changes occur.

In this case, sometimes the lower back also hurts

• Already in the first month, the uterus grows, so the ligaments, which are not accustomed to even such a load, begin to ache.

The time will come when they will become thicker, and the belly will be very large - spasms will cover its lower part at the end of the day if the pregnant woman is overly active

• a woman may experience rejection of the embryo or fertilized egg, which will result in a miscarriage.

In this case, spasms may be accompanied by bleeding. Sometimes the process, if the deadline is very early, can go unnoticed.

The stomach will simply ache or there will be periodic spasms in the lower peritoneum, as during menstruation, or it can be confused with the onset of menstruation

• with an ectopic pregnancy, severe abdominal pain will occur, but not in the first month of an interesting situation, but in the second.

It is important to see a doctor on time, otherwise there is a risk of rupture of one of the fallopian tubes. When the stomach is seized by a piercing sharp pain that cannot be tolerated, perhaps the process is in full swing.

Features of the first 3 months

It is worth noting: in the first (second) month, spasms that “affect” the lower abdomen, during which bleeding occurs, do not always indicate that the pregnant woman is experiencing a miscarriage.

In almost every fourth pregnant woman, something similar happens, as a feature of the course of pregnancy, which can continue safely.

But during an involuntary abortion, the pain in the lower abdomen does not stop, and there will be so much blood that you cannot do without a pad.

It happens that shortly before the ovum is rejected, other “delights” of pregnancy disappear.

By the way, each stage of the process has its own pain. If you try to distinguish them, then by contacting a doctor at the right time, you can save your pregnancy. They are accompanied by heaviness in the lower abdomen and unpleasant sensations in the sacral area.

There is no need to immediately run to the hospital yourself, even when the time limit is not long, and your stomach does not hurt so much that it could keep you at home.

Pain in the 2nd and 3rd trimester

Why does the stomach hurt if the pregnancy has already “passed” the 7th month?

• Most often this is due to digestive problems, which are sure to arise in almost everyone.

And they are caused by the pressure of the uterus on the intestines and a menu that combines antagonistic foods.

Overeating and eating large portions can also affect the gastrointestinal tract.

Bottom line: a pregnant woman experiences gas, even colic.

Naturally, sometimes they can cause very unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen - this is what distinguishes the period of 5-9 months.

• The ligaments that hold the uterus are in constant tension.

If a pregnant woman walks a lot or lies in one position, she feels nagging pain in the lower abdomen, which goes away when she changes position or rests.

Such sensations intensify when sneezing or laughing: at this moment, the stomach below seems to be pierced by an electric discharge. The pain may even be sharp, but the time during which it will be felt strongly is minimal.

• Late term is a time when a woman gets tired incredibly quickly, especially with...
• It happens that the stomach hurts for a very banal reason - overstrain of the abdominal muscles (especially after the 5th month, you are familiar with this).

In this case, it is better to lie down and everything will pass. You need to reduce the load, reduce the speed when walking..

• The stomach, or rather its lower part, hurts if the baby (people say about this phenomenon “stomach sagging”)

This is a signal for you: everything is getting closer.

In this case, the pressure on this area increases, sometimes unpleasant sensations alternate with distension of this area, pain in the legs, which are also similar to weak discharges of electric current.

What to pay attention to

There are other reasons that cause stomach pain. And they require mandatory medical intervention.

• For example, sometimes during pregnancy there is an exacerbation of chronic diseases such as pancreatitis and intestinal obstruction occurs.

This does not happen in the first month of an interesting situation; more often this happens when at least half the term has passed. Such trouble will be indicated not only by an aching stomach, but also by nausea, fever, and dizziness. In such cases, you must definitely call an ambulance.

Pain is a sign that not everything is in order in the body. But this is not always true, because pain is different and it is necessary to clearly distinguish between them. During pregnancy, it is very common to feel a tugging or stabbing sensation in the lower abdomen. Every woman who wants to give birth to a healthy child has doubts about whether everything is okay with the baby.

The causes of pain during pregnancy can be very different. Sometimes they occur due to changes in weight or something, but it happens that the root cause of the pain is a bladder infection or digestive disorder. In any case, if you have any doubts, you should definitely consult a gynecologist, he will find out the true cause of the pain and give recommendations.

By and large, there are two groups of pain - obstetric and non-obstetric. The first group is pain that occurs during or threatened miscarriage. Non-obstetric pain is pain associated with the gastrointestinal tract or arising from stretching of the ligaments that support the uterus.

If pain occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, this may be a signal of a possible miscarriage. There are different types of such spontaneous abortions. But in this situation, the main thing is not to wait, but to immediately go to see a doctor and discuss further actions with him. With proper medical care, pregnancy can be saved.

Pain in the lower abdomen also occurs during ectopic pregnancy. This means that the fertilized egg does not develop in the uterus, but in the fallopian tube. A doctor can confirm an ectopic pregnancy with an ultrasound examination. The fact is that pain appears mainly at 5-7 weeks of gestation, when the growing egg ruptures the tissue of the fallopian tube. In this case, it can also be observed. Only surgical intervention can help maintain pregnancy.

However, abdominal pain does not always indicate a threat to the baby’s life. If your stomach hurts in late pregnancy, the reasons can be very different.

Often, poor nutrition leads to spasms in the lower abdomen. An additional load on the intestines can be caused by a dinner that is too heavy or stale food. Such pain is generally short-lived and stops after the digestion process is completed. To avoid unpleasant sensations, you just need to watch your diet and not overeat. Remember that your intestines are already uncomfortable during pregnancy because they are being squeezed by the uterus, so drink plenty of fluids and eat foods that are easy to digest.

