When To Call Your Doctor
Talk to your doctor if:
- You have severe nausea and vomiting, dehydration, a persistent rapid heartbeat, or pale, dry skin you may have hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness.
- You have vaginal spotting or bleeding you may be having a miscarriage or serious placental complication.
- You have sudden weight gain over a few days, severe headache, or blurred vision you may have preeclampsia, a form of high blood pressure that can endanger your health and the health of your baby.
- You have a fever over 100 F and chills, backache, or blood in your urine you may have a kidney infection or other infection.
- After the baby begins to move, you feel less or no movement for more than 2 hours your baby may be in fetal distress.
- You feel wetness or a leaking of fluid, unlike normal vaginal secretions or urinary leakage you may have ruptured membranes or leaking of amniotic fluid.
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Use Heating Pads To Apply Some Heat In The Area
A good way to get relieve abdominal pain during pregnancy is to use heating pads. Heat applied to the area where you feel the discomfort can help you get decrease the pain and it can help you be more relaxed. Therefore, you can take a hot bath when youre feeling this pain or you can also put a clean cloth in warm water and then let it sit on your belly.
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Does Your Stomach Hurt Two Weeks Into Pregnancy
Many women will notice that they feel uterine cramping as an early sign and symptom pregnancy. You could even feel period like cramps or even pain on one side. The most common reason for this kind of cramp is that your uterus is growing. This is normal pain and should be expected in a healthy pregnancy.
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Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy: Common Causes And When To Call The Doctor
Learn the causes of abdominal pain in pregnancy, and find out whether your symptoms are normal or require immediate attention from your healthcare provider.
Some abdominal pain during pregnancy is normal. After all, your organs are constantly shifting, your uterus is expanding, and your ligaments are stretchingall of which can cause benign aches and pains. On rare occasions, though, abdominal pain can signal something serious. Consult our guide to learn more about the causes of upper and lower abdominal pain during pregnancy, and find out when to call the doctor.
Case & Commentarypart 1
A 34-year-old woman who was 14 weeks pregnant presented to the emergency department with 5 days of nonspecific abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. On examination, she appeared well with normal vital signs and had some mild diffuse abdominal tenderness. Her white blood cell count was 19,000 cells/L, and a urinalysis was positive for nitrates and leukocyte esterase . She was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and was discharged on antibiotic therapy. No imaging was performed at this initial visit.
The patient returned the following day with unchanged abdominal pain and more nausea and vomiting. A fetal ultrasound was performed and found normal fetal heart activity. No further testing was done, and she was discharged home with instructions to continue the antibiotics.
Abdominal pain remains the most common reason for emergency department visits, comprising more than 11% of all visits in 2008. In 2011, 54% of patients that presented to the ED were female, more than 25% were of childbearing age, and the pregnancy rate in the United States is approximately 10% at any given time. For these reasons, clinicians that evaluate patients with abdominal pain in the ED should be familiar with common causes of abdominal pain in pregnant women and appreciate when nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is abnormal.
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How Do You Tell If Youre Pregnant Without A Test
The most common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy might include:
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Which Pregnancy Books Should I Buy
If you are expecting or trying for a baby, you might want to buy some pregnancy books to help you prepare for motherhood. Weve put together some recommendations below, along with descriptions to help you decide whether or not these books are suitable for you or not.
First-Time Parent: The honest guide to coping brilliantly and staying sane in your babys first year, by Lucy Atkins
This includes surviving the first few days, adapting to your new routine, why your baby is crying, sleep advice, and so much more. Her guide also includes information on single parenting, and on adopted, multiple and special needs babies.
The Modern Midwifes Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond, by Marie Louise
Senior Midwife Marie Louise created this book to share up-to-date findings and expert insights into pregnancy, and this book is suitable for any women. Whether youre planning a pregnancy, you are pregnant, or youre well into your third trimester, this book is packed with facts and advice.
From incredible facts about breast milk to educating about labour, Maries guide is designed to help women understand more about their body and their growing baby, and what they can do to support them.
Were Pregnant! The First Time Dads Pregnancy Handbook, by Adrian Kulp
If youre a Dad whos expecting, or someone who wants to prepare their partner for what to expect, then this seems like the book for you.
How to Grow a Baby Journal, by Clemmie Hooper
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Is Sex During Pregnancy Safe
If your pregnancy is going smoothly, its safe to have sex and orgasm while youre pregnant.
You might worry that sex will harm the baby. But your baby is well protected and sealed off in the amniotic sac, so you cant hurt your baby by having sex.
