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Early pregnancy discomfort


Uterus Pain in Early Pregnancy: Causes and Seeking Help

During early pregnancy, you may experience mild twinges or cramping in the uterus. You may also feel aching in your vagina, lower abdomen, pelvic region, or back. It may feel similar to menstrual period cramps.

These minor pains may be caused by different factors like implantation, constipation or gas, or the womb expanding and your ligaments stretching to make room for your baby.

If the pain is mild and goes away on its own, it’s likely nothing to worry about. But any pain along with spotting or heavy bleeding should be reported to your doctor.

Seek emergency care if you experience sharp or chronic pain along with faintness, nausea, high fever or chills, or dizziness.

Read on to learn more about the causes for uterus pain in early pregnancy and when to seek help.

During the first weeks of pregnancy, you likely won’t notice your uterus growing or expanding. But by the 12th week, your uterus stretches and grows to about the size of a grapefruit. If you’re pregnant with twins or multiples, you may feel your uterus stretching sooner.

Symptoms of your uterus stretching may include twinges, aches, or mild discomfort in your uterine or lower abdominal region. This is a normal part of pregnancy and a sign that everything is progressing normally.

Watch for spotting or painful cramping. Report these symptoms to your doctor.

Gas and constipation are common during the first trimester of pregnancy. Levels of hormones in the body increase during pregnancy, which can slow down digestion and relax muscles in the bowels. You may feel additional pressure in the uterus as a result.

Symptoms also include hard, dry stools, or fewer bowel movements than usual.

Some women also experience bloating or gas in the first trimester. This is considered a normal part of pregnancy.

Drink at least 10 cups of water per day to help relieve gas pain and bloating.

For constipation, eat plenty of fiber-rich foods. You can also talk to your doctor about taking a pregnancy-safe stool softener.

Miscarriage is the loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks.

Possible symptoms include:

  • vaginal spotting or bleeding
  • uterine or pelvic pain
  • low back pain
  • abdominal pain
  • passing tissue or discharge through the vagina

Let your doctor know if you’re experiencing miscarriage symptoms. Once a miscarriage has started, there is no treatment for saving the pregnancy, but in some cases medication or surgery is needed.

Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg attaches itself in a place other than the inside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. You may feel sharp, stabbing, or chronic pain on one or both sides of the uterus or abdomen.

Other symptoms include:

  • vaginal bleeding that’s heavier or lighter than your normal period
  • weakness, dizziness, or fainting
  • gastrointestinal or stomach discomfort

Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency. Seek immediate emergency medical help if you think you’re experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.

Round ligament pain usually starts in the second trimester, so it’s unlikely to be the cause of pain in early pregnancy. The round ligaments are located in the pelvis and hold the uterus in place. As your belly grows, they stretch.

With round ligament pain, you may experience what feels like a spasm on the right side of your abdomen or right hip. Some pregnant women do feel round ligament pain on both sides, though.

The pain should only last a few seconds or minutes, though it may return when you laugh or do certain movements like standing or bending down.

If you continue to experience round ligament pain, it may be helpful to try light stretching, prenatal yoga, or prenatal massage. Always check with your doctor before trying these treatments, though.

Treatment for uterine pains depends on your symptoms. Mild uterine pain that goes away after a few minutes or hours is likely nothing to worry about.

You can treat mild uterine discomfort at home by taking a warm (not hot) shower or bath, resting, and drinking plenty of water and other fluids. Tell your doctor about your symptoms, as they may recommend another form of treatment that’s safe for your pregnancy.

Sharp, stabbing, or chronic pain along with symptoms like bleeding, shortness of breath, or fever or chills likely requires emergency medical care.

Let medical staff know you’re pregnant and report any symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, or faintness right away. The medical staff will assess your symptoms and may perform an ultrasound.

Seek help if you’re experiencing sharp or chronic uterine pain along with other symptoms like:

  • vaginal bleeding
  • dizziness
  • high fever
  • chills

If the pain goes away on its own, it likely isn’t a reason for concern, but you should still let your doctor know.

You should also let your doctor know about any mild uterine pain during pregnancy. They can decide if you need to be seen right away or if you can wait until your next scheduled prenatal appointment.

Also, tell your doctor if you’re experiencing uterine pain along with spotting or bleeding. These may be symptoms of a miscarriage. Your doctor can assess your symptoms and determine next steps.

Mild uterine pain during early pregnancy doesn’t always mean something is wrong with the pregnancy. However, pain accompanied by spotting or bleeding should be reported to your doctor. These may be signs that a miscarriage is starting.

Your doctor can assess your symptoms at any point during your pregnancy to determine if you need medical care.

Common discomforts of pregnancy

Acne

What can I do about acne during pregnancy?