As you grow, the load on the ligaments that support it increases. Therefore, stretching may occur in some places. In this case, the pain will be sharp and short-lived, but it can manifest itself throughout many months of pregnancy.

Occasionally, but it still happens that during pregnancy, pancreatitis and intestinal obstruction begin to worsen. In this case, the pain is accompanied by fever and nausea. Do not delay your visit to the doctor, as you may have to undergo surgery.

Unpleasant pain can also occur due to the possibility of miscarriage. A condition that should cause alarm is when it hurts like during contractions or appears red. These symptoms should prompt you to immediately consult a doctor.

Remember, pain does not necessarily mean a tragic pregnancy outcome or some serious problem. But you shouldn’t take this lightly, because it is you who are responsible for the life of the unborn child and for his health.

Especially for- Maryana Surma

Pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy can cause two types of reasons:

1. Problems associated with pregnancy- This , .
2. Non-obstetric pain most often caused by digestive disorders, stretched abdominal muscles, pressure on organs, and in severe cases – acute surgical pathologies.

Problems associated with pregnancy

Risk of miscarriage

Drawing and aching pain in the lower abdomen as with menstruation during pregnancy, which do not spread to other areas, can occur when there is a threat of miscarriage. They become a frequent accompanying symptom. If these symptoms occur woman needs medical attention.

In the future, cramping pain may appear, bleeding will increase and the cervix will shorten, which will lead to miscarriage or premature birth.

Threatened miscarriage with characteristic symptoms may provoke:

• infections;
• physical exercise;
• pathologies of fetal development.

Ectopic pregnancy

Sometimes the fertilized egg is located outside the uterine cavity - for example, in the tubes. At 8-12 weeks they may rupture. Observed cramping cutting pain in the side of the lower abdomen during pregnancy. Possible irradiation into the anus, under the ribs, into the leg, and the area above the collarbones. The intensity of the pain is so severe that it can cause fainting.

The attacks are short-lived and pass with slight bleeding. However, you should not delay going to the hospital due to the risk of intra-abdominal bleeding. Between attacks, the woman feels normal, but this does not mean that they will not happen again.

Premature placental abruption

Premature placental abruption during pregnancy and childbirth provokes a number of factors:

• abdominal injuries;
• shortened umbilical cord;
• severe gestosis;
• arterial hypertension;
• abnormal labor activity.

Because of very severe pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy, a woman strives to accept a position in which they will decrease. Internal bleeding is also observed, but external bleeding is often absent. During this period, the uterus is painful and tense, and the placental hematoma intensifies. Without timely medical intervention, fetal death is possible.

Pain not associated with pregnancy

Digestive disorders

Due to hormonal changes, expectant mothers often suffer from bloating and intestinal dysbiosis. Provoking factors are:

• unhealthy diet;
• a hearty dinner;
• low physical activity.

Digestive disorders often occur in the 2nd half of pregnancy and are accompanied by nagging and aching pain. Nausea with vomiting, heartburn, and belching may be present. In severe cases, there is a risk of miscarriage.

Abdominal muscle and ligament strain

During pregnancy, the uterus grows, which increases the load on the ligaments that support it, and the organs in the pelvis are displaced. At the same time, the load on the abdominal muscles increases, causing them to stretch.

In these conditions it is possible mild aching or stabbing pain. If the stomach is large, an umbilical or linea alba hernia is possible. Towards the end of pregnancy, moderate abdominal pain can provoke separation of the pelvic bones.

Acute surgical pathologies

Pregnant women often develop acute surgical pathologies, including intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, and pancreatitis. Diagnosis is difficult, and symptoms depend on the specific disease. Observed abdominal pain of varying intensity, radiating to different areas. With an “acute abdomen”, nausea with vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and high body temperature appear.

How to determine if pain is not dangerous

As a rule, rare stabbing pain in the lateral surfaces of the uterus and lower abdomen, not associated with physical activity during pregnancy, is not dangerous. This symptom is evidence of stretching of the supporting ligaments in the pelvis or enlargement of the uterus. However Only a gynecologist can make an accurate diagnosis. If there is such an opportunity, it is better to play it safe and make an appointment with him.

When you need to see a doctor urgently

A woman should see a doctor if she has severe sharp pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding or- all this may indicate the possibility of pregnancy complications, especially in the early stages.

Bloody discharge sometimes occurs in pregnant women after sexual intercourse if they have cervicitis or erosion of the uterine cervix. However, only a doctor can identify pathology.

It is especially important to go to the hospital if other symptoms are added to the pain:

• fever;
• nausea with vomiting;
• increased pain during movement;
• discomfort when urinating.

These signs may indicate a variety of pathologies, including kidney stones, uterine fibroids, and genitourinary infections. Appendicitis often causes severe abdominal pain in pregnant women.

Pain during training contractions

Everyone has different pain thresholds, so some may find training contractions painful. In such cases, it is recommended to take valerian or another mild sedative. Discomfort is usually short-lived. It goes away when the woman takes a comfortable body position and relaxes.

Intense and prolonged pain during training contractions most often indicates increased uterine tone or a “pathological preliminary period” that occurs before childbirth in emotionally unstable women. It is accompanied by irregular attacks of pain in the lower abdomen and back, which do not lead to childbirth. This condition lasts from 6 hours to 2 days and causes fatigue. Early rupture of water, weak labor and fetal hypoxia are possible, so the woman requires medical attention.