There are some situations where sex might be unsafe during pregnancy. These might be if you:
- have shown signs of a possible miscarriage or preterm labour
- have a history of cervical weakness
- have been experiencing severe abdominal pain or cramps
- are diagnosed with placenta praevia
- have vaginal bleeding, or the bleeding has stopped but the cause is unclear
- think your waters have broken.
If youre showing signs of problems in your pregnancy and youre unsure about sex during pregnancy, talk with your GP, midwife or obstetrician. Theyll tell you whether its OK.
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How To Relieve Pregnancy Cramps
Pregnancy cramp relief depends on the cause behind the pain youre experiencing. These tips can relieve the most common causes of abdominal cramps during pregnancy:
- Lie down and relax for a while, which can relieve pregnancy cramps related to implantation, orgasm, increased blood flow to the uterus and round ligament pain
- Drink plenty of water, which may ease any cramping related to dehydration, bloating or constipation
- Soak in a warm bath, which can help ease pregnancy cramps related to increased uterine blood flow
- Wear a belly band, which can help relieve abdominal cramps linked to round ligament pain in the second half of pregnancy
- Change positions if you think youre having Braxton Hicks contractions
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How Soon Can You Get Symptoms And Signs Of Pregnancy
Most pregnancy symptoms will start to appear around five or six weeks after your last menstrual period. Usually symptoms wont appear immediately, as it takes a few weeks to develop them. Having symptoms a few days after sex isnt usually a sign of pregnancy, and can actually be due to something else such as PMS.
However, a missed period, fatigue or morning sickness before this five-week mark could indicate pregnancy, Lesley Gilchrist, registered midwife and co-founder of My Expert Midwife, says. The most common early signs are missing a period and feeling out of sorts and not yourself- often feeling overwhelmingly tired and needing to sleep a lot.
Morning sickness is also common and can take on several forms for different people, such as feeling nauseous at certain times of the day or all day, vomiting, dizziness or a combination of all these. The need to wee a lot can also be common and is caused by changing hormones in the early days, as are tender, swollen breasts which are sensitive when touched.
Pregnancy Bleeding And Swollen Gums
You may not have expected pregnancy to affect your mouth. But your blood circulation and hormone levels can make your gums tender and swollen, and you may notice they bleed more easily. You may also develop nose bleeds.
Recommendations:
- Get a dental checkup early in your pregnancy to make sure your teeth and mouth are healthy. See your dentist if you notice a particular problem.
- Brush your teeth, floss regularly and rinse daily with an antiseptic mouthwash.
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Cramping And Belly Pains
OK, this one makes people a little nervous, but having mild cramps or stomach pain isnt unusual this early in pregnancy. Your uterus is going through a lot of changes thats bound to cause some discomfort.
Plus, remember the bloating we talked about before? That can make you constipated and gassy, too, which might make your tummy feel not so great.
None of this should be intensely painful, though it might just feel like period cramps.
V Heartburn And Indigestion
Heartburn, a sense of burning within the throat and chest, and stomach, a turgid and gassy feeling that happens once an abdomen is slow to digest, might happen throughout pregnancy.
There are several sober ways to relieve symptoms and to prevent stomach upset. Before taking antacids you must speak along with your doctor.
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Tummy Twinges Pinching And Pulling
Some women experience feelings inside their stomachs in the early stages of pregnancy that replicate the sensation of their muscles being pulled and stretched. Sometimes referred to as abdominal twinges, these tingles are nothing to worry about.
Layla Rumble, midwife at The Portland Hospital, which is part of HCA Healthcare UK, said, Abdominal twinges and mild pains are very common during pregnancy and usually nothing to worry about. Twinges and abdominal pain is usually caused by constipation, ligament pain, or trapped wind all of which are a normal part of pregnancy.
Twinges, and pains can be alleviated by regular light exercise, eating smaller, frequent meals, having plenty of fibre-rich foods such as fruit and vegetables, and drinking plenty of water to help empty your bladder regularly.
If you find that you experience intense and ongoing pains, or pain accompanied by bleeding, it is important to seek medical advice from your midwife or GP to rule out anything serious.
What else could it be?If youve been heavily exercising or straining your muscles, you could be experiencing some tension from that, especially if youve focused on ab workouts. A tight stomach can also be due to other factors such as digestive issues, stress or hormonal changes, and doesnt necessarily mean youre pregnant.
How Does The Stomach Feel In Early Pregnancy
Pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, and pregnancy symptoms may begin in some people as early as a week after implantation. Other people may have no signs other than a missed period until a few months into the pregnancy.
In many women, a missed period is the first sign of pregnancy but the only way to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.
