Pain in the lower abdomen on the left during pregnancy: causes, treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Many women complain of pain at the beginning of pregnancy. They are quite understandable: with the birth of a new life, the body of the future mother begins to gradually rebuild. Muscle fibers are stretched, ligaments swell. Women usually experience this kind of discomfort in the first trimester.

Pain is not always the result of the described changes. Any discomfort should alert the future woman in labor, because sometimes they signal pathological problems. This article discusses the main causes of pain in the lower abdomen on the left during pregnancy. It also provides information on how to diagnose and treat this condition.

Pain in the lower abdomen on the left during pregnancy

In the left part of the abdominal cavity there are organs, each of which plays a certain functional role. Any discomfort during pregnancy should alert and become a reason for a visit to the doctor.

There are many causes of pain, and far fromthey are all due to the pregnancy itself:

1. Physiological (does not require treatment).
2. Pathological pregnancy.
3. Diseases not associated with the birth of a new life.

Pain in early pregnancy is usually caused by stretching of the walls of the uterus. Such discomfort can be called physiological, and specific treatment in this case is not required. When a fetal egg is attached, some women feel a slight tingling sensation in the lower abdomen. It goes away on its own in about a day.

From the third month, the uterus begins to gradually go beyond the boundaries of the pelvis. As a result, the ligaments that fix it are stretched. Usually during pregnancy, the stomach hurts, like during menstruation. Discomfort disappears during rest and increases with physical activity. This condition also does not require therapy.

In the third trimester, discomfort occurs due to squeezing of the bladder by the uterus. Future women in labor note the appearance of a sharp pain that radiates to the perineum. However, the discomfort disappears immediately after emptying the bladder.

Now consider the main causes of pain in the lower abdomen on the left during pregnancy, which can threaten the life of the child. Otherwise, such pains are called obstetric.

Miscarriage

A large percentage of miscarriage is recorded for up to 12 weeks. A miscarriage is usually preceded by certain signs that every woman should be aware of. If the pathology is recognized in time and consult a doctor,in most cases, it is possible to save the baby.

Brownish discharge with blood from the vagina, side pain during pregnancy - these signs indicate a miscarriage. A woman with these symptoms should be hospitalized immediately. In the hospital, after a physical examination, the doctor prescribes a series of tests to determine the cause of the pathology. Then they begin treatment.

At the same time, a small hematoma often remains behind the fetal egg, which causes pulling pains in the abdomen during pregnancy. When it resolves, the discomfort should pass, so you should not worry. If once there was already a threat of miscarriage, a woman should be especially careful and attentive to her position. It is necessary to do ultrasound regularly to exclude various pathologies. An intrauterine anomaly often causes spontaneous abortion or, conversely, develops as a result of a lack of blood supply.

Ectopic pregnancy

Why does my stomach hurt during pregnancy? In the early stages, doctors often diagnose an ectopic pregnancy. This is a condition in which the fertilized egg does not have time to reach the uterus and is attached in the fallopian tube. The rupture of the latter can lead to profuse bleeding. Sometimes an ectopic pregnancy results in spontaneous abortion.

The first symptoms of pathology appear at 7-8 weeks, when the growing fetal egg begins to gradually stretch the tube. An ectopic pregnancy is characterized not only by unpleasant sensations, but also by a whole set of signs:

• severe pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the anus or legs;
• unpleasant sensations appear suddenly, intensify with movement;
• bleeding from the vagina.

This condition is considered extremely dangerous and requires immediate hospitalization of the patient for surgical care.

Placental abruption

In some cases, the placenta exfoliates from the walls of the uterus prematurely. Among the main reasons for the development of pathology, doctors include strong blows to the abdomen, hypertension, overexertion. Detachment can be partial and complete. In the first case, the problem is signaled by discomfort in the lower abdomen. In the second case, there is profuse bleeding from the vagina. You may also experience weakness, headaches.

In early pregnancy, placental abruption is treated with medication. In the third trimester, if doctors detect a lack of oxygen in the fetus, they usually decide on a premature birth.