Acne may not cause you physical discomfort, but it may be annoying. If you’ve never had it, you may get it for the first time during pregnancy. If you’ve had it before pregnancy, it may get worse during pregnancy. We don’t know exactly why acne happens during pregnancy, but it’s probably because of extra hormones in your body.

To treat acne during pregnancy:

  • Wash your face at morning and night with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water.
  • If your hair is oily, wash it with shampoo every day. Try to keep your hair off your face.
  • Don’t pick or squeeze acne. This can cause scarring.
  • Use makeup that is oil-free. Look for the words water-based, noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic on the product label.
  • Talk to your health care provider about medicine you can take to treat acne. Don’t take any medicine—even acne medicine—without talking to your provider first. Some acne medicine can be harmful to your baby. Some can cause birth defects.

Here’s what you need to know about acne medicine:

Most over-the-counter acne medicines are safe to use during pregnancy, but check with your provider first. During pregnancy, you may be able to use products that contain:

  • Azelaic acid
  • Glycolic acid
  • Topical benzoyl peroxide
  • Topical salicylic acid

Dapsone, a newer acne medicine, may be safe to use during pregnancy, but talk with your provider before you use it.

Some acne medicines are not safe to use during pregnancy. They can cause serious problems for your baby, including birth defects. Don’t use these medicines during pregnancy:

  • Hormonal therapy
  • Isotretinoin and other retinoids
  • Oral and topical tetracyclines

Talk to your provider before you take any medicine during pregnancy. Make sure any provider you see (like a doctor who has special training to treat skin, hair and nails [dermatologist]) knows you’re pregnant.

Back pain and sciatica

What can I do about back pain and sciatica during pregnancy?

Pregnancy hormones, your growing belly and weight gain during pregnancy can cause lower-back pain, especially in the later months. Pressure from the uterus can affect your sciatic nerve, which goes from the lower back to the hip and down the back of the leg. Pain along the sciatic nerve is called sciatica.

Here’s what you can do to help relieve back pain during pregnancy:

  • Stand up straight with your chest up and your shoulders back and relaxed. Don’t lock your knees. Avoid standing for long periods of time. If you have to stand for a long time, try to rest one foot at a time on a stool or box.
  • Sit in chairs that have good back support. Put a small pillow behind your lower back for extra support.
  • Wear shoes with low heels and good arch support. Don’t wear flats or high heels.
    Don’t lift heavy things. To pick up something off the floor, bend at the knees and keep your back straight. Don’t bend over at the waist.
  • Sleep on your left side and put a pillow between your legs or sleep with a full body pillow. Sleep on a firm mattress. If your mattress is soft, put a board between it and the box spring to make it feel firmer.
  • Wear maternity pants that have a wide elastic band that goes under your belly. You may want to try wearing a belly-support girdle made just for use during pregnancy.
  • Aim to be active every day. Talk to your health care provider about exercises and stretches you can do to help strengthen your back muscles.
  • Try putting a heating pad or ice pack on your back.
  • Talk to your provider before you take any pain medicine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicine, supplements and herbal products.

Call your provider right away if:

  • Your back pain is severe or if you also have a fever.
  • Your feet are numb or your legs are weak.
  • You have severe pain in your calves.
  • It burns when you pee (urinate).
  • You’re bleeding from your vagina.

Belly pain

What can I do about pain in my lower belly?

As your baby grows, the muscles around the uterus (womb) pull and stretch. This can cause pain low in your belly. You may feel it most when you cough or sneeze. It usually goes away if you stay still for a bit or if you change to a different position.

Call your health care provider if your belly pain is severe, gets worse or doesn’t go away.

Breasts

What can I do about sore breasts during pregnancy?

Your breasts begin to change early in pregnancy as they get read to make breast milk to feed your baby. Breast changes include:

  • Getting bigger, fuller and heavier. They may even seem swollen. Tender, swollen breasts may be one of the first signs that you’re pregnant. Your breasts grow because of pregnancy hormones and the increase in fat and milk glands in them. As the skin on your breasts grows, it may be itchy and you may see stretch marks.
  • Nipples and areolas getting darker. Your nipples may stick out more, and the areolas may get larger. The areola is the dark area around the nipple.
  • Leaking colostrum. Colostrum is clear, sticky liquid that comes out of your breasts right after birth before your breast milk comes in. Your body starts making it during the last few months of pregnancy. As you get closer to your due date, colostrum may leak from your breasts.

Here’s what you can do to help relieve soreness in your breasts:

  • Get a good maternity bra that has wide straps and bigger cups.
  • If you exercise, make sure your bra gives you good support.
  • If your breasts itch, use lotion. Talk to your health care provider about what kind to use.
  • If you are leaking colostrum, you can get pads to put in your bra cups to absorb the liquid.

If the soreness in your breasts doesn’t go away, is severe or you feel a lump in your breast, call your provider. If you’ve had breast surgery or implants, tell your provider.

