More common than you might think, reports of stomach pain during pregnancy are unanimous among pregnant women. When we think about pregnancy, we usually don’t expect these discomforts, which can often be very frightening! Suddenly, overnight, you notice you’re not as flexible as before and the pains are increasingly present in your belly, back, ribs, and your whole abdomen.
Know that stomach pain during pregnancy is completely normal, but you should investigate the cause and rule out possible problems. Although they are worrying for the mother or those around her, these pains are usually harmless and the reasons vary depending on the gestational stage you are in.
Lower abdominal pain during early pregnancy can mean that the uterus is expanding1. In the beginning, especially if it’s your first pregnancy, the uterus tends to be sore as it stretches to make room for the baby.
The first trimester is usually quite uncomfortable, since all the hormonal activity will certainly affect a woman’s body.The body starts to receive a large number of hormones that cause the ligaments and abdominal muscles to stretch, occasionally causing pain and a pulling sensation in the lower abdomen, below the belly button.
In the second trimester, pain in the belly during pregnancy usually concentrates above the belly button. That’s because the uterus starts to grow more and more, going past the midline of the belly. These pains can also be caused by other reasons, for example, due to the movement of other organs in the body as they reposition to make the uterus, which carries the baby, the placenta, and gestational fluids, more comfortable2.
Now, in the third trimester, abdominal pain may already be due to practice contractions, or simply a result of the weight of the pregnancy and the effort of the muscles and ligaments to cope with so many changes in the woman’s body. Towards the end, around the 29th and 30th weeks of pregnancy, the body also begins to curve forward to compensate for changes in the spinal axis, which may cause pain in the belly, on the sides, or below the navel.
Belly pain can also happen as a result of the baby moving a lot at this stage or even due to attempts to fit into the pelvis. Another possible cause is the baby “playing” with the mother’s ribs, which causes pain more on the sides, but still in the woman’s belly.
When Should You Worry About Pregnancy Belly Pain?
Pain is common, but always a warning sign! At the beginning of pregnancy, a persistent and sharp pain may indicate problems such as an ectopic pregnancy (pain on one side of the body, lower abdomen). If the pain is below or very close to the uterus, it could mean you have a urinary tract infection. It’s also common for newly pregnant women to feel functional aches, like corpus luteum pain, for example. Abdominal pain due to excess gas is also more common than you might think. The excess gas generated by the body or consumed through soft drinks or foods that promote fermentation can lead to a greater concentration of stool and, consequently, cause belly pain.
The most concerning pain is always the one that increases and is accompanied by bleeding3. For miscarriage risks, the pain is located above the navel or just below, near the bikini line. In later pregnancy, placental abruption pain can be sharp and is a reason to see your doctor as soon as possible. In fact, any and all pain—whether it’s in the belly or not—should be reported to the doctor following your pregnancy. Only they will know exactly what it is, whether or not it’s cause for concern. Always keep your prenatal visits up to date, and this will help catch possible problems early. Make your doctor your best friend!
See also: Is Ectopic Pregnancy Possible?
