Abdominal pain during pregnancy, what causes it and other things that every pregnant woman should know!
Pregnancy can bring a host of transformations to your body and for that brief nine-month period, the world sure feels upside down. There is excitement about a new life growing inside of you, but it does come with a lot of pain and discomfort. You will face many challenges the moment you step into your motherhood journey.
Despite all these, mommies have proven themselves to be strong and resilient. They can ride out all of that just to bring their little munchkins into this world.
Indeed, pregnancy is both things: happiness and agony. It is an evolving experience that brings something new every day. That is particularly true for unexpected pains.
However, one of the more recurring issues that most pregnant women complain about is stomach ache, hypogastric pain in pregnancy or abdominal cramps, especially in the lower right part of their abdomen. The pain can be due to a variety of reasons and factors. While there is nothing much to worry about, it is always good to know what causes it as well as what you can do about it.
To make things easy for you, we have compiled a guide on all the potential causes of pain in the lower right abdomen. Take a look.
Common causes of lower right abdomen pain during pregnancy
You should always be careful about what causes your abdominal pain during pregnancy. | Image grabbed from iStock
Muscle strain due to weight gain
Most women have experienced gaining some weight when they become pregnant. One of the most common reasons for pain in the lower right abdomen is the excess weight that you gain during pregnancy. Weight gain cannot be avoided and even at your fittest, you will put on a few kilos. The added weight is the reason why muscles are easier to pull.
This becomes more common when you are in your second and third trimesters. So slouching while finding a comfortable position or lifting something heavy can cause pain in the lower right abdomen. It can also cause pain in your lower back.
Cramps because of womb stretches
Remember those times when you almost cried because of menstrual cramps? This pain is very common for women during their period, and study shows that it can also make a comeback during pregnancy. This can cause more pain in the lower right abdomen.
As your pregnancy progresses, your belly will continue to grow and your womb stretches too. Cramps usually take place during the first and second trimesters, whereas a ligament strain can be the reason for it in the third trimester.
Sex can also cause cramps early on in the pregnancy, which causes aches and stabbing pain in your stomach area. In most cases, they subside on their own after some time.
Another reason for this pain in early pregnancy to increase is when the round ligaments get irritated. This is common in the second trimester as the amniotic fluid and the weight of the baby begin to rise.
This results in your uterus expanding. The round ligaments act like ropes to keep the womb in its place. As the uterus turns larger, the ligaments get softer and stretch causing pain, especially when you cough or sneeze.
This may give you a lot of pain but the trick is to find a comfortable position or regularly do gentle stretches and flex your hips.
Learn more about round ligament pain during pregnancy here.
Digestive causes such as bloating and constipation
Your digestion can go for a toss during pregnancy, which can cause problems like gas, constipation, and bloating.
Now, if you’ve had these problems pre-pregnancy as well, you’d know they do cause pain in the lower right abdomen.
Hormonal changes also impact digestive issues during pregnancy and are most common in the first and second trimesters.
The third trimester brings other problems like heartburn that further aggravates the pain, while also putting pressure on the digestive tract.
Some of the easier ways to relieve digestive issues include:
- Stay hydrated by increasing your water intake
- Changing your dietary meal plan
- Eating more green vegetables, whole-grain bread and pasta, lentils, and barley
- Switching from regular rice to brown rice
You also need to avoid a few foods to maintain a healthy digestive tract. These include:
- Milk and dairy items
- Fried food
- Artificial sweeteners
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
Braxton Hicks contractions or “false labour”
Braxton Hicks also known as “false labour” contractions are your body’s way of preparing for childbirth. However, these can sometimes happen weeks or months before the due date. This occurrence usually happens in the third trimester of pregnancy.
During Braxton Hicks, mums will feel tightening or cramps in the lower stomach area. While it may feel like period cramps, they last for a short while and aren’t too painful.
When enduring Braxton Hicks contractions, you will be advised to try changing your position or walking a bit.
Other serious causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy
If you can’t endure the pain already, this can be a sign of a more serious problem in your pregnancy. Image grabbed from Unsplash
As mentioned, stomach or abdominal pain, most of the time is not worrisome and is temporary because it can go away on its own. On the other hand, recurring pain is also a sign of something more serious. Everything that feels like so much for your body is considered abnormal and requires a more careful look.
Here’s a list of what could cause pain in the lower right abdomen that needs medical intervention.
One: Gallstones in your gallbladder
Your digestive system slows during pregnancy and this can cause gallstones to form in your gallbladder. This is one of the reasons why you may experience constant pain in the lower right abdomen. Symptoms of gallstones include:
- Nausea, vomiting or dizziness
- Sudden intensified upper right side pain in the stomach area
- Pain between a woman’s shoulder blades and right shoulder
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
A change in diet can help you get rid of gallstones on its own. You can ask your doctor which foods are the best to eat if you have this condition. Professionals and health experts usually recommend that you stay away from fried and fatty foods for some time.