Congestion and nosebleeds

What can I do about congestion and nosebleeds during pregnancy?

You may have a runny or stuffy nose (nasal congestion) or nosebleeds during pregnancy. They’re caused by increased pregnancy hormones and blood in your body that make the lining of your nose swell, dry out and bleed.

Here’s what you can do if you have or want to prevent a stuffy or runny nose or nosebleed:

  • Use a humidifier to increase the moisture in the air in your home.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Put a few dabs of petroleum jelly on the insides of your nose.
  • Use saline nose drops or nose rinse. Don’t use any other kind of medicine without talking to your provider first.

If you have a nosebleed:

  • Sit up straight and lean forward.
  • Breathe through your mouth and pinch your nose shut for 5 to 10 minutes with your thumb and finger.
  • If you get blood in your mouth, spit it out. Swallowing it may upset your stomach.

Call your health care provider right away if:

  • You have signs of a cold or the flu, like sneezing, coughing, a sore throat, fever or minor aches.
  • A nosebleed lasts longer than 20 minutes.
  • You get a nosebleed after an injury to your head.

Constipation

What can I do about constipation during pregnancy?

Constipation is common later in pregnancy. It’s when you don’t have bowel movements or they don’t happen often, or your stools (poop) are hard to pass. Constipation during pregnancy may be caused by pregnancy hormones and the weight of your growing uterus, which can affect the process of how your body breaks down food after you eat (digestion).

Here’s what you can do to help relieve constipation during pregnancy:

  • Drink lots of water. Fruit juice (especially prune juice) can help, too.
  • Eat foods that are high in fiber, like fruits, vegetables, beans, whole-grain bread and pasta and bran cereal.
  • Eat smaller meals several times a day. Smaller amounts of food may be easier to digest.
  • Do something active every day. Walking is good. Ask your provider about other activities that are safe during pregnancy.
  • Tell your provider about any supplements you take, especially an iron supplement. Too much iron can lead to constipation. Don’t take any medicine, supplement or herbal product during pregnancy without talking to your provider first. A supplement is a product you take to make up for certain nutrients that you don't get enough of in foods you eat.
  • Ask your provider about over-the counter medicine that is safe to take. Don’t take any kind of medicine during pregnancy without talking to your provider first.

If you haven’t had a bowel movement in 3 days, call your provider right away.

Fatigue and sleep problems

What can I do about fatigue and sleep problems during pregnancy?

Fatigue means being really tired and having little energy. You may feel fatigue early and late in pregnancy. Your body may be tired because:

  • It’s working hard to take care of your growing baby. Your body’s making pregnancy hormones and you’re using a lot of energy, even when you sleep.
  • You may have trouble sleeping at night because you’re uncomfortable or you need to get up to go to the bathroom. Later in pregnancy, leg cramps may wake you up at night.
  • You may feel more stress than before you got pregnant. Stress is worry that you feel in response to things that happen in your life. Stress can make you feel tired.
  • You may have other children to take care of and other activities that take up a lot of your time.

Here’s what you can do to help you feel less tired:

  • Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Take short naps during the day, if you can.
  • Eat healthy foods. Drink plenty of water during the day but cut back a few hours before you go to bed at night.
  • Do something active every day. Talk to your health care provider about activities that are safe during pregnancy.
  • Cut back on activities that aren’t necessary or that make you tired. Ask your partner, family and friends to help you out around the house or running errands. If you have sick days or vacation days at work, use them.

Here’s what you can do to help you get a good night’s sleep:

  • Sleep on your left side with a pillow under your belly and another one under your legs.
  • Take a warm shower or bath before you go to bed to help you relax.
  • Do exercises, like yoga, to help you relax before going to bed.
  • Make sure your bedroom is quiet and comfortable.
  • Cut out caffeine, especially before bedtime. Caffeine is a drug found in things like coffee, tea, soda, chocolate and some energy drinks and medicines. It stimulates the brain, so it makes you feel awake. It stays in the body for several hours, so limit it in the afternoon or evening.

Call your provider right away if you’re severely tired or if it begins to interfere with your everyday life.

Gas

What can I do to help reduce gas during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, certain hormones and your growing baby crowding your belly can slow down the process of how your body breaks down food after you eat (digestion) and cause you to bloat, burp and pass gas.

Here’s what you can do to help reduce gas during pregnancy:

  • Don’t eat foods that cause gas, like fried or fatty foods, beans, cabbage, cauliflower and dairy products, like milk and cheese. Limit food and drinks that are carbonated (bubbly), like soda.
  • Eat several small meals during the day.
  • Do something active every day. Exercise can help improve digestion. Talk to your provider about safe activities to do during pregnancy.
  • Talk to your health care provider before you take any medicine to help relieve gas and bloating.