There may be a number of stomach or abdominal symptoms that occur during the first trimester, such as:
- Nausea/morning sickness
- Usually occurs about 2 to 8 weeks after conception
- Morning sickness occurs most frequently during the first trimester and then goes away, but may continue throughout pregnancy for some women
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Cramping In Early Pregnancy: 8 Of Your Faqs Answered By An Expert
A consultant obstetrician fills you in
Lets be real, stomach pains are never going to fill you with joy. But they are particularly upsetting when youre trying to get pregnant. You might think that the gripes are a sign your period is on the way, or worse – if youve recently had a positive pregnancy test, you may be worried about miscarriage.
But cramping in early pregnancy is super common, and, actually it’s a symptom that you’re expecting. Along with achey boobs and nausea, it can be just one of the many little signs that your body is busy growing a baby.
So how can you tell if your stomach ache is simply a sign that you’re on the fast train to parenthood, or if you need to seek medical advice? To get answers, WH asked Dr Virginia Beckett, consultant obstetrician and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, to answer your frequently asked questions on this very topic.
Heartburn Symptoms And Pre
If your heartburn symptoms dont go away with medicine, its important to see your doctor as it may be a sign of something more serious, such as pre-eclampsia. A pregnant woman with pre-eclampsia usually has high blood pressure and problems with her kidneys. Pre-eclampsia could also seriously affect a womans liver, blood and brain. Any pregnant woman can experience pre-eclampsia â almost 1 in 20 Australian women will develop it.
Because pre-eclampsia is dangerous for both you and your baby, you should let your doctor know if your heartburn medicine is not working. This is especially important if youre also feeling very unwell or you have:
- sudden swelling of your hands, feet or face
- a headache that doesnt go away with simple painkillers
- problems with your eyesight such as blurring or seeing flashing lights or dots
- a strong pain below your ribs
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Diagnosing Early Pregnancy Cramping
If your doctor is concerned about pregnancy complications, they will ask you questions about the intensity and duration of your cramping. They may also perform any of the following tests in order to determine the cause of your pain:
These tests will help your doctor evaluate the health of your pregnancy.
When To See A Doctor
Although most stomach pains during pregnancy shouldnt be concerning, others may have serious or even fatal consequences. If you experience unusual pain or bleeding, dont hesitate to get help. Obstetricians often have after-hours nursing hotlines, staffed with trained professionals to assess your needs. Remember, its always better to be safe than sorry.
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When To Get Medical Help In Your First Trimester
You should contact your GP, maternity unit or hospital if:
- you have pain passing urine this could be a sign of a urine infection
- you have blood in your urine or smelly or cloudy urine these could be signs of a urine infection
- you have any bleeding from your vagina this could be a sign of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy
- the pain is severe, located mainly on one side, or if you feel dizzy or weak these can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy or appendicitis
/ Is It Normal To Get Cramps Later On In The First Trimester
Mild cramping at any point during the first three months of pregnancy is usually nothing to worry about, as it can be caused by the significant hormone changes youre experiencing. ‘The body produces higher rates of progesterone during pregnancy, which can have an effect on muscles, ligaments and joints, making them more flexible,’ explains Dr Beckett. ‘This may be felt as the womb expands to accommodate the growing foetus.’
Other causes of cramps include trapped wind and constipation, both of which are common in pregnancy – its such a glamorous time.
If the pain is only mild and goes away after you rest, poo or pass wind, then its probably nothing to fret about, according to the NHS. But if you are worried, you should call your midwife or your GP. Feeling anxious is perfectly understandable and they’ll be able address any concerns you have.
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Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy
Normal vaginal secretions increase during pregnancy due to greater blood supply and hormones. Normal vaginal discharge is white or clear, isnt irritating, is odorless, and may look yellow when dry on your underwear or panty liners.
Recommendations:
- Wear low-heeled shoes.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects.
- Squat down with your knees bent when picking things up instead of bending down at the waist.
- Dont stand on your feet for long periods. If you need to stand for long periods, place one foot on a stool or box for support.
- Sit in a chair with good back support, or place a small pillow behind your lower back. Also, place your feet on a footrest or stool.
- Check that your bed is firm. If needed, put a board between the mattress and box spring.
- Sleep on your left side with a pillow between your legs for support.
- Apply a hot water bottle or heating pad on low setting to your back, take a warm bath or shower, or try massage.
- Perform exercises, as advised by your health care provider, to make your back muscles stronger and help relieve the soreness.
- Maintain good posture. Standing up straight will ease the strain on your back.
- Contact your health care provider if you have a low backache that goes around your stomach and does not go away within one hour after you change position or rest. This might be a sign of premature labor.
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