Feeling some pain, such as abdominal cramps, is not necessarily a cause for concern during pregnancy. This is because the changes of pregnancy itself can cause a little pain or discomfort. However, while a good deal of pain is normal and expected, such as belly button pain, there are some situations that deserve attention. They can be signs of something more severe and therefore we will show you 6 pains that are not normal in pregnancy!
During pregnancy, you have to get used to some discomfort. Your breasts increase in size and become painful. To balance your belly, you must bend your spine backward, causing pain in your lower back. The very growth of the uterus to accommodate the baby can cause some cramping. Understand in this post when you need to worry.
Is it normal to feel cramps during pregnancy?
What pregnant woman hasn’t wondered if it is normal to have cramps during pregnancy? A little abdominal cramping is quite common and not a sign to worry about. In fact, as we have already talked about in another post, the growth of the uterus causes some ligaments to stretch, causing some pain and discomfort, sometimes associated with some cramping. This is the main cause of those stabbing pains in early pregnancy.
Also, in mid-pregnancy, training contractions, called Braxton Hicks contractions, can even confuse you into thinking that you are in labor. These situations are normal and you need to get used to them.
Toward the end of pregnancy it is common to hear a mother complain that she feels stitches in her right side or rib pain in pregnancy. These pains, in turn, are caused by compression of the viscera when the uterus grows. Often the uterus can grow so large as to cause shortness of breath!
Anyway, pregnant women feel cramps throughout their pregnancy, for different reasons. However, it is important that this pain or discomfort is not too great. After all, too much pain can be a sign of some problems, such as premature labor. Therefore, if you are very uncomfortable with the pain you are feeling, it is important to seek medical help.
Problems such as urinary tract infections, miscarriage, premature labor, or preeclampsia can cause similar symptoms. It is always important to contact your doctor about any symptoms that worry you. Let’s see how to identify the main causes of pain that may be associated with pregnancy problems!
1 – Abortion cramps
In the event that a miscarriage occurs, the symptom of uterine cramps is quite common. Usually, uterine cramps are stronger than those that are felt when the uterus is growing. They are usually felt in the abdomen and pelvic region and can also radiate to the back. In some cases, they can also be associated with vaginal bleeding of varying intensity. As miscarriage is common, this is possibly one of the main pains that are not normal in pregnancy.
But beware, not all forms of abortion cause pain or bleeding. In some situations, the death of the embryo may occur without any symptoms presented by the mother. This form of abortion is also known as missed abortion.
2 – Pain of Ectopic Pregnancy
We call it an ectopic pregnancy when the embryo and the gestational sac are implanted in a location other than the uterine cavity. In this type of situation the pregnancy usually occurs in the uterine tube. And it may rupture, causing bleeding into the abdominal cavity.
An ectopic pregnancy in its earliest stages is usually asymptomatic. However, when the tube ruptures, usually around the eighth week of gestation, significant abdominal pain begins.
Since after rupture of the ectopic pregnancy there is bleeding into the abdominal cavity, this may be accompanied by symptoms such as low blood pressure or pallor.
3 – Urinary Tract Infection
We call it a urinary tract infection when bacteria contaminate the bladder or kidneys, multiplying and causing problems. Women in general are more prone to get urinary tract infections because they have a shorter urethra.
During pregnancy the risks of a urinary tract infection increase. The hormonal changes caused by pregnancy favor the occurrence of urinary infections. During your prenatal visits your obstetrician should therefore request urine tests in each trimester of pregnancy.
Usually the symptoms of a urinary infection are an increase in the frequency of times that the woman goes to the bathroom to urinate and burning when urinating. During pregnancy it is relatively difficult to diagnose a urinary infection by means of symptoms because the compression that the uterus makes on the bladder causes an increase in the number of urinations, without there necessarily being an infection.
Urinary infection can also trigger premature labor. Therefore it is essential that urine tests are performed during prenatal care.
If the urinary infection affects the kidneys, the picture becomes more serious and the pregnant woman will present with fever and lumbar pain in the kidneys’ region. Especially in this case you should seek your doctor as soon as possible because the antibiotic treatment is fundamental to preserve the mother and the conception.
4 – Premature detachment of placenta
Premature detachment of the placenta occurs when the placenta abruptly separates from the uterine wall, causing severe pain associated with significant vaginal bleeding. Although uncommon, premature detachment of the placenta can be one of the pains that are not normal in pregnancy.
Premature placental abruption is a problem that occurs in the second half of pregnancy and is usually associated with peaks of hypertension or abdominal trauma (too severe a blow to the uterus). Premature placental abruption can also occur when some illicit drugs such as cocaine or crack are used by the pregnant woman.
This is an obstetric emergency and in this case the pregnant woman should go to the hospital as soon as possible so that proper medical care can be initiated.
The pain is usually quite important. It occurs due to a very intense and long lasting uterine contraction, called uterine hypertonia. When we palpate the abdomen of a pregnant woman with a hypertonic uterus, the impression is that it is so hard that it looks like a trunk.
5 – Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a complex disease, characterized by an increase in blood pressure above 140 x 90 mmHg in the second half of pregnancy. It is a serious obstetric problem and has a definitive treatment only after delivery.
Often pre-eclampsia can present with severe conditions, associated with cerebral edema or increased liver size (hepatomegaly). In both these situations there are some painful symptoms that should be considered.
The patient with severe pre-eclampsia who has cerebral edema usually complains of headaches. On the other hand, the increase in the size of the liver may cause pain in the pregnant woman’s stomach. Therefore the pregnant woman with high blood pressure who has symptoms of headache or stomach pain should seek medical attention. Stomach pain in pregnancy can be due to liver distention caused by preeclampsia.
6 – Premature labor
In some situations the expectant mother’s uterus may begin to exhibit strong contractions ahead of time. This can be premature labor. Whenever the pregnant woman notices that her uterus is contracting, it is important to see how often this is happening. Cramping in pregnancy at the end of the third trimester can be labor.
The presence of 2 or more contractions that last about 30 seconds or more in a 10 minute interval can indicate premature labor. If you notice that this is happening to you, it is important that you seek medical attention to verify whether it really is a picture of labor or if they are just training contractions. For this we suggest you read our post on how to know if you are in labor.
Pains that are not normal during pregnancy: When to seek medical attention?
To avoid any problems it is worthwhile that you talk to your doctor about any pain that might seem most worrisome. It is reasonably difficult to differentiate normal pain from a pain that should be of concern to a bedside. Often even for the doctor. So it is important for you to be aware of these pains that are not normal in pregnancy.
It is wise to contact the team assisting you in the following situations:
- Major abdominal pain does not subside (even if it is not accompanied by bleeding)
- Severe headache that doesn’t go away, vision changes, sudden swelling and/or unexplained weight gain (which are symptoms of pre-eclampsia)
- Fever or chills
- Heavy bleeding, or bleeding with cramping or severe pain in the lower abdomen
- Pain or burning when urinating, difficulty urinating, or blood in the urine
- Dizziness or feeling faint
- Two or three contractions every 10 minutes, especially if this occurs before 37 weeks
Most of the time the pain will be “normal” and not associated with any problems. However, it is important to know the main pains that should make you see your doctor.