Call your provider right away if you have:

  • Gas that feels like labor contractions, that comes and goes regularly, every 5-10 minutes. Contractions are when the muscles of your uterus get tight and then relax. Contractions help push your baby out of your uterus.
  • Blood in your stool (poop)
  • Severe diarrhea
  • Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and vomiting

Headaches

What can I do to help relieve headaches during pregnancy?

Headaches are common during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. They’re often caused by pregnancy hormones, stress or body tension caused by carrying extra weight throughout pregnancy. If you’re cutting back on caffeine during pregnancy, you may get a headache until your body is used to the new amount.

Here’s what you can do to help relieve headaches during pregnancy:

  • Talk to your health care provider before you take any medicine, supplement or herbal product to relieve your headache. Some may be harmful to your baby. A supplement is a product you take to make up for certain nutrients that you don’t get enough of in the foods you eat. An herbal product, like a pill or tea, is made from herbs (plants) that are used in cooking.
  • Try to figure out what causes your headache (called a headache trigger). Common headache triggers are cigarette smoke, certain foods and eye strain. Once you know your triggers, try to limit or get rid of them.
  • Eat healthy foods, drink lots of water and do something active every day.
  • Get a good night’s sleep every night. Rest during the day when you can.
  • Try to reduce your stress. Stress is worry, strain or pressure that you feel in response to things that happen in your life. Tell your health care provider if you need help to reduce your stress.
  • Try relaxation techniques, like deep breathing, yoga and massage. Take a warm shower or bath before you go to bed.
  • Put a damp cloth on your head or on the back of your neck.

Call your provider right away if your headache:

  • Is severe or doesn’t go away. Severe headaches during pregnancy may be a sign of preeclampsia. This condition can happen after the 20th week of pregnancy. It’s when a woman has high blood pressure and signs like a severe headache that mean that some of her organs aren’t working properly.
  • Comes with fever, vision changes, slurred speech, sleepiness, numbness or not being able to stay alert.
  • Comes after falling or hitting your head.
  • Comes with a stuffy nose, pain and pressure under your eyes or a toothache. These may be signs of a sinus infection.

Heartburn

What can I do to help relieve heartburn during pregnancy?

Heartburn is a painful, burning feeling in the throat or chest. It happens when food or stomach acid backs up into the tube that carries food, liquid and saliva from your mouth to your stomach (esophagus). Heartburn is common during pregnancy because pregnancy hormones relax the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, and your growing uterus (womb) puts pressure on your stomach.

Here’s what you can do to help relieve heartburn during pregnancy:

  • Eat five or six small meals a day instead of three large meals. Eat meals slowly—don’t rush.
  • Drink more fluids between meals and less with meals.
  • Don’t eat late at night. Eat your last meal two to three hours before you lie down or go to bed.
  • Don’t eat foods that cause heartburn, like greasy or fatty foods, spicy foods, citrus products (like oranges or orange juice) and chocolate.
  • Don’t drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause serious problems for your baby.
  • Raise your head up on pillows when you sleep.
  • Talk to your health care provider before you take any medicine, like an antacid, to help relieve heartburn.

Call your provider right away if you:

  • Have heartburn that returns as soon as your antacid wears off
  • Have heartburn that wakes you up at night
  • Have trouble swallowing
  • Are spitting up blood
  • Have black stools (poop)
  • Are losing weight

Hemorrhoids

What can I do to relieve hemorrhoids during pregnancy?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in and around the area where poop leaves the body (rectum). They’re itchy and painful. During pregnancy, they’re caused by increased blood flow in the pelvic area and the pressure on veins there from your growing uterus. Constipation can make them worse. Constipation is when you don’t have bowel movements or they don’t happen often, or your stools (poop) are hard to pass.

Here’s what you can do to help prevent hemorrhoids during pregnancy:

  • Eat foods that are high in fiber, like fruit, vegetables, beans, whole-grain bread and pasta and bran cereal.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Do something active every day. Talk to your health care provider about activities that are safe during pregnancy.
  • Gain the right amount of weight during pregnancy. Talk to your provider about how much you should gain.
  • Try not to push too hard when you poop.

Here’s what you can to do help relieve hemorrhoids during pregnancy:

  • Don’t sit for long periods of time. Get up and move around to help move the weight of your uterus off of the pelvic veins.
  • Soak in warm tub a few times each day. Make sure the water isn’t hot.
  • Ask your provider about over-the-counter medicine (creams or wipes) that are safe to use during pregnancy. Also ask about fiber supplements and stool (poop) softeners. Don’t take any medicine, supplement or herbal product without talking to your provider first. Over-the-counter medicine is medicine you can buy without a prescription from your provider. A supplement is a product you take to make up for certain nutrients that you don’t get enough of in the foods you eat. An herbal product, like a pill or tea, is made from herbs (plants) that are used in cooking.
  • Talk to your provider about using an ice patch or witch hazel pads to help relieve pain and swelling.

