Have you ever experienced pain in your right abdomen during pregnancy?
Stomach aches or cramps are common in pregnancy and are nothing to worry about.
But sometimes stomach pain can be a sign of something more serious and needs to be checked.
This mild and temporary pain can disappear when you change position, rest, defecate or pass gas.
So, what are the things that can cause this to strike pregnant women? Here is the review.
Causes of Right Side Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy
Source: Freepik
Here are some common causes of right-sided abdominal pain during pregnancy:
1. Ligament Pain
During pregnancy, the uterus expands like a balloon as the baby grows.
Ligaments are round, rope-like muscles that help hold the uterus in place.
These muscles will become softer and stretch as the uterus gets bigger.
When stretched, sometimes this muscle can become irritated or tighten too tightly. As a result, pain appears on the lower right side of the body.
Usually this ligament pain occurs in the second trimester when the weight of the baby and amniotic fluid increases.
You may experience ligament pain when getting out of bed in the morning or when moving too quickly.
A violent cough or sneeze can also cause ligament pain.
2. Digestive Disorders
Furthermore, pregnancy will cause changes in the hormone progesterone which will relax the muscles, including the intestines which can cause digestive problems .
Gas, constipation, and bloating are common in pregnancy.
Some digestive disorders can also cause pain on the right side of the stomach.
Research shows that constipation occurs in up to 38% of pregnancies.
In some cases, this may come from the iron in prenatal vitamins.
These uncomfortable digestive problems are also influenced by the rise and fall of hormone levels during pregnancy.
Hormonal changes are very common in the first and second trimester.
In the third trimester, weight gain can put pressure on the digestive tract.
This can cause gas in the stomach,heartburn, and sharp, stabbing pain in the stomach or side.
3. Muscle Tension
During pregnancy, the body will adapt to accommodate the growth of the baby in the womb.
Your weight will also increase. A gain of around 11 to 15 kilograms is normal during pregnancy for most pregnant women.
In fact, gaining weight can cause inadvertent muscle pulls.
This most often occurs in the second and third trimesters.
The extra weight combined with too much bending while trying to get into a comfortable position can cause pain on the right side of the body.
You may feel pain due to a sprain or muscle strain on one side of your body.
Back pain can also sometimes spread and cause pain in the middle to lower right side.
4. Braxton-Hicks contractions
Braxton Hicksare false contractions that usually occur in the third trimester, but can also occur early in pregnancy.
ContractionBraxton Hicksis a normal part of pregnancy.
Unlike painful contractions,Braxton Hicksit just feels uncomfortable.
Braxton Hicksfeels like a tight or cramping sensation in the lower abdominal area.
For some mothers, it may feel like menstrual cramps.
6 Conditions to Watch Out For
Source: Freepik
1. Appendicitis
The appendix is a small, pouch-like organ on the right side of the abdomen, and is connected to the large intestine.
If there is a blockage in the lining of the appendix, infection can occur so that the appendix can become inflamed and filled with pus.
Appendicitis or inflammation of the appendix occurs in around 0.05 percent of pregnant women.
This disease also usually causes lower right side pain and sharp or dull pain.
You may also have other symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain around the navel area
- Nauseous
- Vomit
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
In rare cases, acute appendicitis is diagnosed in 1 in 800 to 1 in 1,500 pregnancies.
Anyone who may have appendicitis should receive immediate medical care.
2. Preeclampsia
This condition usually occurs late in pregnancy and preeclampsia can be dangerous for the developing fetus and the mother if left untreated.
In some cases, preeclampsia can lead to premature labor.
Nearly 5 to 8 percent of pregnant women experience preeclampsia or hypertension disorders. Usually the condition most often appears in the second and third trimesters.
Preeclampsia can raise blood pressure to dangerous levels, including the risk of stroke, liver, kidney, or lung damage.
If you have preeclampsia, you may feel pain in the upper right side, usually just below the ribs.
Early signs of preeclampsia are often found during antenatal check-ups. Symptoms include:
- High blood pressure
- Protein in urine
- Swollen face, hands, or ankles
- Nausea, with or without vomiting
- Blurred vision or severe headache that does not respond to treatment
- Difficulty breathing
In most cases, preeclampsia symptoms disappear within a few days after delivery.
3. Ectopic Pregnancy
In an ectopic pregnancy , the fertilized egg grows outside the uterus.
Ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous to health.
This condition can cause severe right-sided pain and cramping early in pregnancy and possibly even before you realize you are pregnant.
Other symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:
- Sharp abdominal pain
- Light or heavy bleeding
- Red or brown bleeding
Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. Sometimes an ectopic pregnancy needs to be removed before it causes any damage to the body.
However, there is no need to worry because you still have a chance for a normal pregnancy after experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.
4. Miscarriage
Severe right side pain in the lower abdomen along with other symptoms may be a symptom of miscarriage .
Look for other symptoms such as the following:
- Spotting, red bleeding, or clots
- Severe pain or cramps in the lower abdomen
- Lower back pain
It is likely that you will experience a miscarriage in the first trimester.
As many as 15% of pregnant women experience miscarriage and this usually cannot be prevented.
5. Gallstones
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac located on the upper right side of the abdomen and helps digest fats from food.
Sometimes, the fluid inside, namely bile, can form hard stones.
Gallstones are common during pregnancy because the digestive system slows down.
Gallstones can occur at any time during your pregnancy.
Symptoms of gallstones include:
- Pain in the upper right side
- Nauseous
- Vomit
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
Call your doctor right away if you have these symptoms. Sometimes gallstones can go away on their own.
Avoiding fatty and fried foods can help prevent this.
6. Urinary Tract Infection
According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 8% of pregnant women experience UTIs.
During pregnancy, the uterus will expand to accommodate the growing fetus.
This expansion puts pressure on the bladder and ureters, or tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
During pregnancy, urine is generally less acidic and contains more protein, sugar, and hormones.
The combination of these factors increases the risk of developing a UTI.
A person suffering from a UTI may experience pain in the lower abdomen and the following symptoms:
- Frequent urination
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
- Blood in urine
- Pain in the lower back, abdomen, and sides
Pregnant women should see a doctor if they have symptoms of a UTI.
Without treatment, UTIs can lead to serious complications.
Complications may include kidney infection, premature birth, and sepsis.
When to See a Doctor?
Source: Freepik
If you are unsure whether the pain in your right abdomen during pregnancy indicates a serious health problem or not, it is important to see if there are other accompanying symptoms.
Immediate medical care is needed if a pregnant woman experiences:
- pain in the stomach
- vaginal bleeding (spotting or heavy bleeding)
- thin brown vaginal discharge
- severe vomiting.
***
Pain in the right side of the stomach during pregnancy is normal.
However, if there are other accompanying symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
Hopefully this information is useful.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
