Abdominal pain in pregnancy

Is it normal to feel abdominal pain in pregnancy?

Pains, aches and cramps in your belly while you're pregnant are normal. They're usually nothing to worry about, if all is otherwise well.

Carrying a baby puts a lot of pressure on your muscles, joints and veins. This can make you feel uncomfortable around your stomach area. 

Throughout your pregnancy, the tough, flexible tissues (ligaments) that connect your bones stretch to support your growing uterus (womb). So when you move around, you may feel mild pain on one or both sides of your body.

As your baby grows, your uterus (womb) tends to tilt to the right and the ligament may spasm or contract. So you may feel cramping pain more often on your right side.

How can I ease pregnancy abdominal pain?

Resting when the pain happens usually eases cramping, along with taking these steps:

·         Try sitting down for a while.

·         Lie down on the side opposite to where the pain is, and put your feet up.

·         Have a warm bath.

·         Use a hot water bottle or wheat bag on the painful areas.

·         Try to relax.

Sometimes, having sex and reaching orgasm can give you cramps and a slight backache. An orgasm makes pulsations ripple up through your vagina and uterus, which can leave a feeling of cramp afterwards. 

Having sex when you're pregnant can make these ripples feel more like contraction cramps, particularly in the third trimester. But don't worry, there's no evidence that orgasm sets off labour, even at term. 

You could ease potential cramps by taking sex soft and slow. A gentle back massage afterwards may help, too. 

What if I feel unwell and have abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain could be a sign of something that's not related to pregnancy. Appendicitis, an ovarian cyst, kidney stones, a urinary tract infection (UTI), or gall bladder problem can cause abdominal pain. 

Your pregnancy may even have triggered a problem. Fibroids in your uterus that didn't bother you before you conceived may feel uncomfortable now that you're pregnant.

Keep a note of what you're feeling and tell your midwife or doctor about it. They can work out whether there is more to your discomfort than pregnancy aches and pains. However, don't wait to get help if the pain doesn't go away after several minutes of rest, or if you feel cramping along with:

·         pain or burning when you wee

·         unusual vaginal discharge

·         spotting or bleeding

·         tenderness and pain

·         vomiting

·         fever

·         chills

reference: baby center