If you have bleeding or severe pain, call your provider right away.

Leg cramps

What can I do to relieve leg cramps during pregnancy?

Leg cramps in your lower legs (calves) and even in your feet are common in the second and third trimesters. They often happen at night and can wake you up. We’re not exactly sure what causes leg cramps in pregnancy.

Here’s what you can do to help prevent leg cramps:

  • Stretch your legs before you go to bed.
  • Do something active every day. Talk to your health care provider about activities that are safe to do during pregnancy.
  • Eat foods that are high in magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral that you get from food. Too little magnesium in your body may cause leg cramps. Foods that have a lot of magnesium in them are whole-grain bread and pasta, beans, nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Ask your provider about taking a magnesium supplement. A supplement is product you take to make up for certain nutrients that you don't get enough of in foods you eat.
  • Drink lots of water.
  • Wear comfortable and supportive shoes.
  • Talk to your doctor about taking a calcium supplement.

Here’s what you can do to help relieve leg cramps:

  • Stretch your calf muscles. Flex your feet and down.
  • Massage the calves using long, downward strokes.
  • Take a hot shower or a warm bath.
  • Put ice on your legs.

Call your provider if your leg cramps:

  • Happen a lot
  • Cause severe pain
  • Come with swelling, redness, skin changes or weak muscles
  • Don’t get better when you try to relieve them

Shortness of breath

What can I do to help with shortness of breath during pregnancy?

Shortness of breath is when you feel like you can’t get enough air into your lungs when you breathe. You may feel like this later in pregnancy, when your baby’s big and pressing on the muscle that helps you breathe (diaphragm). Even if you feel shortness of breath, your baby’s getting oxygen in the womb.

To help make breathing easier:

  • Don’t smoke. If you need help to quit smoking, tell your health care provider.
  • Sit or stand up straight to give your lungs room to expand. Move slowly.
  • Try to breathe clean air. Stay away from secondhand smoke (smoke from someone else’s tobacco) and other air pollutants.

Call your provider if:

  • There’s a big change in your breathing.
  • You have a cough.
  • You have pain in your chest.

Teeth and gums

How do teeth and gums change during pregnancy?

You may not expect it, but your teeth and gums may change during pregnancy. It’s important to keep your teeth and gums healthy so they don’t get infected. Infections during pregnancy can cause problems for you and your baby, like increasing your risk for preterm labor and premature birth. Preterm labor is labor that happens before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature birth is birth that happens before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Common teeth and gum changes include:

  • Your gums may be sensitive and swollen. They may bleed when you brush or floss.
  • Your teeth may feel loose. This can happen because pregnancy hormones that help relax muscles for labor and birth may relax the tissue that holds your teeth in place.
  • If you have morning sickness, the acid in your mouth may cause the enamel on your teeth to wear off (erode). The acid also can cause cavities.

Here’s what you can do to help relieve any pain that may come with teeth and gum changes:

  • Use a softer toothbrush.
  • Rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
  • Get regular dental checkups even during pregnancy. Make sure your dentist knows that you’re pregnant.

Urinating often

What can I do about having to urinate often during pregnancy?

You may need to pee (urinate) more often during pregnancy, especially early in pregnancy and in the final weeks before your baby is due. As your baby grows, the weight pushes down on your bladder. Urine may leak when you cough, laugh, sneeze or exercise.

Here’s what you can do if you need to urinate often:

  • Don’t drink coffee, tea, soda and other drinks that have caffeine in them. Caffeine is a drug that can cause you to need to urinate more often.
  • Do Kegel exercises to help strengthen the muscles that control the flow of urine. To do them, squeeze the muscles you use to stop yourself from urinating. Hold the muscles tight for 3 seconds and then release. Do this 10 to 15 times, three times per day. Kegel exercises also help prepare muscles for labor and birth.
  • Go when you need to go. Don’t try to hold it. When you urinate, lean forward a bit to completely empty your bladder.
  • Go to the bathroom before you exercise. Talk to your health care provider about safe exercises to do during pregnancy.
  • Stop drinking fluids about 2 to 3 hours before you go to bed.
  • Use a pad or panty liner to catch leaks.

Call your provider right away if you have signs or symptoms of a urinary tract infection (also called a UTI). If it’s not treated, a UTI can lead to a more serious infection or preterm labor. Preterm labor is labor that happens too soon, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Signs and symptoms of UTIs include:

  • Blood in the urine
  • Fever
  • Needing to go again immediately after you urinate
  • Pain or burning when you urinate

Vaginal discharge

What do I need to know about vaginal discharge during pregnancy?

Vaginal discharge (also called lochia) that’s clear, white or sticky is normal during pregnancy. It’s caused by pregnancy-related changes in the birth canal (vagina) and the opening to the uterus at the top of the vagina (cervix).

