It appears as a result of causes of different nature that can vary depending on the period of gestation in which it occurs.
However, in general and within certain limits, stomach pain in pregnancy is considered normal. However, when it occurs in association with other symptoms of varying intensity and severity, it could be a sign of disorders not yet diagnosed that require medical attention. In light of what has just been said and given the delicacy of the gestation period , in case of stomach ache during pregnancy, it is always advisable to contact your doctor or gynecologist, avoiding any type of self-diagnosis.
in the intestine. However, often and willingly, this wording is used in a much broader way - even if not properly - to indicate a generic pain localized in any point of the abdomen (to be clear, from the stomach up to the lower abdomen) .
In this article, therefore, we will consider all the causes that can give rise to belly pain in pregnancy understood as pain localized in different points of the abdomen.
. The type of pain that is perceived is very similar to menstrual cramps, therefore, it is localized in the area of the lower abdomen. A similar pain in the stomach is due to the growth of the uterus which, after conception, begins to prepare for the imminent pregnancy. .Second Trimester of Pregnancy
As the pregnancy progresses, the woman's body continues to change. In this phase, it is possible to perceive the so-called round ligament pain, caused by the stretching of the ligaments that support the uterus. It is a pain localized in the lower abdomen that can be crampy or present as a dull ache.
In addition to this, other common causes of bellyache in pregnancy during the second trimester are:
- Constipation: constipation is a rather common condition in future mothers, it is attributable to the increase in the levels of female hormones that typically occurs in this period of a woman's life and, in particular, to the increase in the amount of circulating progesterone. In addition to this, constipation can be favored or worsened by the uterus which, becoming enlarged, begins to exert mechanical pressure on the intestine. At the same time, nutrition can also play an important role in the onset of the condition in question. However, the presence of constipation can lead to the appearance of stomach ache.
- Bloating and intestinal gas: The presence of abdominal bloating and intestinal gas often causes stomach pain in pregnancy and a feeling of fullness.
- Diarrhea: As well as constipation and intestinal gas formation, diarrhea is also one of the gastrointestinal disorders that most commonly occur during pregnancy. It can originate from hormonal, dietary or pathological causes. In any case, it is always accompanied by stomach ache in pregnancy.
Third Trimester and End of Pregnancy
In addition to causes such as diarrhea and constipation (in this case, aldosterone is the culprit) that can persist or occur even during the third trimester, in the last months of gestation it is very likely that belly pain in pregnancy can be triggered by:
- Braxton Hicks contractions: abdominal pain is caused by the repeated contraction of the muscular tissues of the uterus preparing for birth. However, such contractions do not cause any dilation and are not an indication of imminent labor. from the sixth month of gestation.
- Beginning of labor: the abdominal pain that is perceived at the beginning of labor is caused by regular and rather painful contractions, a sign of imminent birth.
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