Causes & Treatments of Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy (Part 1)

Occasional abdominal muscle pain is a common pregnancy complaint, but it can also be a sign of a serious problem. Severe or persistent abdominal muscle pain during pregnancy is never normal. The point is when anyone experience abdominal muscle pain or cramping along with spotting, bleeding, fever, chills, vaginal discharge, and faintness, the doctor should be visited. Symptoms such as discomfort while urinating, nausea and vomiting, or if the pain doesn't subside after several minutes of rest, requires doctor's exam. It is worth to know there are some serious problems that can cause abdominal pain during pregnancy.

1) Ectopic Pregnancy

This is one of causes for abdominal muscle pain during pregnancy, known as ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus, typically in one of the fallopian tubes.

The problem is usually discovered during the first three months of pregnancy or before woman even knows she is pregnant. If ectopic pregnancy is left untreated, it can rupture and be life-threatening, so woman has to call her practitioner immediately if she has any of these symptoms. The most common symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are abdominal or pelvic muscle pain or tenderness, and vaginal spotting or bleeding, which can be red or brown, copious or scant, and continuous or intermittent. Beside this, symptoms are also pain that gets worse during physical activity or while moving bowels or coughing, pain in the tip of the shoulder. Any sign of shock, such as a racing pulse, pale, clammy skin, or dizziness or faintness should be checked by the doctor.

2) Miscarriage

Bleeding is generally the first symptom of a miscarriage. It is followed by abdominal muscle pain a few hours to a few days later, where the bleeding could be light or heavy. The pain can be crampy, as menstrual cramps or often stronger, and rhythmic. Some women feel it as a low backache, others as a dull abdominal muscle pain or pelvic pressure, but still it refers to the same problem. It is important to know that pregnant woman should call her practitioner if she has signs of a miscarriage, if she has severe muscle pain or heavy bleeding.

3) Preterm Labor

Woman has problem with preterm labor that is also known as premature labor, if she starts to have contractions that efface or dilate your cervix before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Any symptom in your second or third trimester that refers to an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge should be reported to the doctor. If discharge is particularly watery, mucus-like, or bloody, and even if it's pink or just tinged with blood, it should be considered as symptoms. Beside this, vaginal spotting or bleeding, abdominal muscle pain, menstrual-like cramping, or more than four contractions in one hour, an increase in pressure in the pelvic area or low back pain, especially if there were no previously this kind of pain, should be checked by the doctor.