Discharge that’s not normal may be a sign of infection, and infections can cause serious problems during pregnancy. Call your health care provider right away if your discharge:

  • Is not clear or white
  • Smells bad
  • Comes with itchiness
  • Comes with pain or soreness

Varicose veins and swelling in your legs, ankles and feet

What can I do about varicose veins and swelling in my legs, ankles and feet?

If you look down and can’t see your ankles, you’re not alone! Many women have swelling in their legs, ankles and feet during pregnancy. Swelling may be caused by pregnancy hormones, having more fluid in your body during pregnancy, and pressure from your growing baby on the veins that carry blood to your heart.

Pressure on a vein called the inferior vena cava may cause sore, itchy, blue bulges on your legs. These are called varicose veins. They usually don’t cause problems, but they’re not pretty. You’re more likely to have them if it’s your first pregnancy or if other people in your family have them.

Here's what you can do to help relieve varicose veins and swelling in your legs, ankles and feet:

  • Don’t stand for long periods of time.
  • When you’re sitting down, put your feet up. Don’t cross your legs when you sit.
  • When you’re lying down, put your legs up on a pillow.
  • Sleep on your left side. This takes pressure off the vein that returns blood from the lower parts of your body to your heart.
  • Wear support hose or compression stockings or leggings. These fit tightly all over and can help control swelling. Don’t wear socks or stockings that have a tight band of elastic around the leg.
  • Do something active every day. Talk to your provider about activities that are safe during pregnancy.
  • Put an ice pack on swollen areas.

If you have extreme or sudden swelling, call your provider right away. These may be signs of a serious condition called preeclampsia. This condition can happen after the twentieth week of pregnancy. It’s when a woman has high blood pressure and signs like a severe headache that mean that some of her organs aren’t working properly.

Last reviewed: March 2022

Why pulls the stomach in the early stages of pregnancy?

Why does the stomach pull in the early stages of pregnancy? This question often worries expectant mothers, and at times leads to panic. When is discomfort pathology, and when is it normal?

Pregnancy is a special time for a mother and her baby. After all, the connection between them is inextricable, and every negative influence or stress affects both of them.

Possible causes of pain

Every woman dreams of having an easy pregnancy and no cause for alarm. However, a very common complaint among pregnant women is pain in the lower abdomen of a pulling or aching nature.

Complaints are so common that it is necessary to clearly understand when pulling sensations during pregnancy are pathological and require immediate medical attention, and when they are completely physiological and require only general recommendations.

Of course, pain in the lower abdomen can appear at any stage of pregnancy, however, most often women notice their appearance in the early stages of pregnancy.

Painful sensations in the abdomen during pregnancy are very diverse both in subjective sensations and in their localization, in intensity of occurrence. Pain can appear both at rest and after any physical activity. Unpleasant sensations can manifest themselves in one place, or radiate to other areas.

Unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen are rarely avoided during pregnancy. These sensations can occur not only in pathology. During pregnancy, the uterus increases in size, there is a tension in its ligaments and muscles. In addition, there is a displacement of the pelvic organs. All this leads to the appearance of pulling or aching sensations in the abdomen. All these phenomena are manifestations of physiological changes that occur to a woman during pregnancy.

Of course, this state of fear does not cause and does not require any intervention on the part of the doctor. However, pulling pains in the lower abdomen are not always a physiological process. It happens that this indicates that the pregnancy proceeds with pathology and requires medical adjustment.

That is why, if there are pulling or aching pains in the lower abdomen, it is necessary to contact an obstetrician-gynecologist in order to accurately determine the cause of the pain.

Never self-medicate. Remember that you are responsible not only for yourself, but also for the little man that you carry under your heart.

Abdominal pain during pregnancy may be:

  • obstetric;
  • "non-obstetric".

Pain associated with pregnancy may be developmental:

  • physiological changes during pregnancy;
  • threatened miscarriage;
  • missed pregnancy;
  • ectopic pregnancy.

Pain not associated with pregnancy may occur with:

  • inflammatory processes;
  • pathologies of the digestive system;
  • surgical diseases;
  • diseases of other organs or systems.
Pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy as a variant of the norm

Not all pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is a manifestation of pathology. Sometimes they can occur during the normal course of pregnancy.

As a physiological process, pain in the lower abdomen can occur in the following situations:

  1. sign of pregnancy;
  2. displacement of the pelvic organs by the growing uterus;
  3. stretching of the ligaments and muscles associated with the growth of the uterus.

Abdominal pain is a sign of pregnancy

Finding out that you are pregnant is now not a big deal, because there are pregnancy tests. In addition, a delay in menstruation can serve as evidence of pregnancy.

All this is good when menstruation is regular and delayed by at least 14 days. In this case, the pregnancy test may be positive. However, do not forget that not all tests are highly accurate, so it can show two cherished strips much later than we would like.

