Lower abdominal pain during pregnancy: what it can be and dangers

It is very normal to have discomfort in the lower abdomen during pregnancy. Abdominal pain can appear throughout pregnancy, regardless of the trimester you are in, but it does seem to have a higher incidence  during the first and third trimesters. 

It can last for several days, appear and disappear spontaneously, or change its location frequently. These abdominal pains in general, usually have a mild to moderate intensity . In some cases the discomfort is sensations although other times, the least, it can be spoken of as true pain.

Round ligament pain

Round ligament pain is a short, sharp, stabbing pain or a dull, aching ache that you may feel on one or both sides of your lower abdomen or lower groin. This pain usually begins in the second trimester when the ligaments that support the uterus in the pelvis stretch and thicken to contain and support its increasing size.

You may feel a short stab if you change position suddenly, for example when getting out of bed or out of a chair, when you cough, when you roll over in bed, or when you get out of the bathtub. You may also feel a dry sore  after a particularly active day, if you’ve been walking a lot or doing some other physical activity. Call your doctor if you continue to feel these discomforts even after you’ve rested.

Ligaments of the uterus

In many cases, these lower abdominal pains  are caused by pulling on the ligaments of the uterus, it is the result of its growth. These discomforts can be noticed at any time during pregnancy, although they are very typical of the first trimester . This pain is very similar to the typical “period pain” that is associated with menstruation; the pains, in this case, are usually located in the lower half of the abdomen, almost in the pelvis and even in the groin.

Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is a very common pregnancy problem and is more common in early pregnancy , and can be noticed through pain in the back of the abdomen, under the belly burning and difficulty urinating, an urgent urge to urinate even if there is little urine, fever and nausea.

The best we can do to treat this type of infection is to go to the doctor for a urinalysis to confirm the urinary tract infection and start treatment with antibiotics, rest and fluid intake.

Gas and bloating

Pain in the lower abdomen can also be due to intestinal discomfort, due to slower digestion during pregnancy. In this case, flatus or retained gas  type pains are favored and can appear anywhere in the abdomen.

Sometimes they are almost pelvic and it can be difficult to know if they are caused by the uterus or the intestine, even for a specialist, but since they are completely benign pains, they will not cause concern.

Constipation

Constipation is another common cause of abdominal discomfort during pregnancy. Constipation is caused by certain hormones that slow down the passage of food through the digestive system, and the growing uterus that puts pressure on the rectum.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is the sudden rise in blood pressure in pregnancy that is difficult to treat and can pose a risk to both women and babies. The main signs and symptoms of preeclampsia are pain in the upper right abdomen , nausea, headache, swelling of the hands, legs, and face, and blurred vision.

It is recommended to go to the obstetrician as soon as possible to evaluate the blood pressure and start hospital treatment because this is a serious situation that endangers the life of the mother and the baby. See how the treatment for preeclampsia should be.

Braxton-Hicks contractions

When we are in the fifth-sixth month of pregnancy, abdominal discomfort can be caused by contractions . Normally this is well distinguished from other types of pain due to its characteristics, but in some first-time pregnancies they can be confused. In general it is normal to have contractions if they are not strong.

Sometimes, after the middle of your pregnancy, you may start to notice an occasional contraction in your uterus . Before week 37, these Braxton-Hicks contractions should be infrequent, irregular, and mostly painless.

Call your doctor if your contractions are accompanied by lower back pain, if you feel more than four contractions per hour, even if they aren’t painful but occur at regular intervals, or if you have any other symptoms of preterm labor.

Labor

Childbirth is the leading cause of abdominal pain in late pregnancy and is characterized by abdominal pain, cramps, increased vaginal discharge, jelly-like discharge, vaginal bleeding, and uterine contractions at regular intervals.

If you are in the final phase of pregnancy, and you notice pain, it is best to go to the hospital to see if you are really in labor , since these pains can become regular for a few hours, but they can disappear completely during the night, for example , and reappear the next day. With the same characteristics. If possible, call your doctor to confirm if it’s a labor and when you should go to the hospital.

Pelvic bones

Finally, in rare cases, pelvic pain , produced by the pelvic bones, can be a bit high and be mistaken for abdominal pain.

Lower Belly Pain During Pregnancy | Serious problems

There are a series of warnings that we must know in order to be alert in case of abdominal pain. If you have abdominal pain or cramping accompanied by light bleeding, severe bleeding, fever, chills, vaginal discharge, fainting, discomfort with urination, or nausea and vomiting, or if the pain does not subside after several minutes of rest, call your doctor.

We are going to see those notices that we have to take into account to go to a hospital as soon as possible or at least notify our doctor.

Extrauterine (ectopic) pregnancy

Extrauterine pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. Symptoms usually appear around the sixth or seventh week after fertilization. However, they can show up as early as four weeks, before you even know you’re pregnant.

If an ectopic pregnancy is not treated, it can rupture the tube and lead to death. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: discomfort or pain when you feel your abdomen or pelvis, discharge or bleeding from the vagina, these may be red or brown, few or many, continuous or intermittent, pain that gets worse during physical activity or while having a bowel movement or coughing, or pain at the point of the shoulder.

If you have severe bleeding or symptoms of shock, such as increased heart rate, dizziness, fainting, or pale or sweaty skin, call your doctor immediately, they will know what to do.

Spontaneous abortion

Miscarriage is the loss of pregnancy in the first 20 weeks. Vaginal discharge or bleeding is usually the first symptom, followed by abdominal pain a few hours or even days later.

The bleeding can be light or heavy. The pain may be cramp-like or persistent, mild or sharp, and may be more like low back pain or pressure on the pelvis.

Call your doctor if you have symptoms of miscarriage. If you have severe pain or severe bleeding, you need immediate medical attention.

Premature birth

Preterm labor,  also known as preterm labor, occurs when you start having contractions that efface or dilate your cervix before your 37th week of pregnancy.

Call your doctor or midwife right away if you have any of the following symptoms in the second or third trimester:

1. An increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (whether it becomes watery, mucous, or bloody, even if it is just pink or has a few streaks of blood)
2. vaginal discharge or bleeding
3. Abdominal pain, menstrual-like cramps, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they’re not painful)
4. Increased pressure in the pelvic area
5. Low back pain, especially if you’ve never had back pain before

Placental abruption

Placental abruption is a serious complication in which the placenta separates from the uterus, partially or completely, before the baby is born.

Symptoms can be very diverse. Placental abruption can sometimes cause sudden and noticeable bleeding, but in other cases it may not cause any visible bleeding at first, or you may have only light bleeding or some small leakage. You may also see bloody fluid if your water breaks.

Other characteristic symptoms of placental abruption are very intense pain under the ribs, together with a feeling of dizziness and noticeable and sudden bleeding. Reason why you have to act quickly since every minute that passes puts both the life of the baby and the mother at risk.

It could also be that you have pain when touching the uterus, back pain or frequent contractions, or the uterus could contract and remain hard, as with a cramp or a contraction that does not go away. You may also notice a decrease in the baby’s activity. It is essential that you receive immediate medical attention.