Experiencing ectopic pregnancy
This is when a fertilised egg begins growing outside of the uterus where it should be. An ectopic pregnancy is extremely harmful to a mum’s health as a normal pregnancy can place only in the womb. Worst comes to worst, this condition is fatal for both the mom and the baby.
Some of the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:
- Heavy or light bleeding
- Red or brown bleeding
- Sharp pain in the stomach
- Fainting or having extreme lightheadedness
- Pain in the shoulder area
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your gynaecologist immediately. In most cases, ectopic pregnancy needs to be removed from your body before it causes further damage to your health. However, it does not affect your uterus and you can go on to have a normal pregnancy again in the future.
Miscarriage mostly during the first trimester
Severe pain in the right side of your stomach could also be a sign of you having a miscarriage. Some of the symptoms include:
- Severe pain in your lower stomach
- Spotting or red bleeding
- Lower back pain
Miscarriages mostly take place in the first trimester and data suggests that about 15 per cent of women suffer from it during pregnancy.
It’s important to speak to your gynaecologist in the event of a miscarriage. You should also seek counselling or join support groups during this period. Unconditional support from friends and family is also necessary in these times.
One of the most common reasons for pain in the lower right abdomen is appendicitis. However, only about 0.05 percent of pregnant women are affected by it. But that does mean there is a rare chance that you may be experiencing pain due to an infection or inflammation in your appendix.
There is a possibility that you have this if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Stomach pain
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
If you have appendicitis during pregnancy in the third trimester, the symptoms may include:
- Heartburn
- Fatigue
- Mid to upper right side pain
- Gassiness
- Diarrhoea
Appendicitis can be particularly dangerous because an infected appendix can swell and burst. This can then cause toxins to spread in your body, which could be life-threatening if left untreated. To make sure, contact your doctor right away.
Serious Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
While UTI is a common occurrence in children and adults, it is more serious in pregnancy. Up to 10 per cent of expectant moms will get a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point during their pregnancy. Having this can put them at risk of developing high blood pressure or hypertension. If they developed this, it can result in preterm labour or low birth weight.
Typical symptoms of UTI during pregnancy include a sudden urge to urinate, pain or burning with urination, and bloody urination—but some patients also report having abdominal pain. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, do not hesitate to consult your gynaecologist so she can give you the right and safe treatment for UTI.
Preeclampsia in pregnancy
This is associated with high blood pressure and about five to eight percent of pregnant women develop preeclampsia. It most commonly develops in the second and third trimesters and can raise your blood pressure to alarming levels.
Some of the symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Swelling of feet
- Easy bruising
- Little urination
Preeclampsia can increase your risk of having a stroke. Aside from this, it can also damage your liver, kidneys, or lungs.
The placenta is a life-giving organ that is attached to the uterus (either on the top or the side) and acts as a lifeline that gives nutrients and oxygen to your baby through the umbilical cord. It is also responsible for removing waste from your baby’s blood.
After giving birth, the placenta usually detaches itself from the uterine wall. However, in some cases, the placenta detaches itself early, either completely or partially, decreasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients supplied to your baby and causing heavy bleeding in the mother. This is called placental abruption and is a serious pregnancy complication that requires immediate medical treatment.
Call your doctor right away if your abdominal pain is accompanied by:
- Uterine contractions that are longer and more intense than average labour contractions
- Uterine tenderness
- Backache or back pain
- Decreased foetal movement
Learn more about placental abruption here.
If you are having strong and regular contractions accompanied by pain in your lower back before your 37th week, you may be experiencing preterm labor.
Even mums who already got pregnant and gave birth before may not be able to tell if contractions are Braxton Hicks or true preterm labour, so it is better to err on the side of caution and call your doctor right away.
Chances are you just had a false alarm and will be sent home (like 30 per cent of pregnant women), but it is better than to risk leaking vaginal fluid or experiencing a decrease in foetal movement.
Treatment for pain in the lower right abdomen
There is a lot you can do to relieve your stomach pain in the comfort of your home during pregnancy. | Photo grabbed from Pexels
If the pain is mild, it can be treated at home and require subtle tweaks to help you ease the discomfort. Expecting moms can try doing the following:
- Changing their position. Try finding the best position that will lessen the pain you feel.
- Walking or moving around. This will let your muscles and body relax.
- Using a hot water bottle or heat pads. Just like how you do it when you have menstrual cramps, a warm compress is always the go-to solution.
- Taking a warm bath can also relieve the pain.
- Massage the area. You can ask for help from your husband or family to massage the stomach area for you.
However, if the pain is consistent and increases from mild to severe, you need to contact your doctor immediately. In some cases like appendicitis, gallstones and ectopic pregnancy, you may also need surgery to make sure that you are safe from any complications that may happen.
While pains are a part of pregnancy, moms need to pay attention if it is due to gassiness or something more severe. In most cases, little changes to your position or rest will help ease the discomfort. However, if the pain continues to increase in intensity, do not ignore it.
Just remember that it is not just your health that is at risk here, but that little one growing inside your belly too.
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore
Additional information from Angerica Villanueva
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