Therefore, it is necessary to pay close attention to the sensations of your body, because it signals the onset of pregnancy long before the manifestation of a delay in menstruation.

If you assume that pregnancy is possible, then listen carefully to your body: it can send you a signal in the form of pulling pains in the lower abdomen. At the same time, the pains will differ in their intensity: one woman will say that the pains are unbearable, the other will not notice them at all. Each woman is individual.

If each menstruation is preceded by unpleasant pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, you may not understand that once again they are associated with the onset of pregnancy.

Pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy may be associated with the implantation process. To do this, you need to remember the process of fertilization of the egg by the sperm. After their fusion in the fallopian tubes, the fertilized egg enters the uterus under the action of the movement of cilia in the fallopian tubes. The uterine endometrium is a loose mass where a fertilized egg is implanted.

The process of implantation is the insertion of a fertilized egg into the endometrium of the uterus. At this time, there is a violation of the integrity of the endometrium, which may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen. In addition, sometimes slight dark bloody discharge may appear from the genital tract, which can be perceived as the beginning of another menstruation.

Threatened miscarriage

A fairly common cause of pain in the lower abdomen is a threatened miscarriage. This condition is individual and does not depend on physical exertion or complete rest, but on the condition of the woman and her unborn child.

Among the reasons that may cause a miscarriage may be:

  • severe physical exertion;
  • sexual contact;
  • malnutrition of the ovum;
  • genetic disorders and other causes.

Of course, this is not evidence that a miscarriage will not occur with complete rest. Miscarriage can occur due to genetic abnormalities, and due to stress. No woman is immune from the threat of pregnancy loss.

That is why attention and sensitivity to the state of your body is so necessary, which will in every possible way send signals that the pregnancy is not going the way you want.

Threatened miscarriage is accompanied by:

  • aching or pulling pains in the lower abdomen;
  • aching or drawing pains in the small of the back or sacrum.
  • bloody discharge from the genital tract.

If you have pain in the lower abdomen, you need to see a doctor, because a threatened miscarriage, if medical assistance is not provided, can turn into an abortion that has begun, the treatment of which is much more difficult, if not completely useless.

An ambulance should be called if:

  • pain in the lower abdomen gets worse;
  • pains begin to radiate to other areas;
  • painful sensations do not go away for a long time;
  • bloody discharge from the genital tract appeared.
Increased pain

If the pulling pains in the lower abdomen are weak, do not increase and do not radiate to other areas, then you can come to the antenatal clinic in the daytime on your own. This will not threaten serious complications of your condition.

If the pain becomes more intense, does not go away at rest, you should not self-medicate, take drugs without a doctor's prescription.

Do not put anything on the stomach. Both hot and cold application can contribute to the onset of a miscarriage. In addition, with the threat of termination of pregnancy, this manipulation will not remove the pain.

Localized pain

When a threatened miscarriage occurs, pain of a pulling or aching nature disturbs the pregnant woman in the lower abdomen.

If the pains have a clear localization in a certain place, most often on the right or left, then a mandatory consultation with a specialist is necessary, since an ectopic pregnancy or surgical pathology, such as appendicitis, may develop.

Bloody discharge from the genital tract

If bloody discharge from the genital tract has joined the pulling pain in the lower abdomen, urgent medical attention is needed. This phenomenon may indicate a miscarriage that has begun.

The discharge may be scanty, spotting or copious, dark or bright. In any case, you can not do without consulting an obstetrician-gynecologist.

There are situations when there is no pain, but there is bloody discharge from the genital tract. This case also requires specialist advice.

Any bloody discharge from the genital tract may indicate a miscarriage. Only timely treatment can contribute to the preservation and prolongation of pregnancy.

In some cases, the appearance of bloody discharge from the genital tract may be a manifestation of a miscarriage, which requires immediate medical attention.

Miscarriage

The fertilized egg does not always develop correctly. In some cases, there is a cessation of its division and death. Most often, missed pregnancy occurs due to any mutations. At the same time, the woman does not suspect that the pregnancy has stopped.

However, the dead fetal egg begins to be rejected on its own. At the same time, there are pulling pains in the lower abdomen, which are soon joined by bloody discharge from the genital tract.

When a miscarriage is diagnosed, curettage of the uterine cavity may be indicated. Conservative management is also possible, but this can only be determined by a specialist after consultation.

Ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy most often occurs as a tubal pregnancy, when the fertilized egg does not reach the uterus, and the implantation process occurs in the fallopian tube. At the same time, the development of the fetal egg can continue for a long time without any manifestations, up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, most often such a pregnancy is interrupted at 6 to 8 weeks.

The fertilized egg develops and grows, which causes pain in the right or left side of the lower abdomen. The pains are unilateral, are obsessive, tend to increase.