Isthmic-cervical insufficiency

This pathology is often diagnosed in women with a complicated obstetric and gynecological history. It is characterized by weakness of the internal os of the cervix, due to which it gradually opens outside of delivery. This condition is very dangerous because it threatens to infect the fetus. The main signs are characteristic pains in the lower abdomen on the left. During pregnancy in the later stages, vaginal discharge appears, and there are no contractions. woman withhospitalized with suspicion of isthmic-cervical insufficiency. The treatment involves a complex operation, during which circular sutures are placed on the cervix.

Uterine hypertonicity

Many women complain that their stomach hurts during pregnancy, like during menstruation. This is a common phenomenon, which in medical practice is called uterine tone. Pathology implies an involuntary contraction of its muscles, characterized by the appearance of pain. It can radiate to the lower back.

Normally, the uterus is constantly relaxed and calm. That is why when discomfort occurs, it is necessary to visit a doctor. The tone of the uterus in the first trimester often signals the onset of spontaneous abortion. In the later stages, pathology can lead to premature birth. In fact, the problem is not as terrible as it seems at first glance. The main thing is to determine the cause in a timely manner and start treatment.

Training bouts

Training contractions usually start after 30 weeks. Thus, the uterus "prepares" for the upcoming birth. If the 38th week of pregnancy is already ending, the stomach hurts and characteristic vaginal discharge is noticeable, you should call a team of medical workers and calmly go to meet the baby.

It is very important for every woman to be able to distinguish training contractions from real ones. The first are characterized by irregularity, short duration. This is discussed in more detail at preparatory courses for future women in labor.

Non-obstetric causes

Considering that in addition to the uterus there are other organs in the small pelvis, pain in the lower abdomen on the left during pregnancy does not always signal a threat to the fetus. Common causes of discomfort are diseases and functional disorders. For example, women are often diagnosed with the so-called neurogenic bladder. This is a pathology characterized by frequent urination, but without obvious signs of inflammation. This phenomenon is due to hormonal changes, it disappears immediately after the body adapts to a new status.

Some women are diagnosed with simple cystitis. Such an onset of pregnancy is considered unfavorable, since the treatment of the disease is associated with the use of antibiotics. It is especially bad if a woman did not know about her interesting position and used illegal drugs for therapy. In such cases, pregnant women are supposed to drink plenty of water, treatment with medicinal herbs and antispasmodics.

Besides the bladder, hormonal changes can affect the intestines. Constipation, bloating, loose stools appear. All this leads to discomfort in the left side of the abdominal cavity, because it is there that the rectum is localized. If for this reason the stomach hurts during pregnancy in the early stages, it is necessary to monitor the regularity of the stool and nutrition. The thing is that frequent constipation can adversely affect the development of the fetus.

Medical examination

In order to identify which particular organ provoked the occurrence of unpleasant sensations, one shouldas detailed as possible pain syndrome. This procedure involves an assessment of the severity and nature of discomfort, as well as its relationship with the position of the body.

Then, during a medical interview, the doctor determines the presence of concomitant symptoms (fever, vaginal discharge, impaired stool). For example, if the side hurts during pregnancy, we are most often talking about spontaneous abortion. With isthmic-cervical insufficiency, in addition to discomfort, characteristic vaginal discharge appears.

After examination and history taking for the final diagnosis, the woman is prescribed a comprehensive examination, which includes laboratory and instrumental methods.

Why is pregnancy pain not treated?

After determining the cause of discomfort in the lower abdomen, the woman is prescribed treatment. If there is a risk of spontaneous abortion, drugs are prescribed to prevent uterine tone. With an ectopic pregnancy, surgery is mandatory. In case of placental abruption, treatment is carried out in a hospital. The woman is prescribed antispasmodics ("Papaverine", "Metacin") and hemostatic agents.

When and why is pregnancy pain not treated? If the discomfort is due to physiological causes, specific therapy is not needed. This is discussed in detail at the beginning of the article. When pain in the lower abdomen is due to non-obstetric causes, treatment is also not prescribed in most cases. The exception is cystitis. Such disorder asneurogenic bubble, passes on its own after the body adapts to a new life inside the womb. From constipation, diarrhea, bloating, diet correction helps. Pregnant women are advised to give up products that promote increased gas formation, choose he althy and natural food.

Conclusion

Pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy can have a different etiology. In order not to risk the he alth of the baby, you should not self-medicate and try to diagnose yourself. It is better to contact a gynecologist who can determine the cause of discomfort and draw up a treatment regimen. Stay he althy!