In addition to pain in the lower abdomen, bloody discharge from the genital tract appears, and the pain begins to radiate to the leg from the side of the pain. There may be unpleasant sensations of pressure on the rectum. Medical surgery is the only way to save a woman's life. Preservation of pregnancy is impossible.

"Non-obstetric" causes of pain in the lower abdomen

Inflammatory processes

Among the "non-obstetric" causes of pain in the lower abdomen, the most common are inflammatory processes of the pelvic organs. If earlier it was believed that there could be no inflammation in pregnant women, now it has been proven that a decrease in the immunity of a pregnant woman awakens all pathological processes in her body.

Pain in inflammatory processes of the pelvic organs differ in their intensity. At the same time, they occur in the lower abdomen and most often have a pulling or aching character.

Pathology of the digestive system

Very often, pulling pains in the lower abdomen can occur in a pregnant woman due to problems with the digestive tract. During pregnancy, there is a decrease in intestinal contractility. In addition, there are significant changes in the hormonal background of a woman. Therefore, very often pregnancy is accompanied by constipation and bloating. To normalize digestion, a change in diet is recommended and mild laxatives can be taken.

Surgical pathology

Of the surgical pathologies that may be accompanied by pulling pains in the lower abdomen during pregnancy, acute appendicitis is the most common.

In the early stages of pregnancy, it is obligatory to differentiate obstetric and gynecological diseases from appendicitis, since it has similar symptoms. There are pains in the lower abdomen, which most often occur in the navel or stomach, and then descend to the right iliac region. Nausea, vomiting, fever joins. The only treatment is surgery. In this case, the pregnancy is preserved.

Diseases of other organs or systems

In addition to obstetric and surgical causes, which can cause pulling pains in the lower abdomen in early pregnancy, other body systems may also be involved in the pathological process. The most common lesion is the urinary tract.

Cystitis

Due to the anatomical features of a woman, cystitis can occur at any time and in any condition, so pregnant women are just as susceptible to it as non-pregnant women.

The bladder, located in the lower third of the abdomen, may give false symptoms of threatened miscarriage.

Cystitis, in addition to pulling or aching pains in the lower abdomen, is accompanied by pain during urination, pain at the end of the act of urination. In addition, with cystitis, the urine may be stained with blood, and it is difficult to distinguish this from bloody discharge during a miscarriage.

In any case, it is necessary to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist, pass a general urine test, and then consult a urologist and treat the infection. Any infection can adversely affect the condition of the fetus, so timely treatment is the key to the normal development of your child.

Make an appointment with a gynecologist

For more details, consult a qualified specialist at the Semeynaya clinic.

To find out prices for a gynecological appointment or other questions, follow the link below:

Symptoms and treatment of back pain in early pregnancy in St.

Petersburg

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In the early stages of pregnancy, women usually suffer from very painful sensations in the lumbar region. Practice shows that this pain may disappear after the twentieth week of the term. This is due to the fact that back pain in early pregnancy is associated with softening of the supporting ligaments and discs and due to an increase in progesterone, a hormone. If during pregnancy a young mother falls ill with any infectious disease of the bladder, then this can also cause pain in the back and lower back. Constant discomfort and back pain in pregnant women most often occurs due to a shift in the center of gravity of the abdomen, where the baby develops and grows.

The best way to relieve yourself of back pain during pregnancy is to do special physical exercises. The earlier you start classes and training, the faster you will achieve a positive result and eliminate pain. Moreover, thanks to physical education, you will keep your body in constant tone, which will ensure that it is ready for attempts during childbirth and facilitate them. Be sure to pay attention to your posture. If the doctor has determined that your posture has become the source of lower back pain, then carefully monitor it. How do you sit and walk during pregnancy. Thanks to the advice of a specialist and your observations, it will be much easier for you to cope with pain and minimize discomfort from it. Do not neglect such seemingly insignificant moments. It is posture that plays a huge role in early pregnancy.

Whenever you stand or sit down, pay attention to the position of your back. In relation to your shoulders, it should be absolutely straight and not slouched. In the last weeks of pregnancy, women feel sharp or aching back pain due to the fact that the stomach becomes truly large. The child develops much more intensively and you have to unconsciously slouch in order to somehow cope with the growing tension and additional weight. This again leads to excessive tension and becomes a source of pain.

If you want to minimize pain, make sure you get enough rest and sleep. You must avoid any stress, nervous tension and experiences that can significantly worsen not only your back pain, but also have an extremely negative impact on the baby.

Another way to make the fight against pain more effective is to include exercises from yoga or exercise therapy in your regular activities. Only your doctor and exercise therapy specialist can choose the right set of exercises and choose the right load. In this matter, any initiative is severely suppressed. Do not risk your child's health and well-being.

If the pain has become chronic and does not stop, consult your doctor and ask him to prescribe you a special physiotherapy treatment that will help relieve tension and soothe the pain.

Treatments for illness