Pregnancy can be both a thrilling and scary experience. During pregnancy, women's bodies go through a lot of changes—both inside and out. While experts may tell women not to worry about most of the symptoms, it may still induce panic and unease; especially to those that are going through pregnancy for the first time. 

One of the most common symptoms of pregnancy are abdominal pains. They can either be a dull or sharp cramping feeling on your stomach—which most of the time is not necessarily a cause for concern. Still, it's important for women to know why they happen as well as the ways on how to treat them and lessen your discomfort. 

What causes abdominal pains during pregnancy? 

There are less serious causes as to why you're experiencing abdominal pain and usually a common symptom of pregnancy, which are listed below:

Round Ligament Pain. A woman's body changes to adapt to pregnancy and accommodate the baby growing inside her belly. Round ligament pain (often called "growing pains") happens when a woman's uterus and round ligaments stretch due to the baby growing inside the womb, causing spasms inside which can feel like a cramp on one side of the lower tummy. It happens so that a woman's ligaments can support the bump as it gets bigger.

Digestive Pain. Sometimes the pain can happen due to digestive problems. As the baby grows, they can put pressure on your intestines. Abdominal pain can be caused by trapped gas, bloating or constipation—if your pain seems to be tied with you eating, it's best to drink water and eat fiber-rich food. 

Braxton Hicks Contractions. Of course, as your body adjusts to pregnancy, it will also prepare you for the day you'll finally deliver your baby. A woman's body may practice for true labor, which are called Braxton Hicks Contractions. One might wonder how to differentiate these contractions from real labor contractions so it's important to take note of the following: Braxton Hicks Contractions are much milder than true labor and will last shorter. Usually, these contractions will stop if you move around. If you can carry on with your daily activities, it is most likely a Braxton Hicks Contraction.

However, some symptoms are more severe and can be worrying; in a more serious case, can pose a real threat to the mother's life. If you're experiencing severe abdominal pains, it's important to watch out for the following below and seek professional help.

Miscarriage. One of the most common risks that many pregnant women can possibly suffer from is a miscarriage, which often happens before 24 weeks of pregnancy. If you get a severe pain on your lower pelvic area and/or lower back, accompanied by vaginal bleeding and tissue clot like discharge from the vagina, you may be experiencing a miscarriage. Talk to your doctor immediately. 

Ectopic pregnancy. The possibility of ectopic pregnancy is 1 out of 50, still it is important to be cautious and watch out for the symptoms. An ectopic pregnancy happens when the egg is planted out of the uterus. In most cases, the egg is implanted in the fallopian tube instead. The sad news is, an ectopic pregnancy usually isn't successful. It's because the tissues outside the uterus can not provide enough blood supply and support, causing the fetus to not survive. You may experience severe abdominal pain and bleeding between your 6th to 10th week of pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can put a woman's life at risk, so it's important for it to get treated immediately. 

Pre-eclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition where pregnant women get high blood pressure and protein in their urine after the 20th week of their pregnancy. Common symptoms include upper abdominal pain, usually under the ribs. This may also be accompanied by severe headache, vision problems (such a blurriness), nausea and vomiting, as well as sudden swelling of the face, hands and feet. This may be detected through urine and blood pressure checks. 

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). UTIs are common in pregnancy and can easily be treated. However, if left untreated for long, it might become a cause of serious danger. Usual symptoms of UTI in pregnancy include a burning sensation when urinating and can also be accompanied by lower abdominal pain. If you're starting to experience severe symptoms such as fever, nausea, sweating and chills—there's a chance that the UTI has spread into your kidneys and it's important to seek medical attention. 

Placental abruption. Placental abruption is another life-threatening condition that occurs during pregnancy. It's when your placenta partly or completely separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery. This in turn can either decrease or block the baby's air supply inside as well as nutrients. One of the common symptoms of placenta abruption is heavy bleeding. Others may include constant abdominal pain that may cause the stomach to stay hard, as well as premature breakage of your water. 

What to do when experiencing abdominal pains during pregnancy? 

Home remedies and many other tips can help you relieve your abdominal pains during pregnancy, especially since pregnant women tend to stay at home during this phase. To relieve sharp pains from stretched muscles and ligaments, resting as well as a warm bath shower might help. It is also advisable to exercise regularly as it will help you keep the strength in your muscles, but be mindful of your movements; you don't wanna stretch your ligaments quickly so it is also important to do gentle stretching and move a little slower when changing positions. Last but not the least, it is also important for pregnant women to watch out for their diet; healthy food can make changes in how your pregnancy will go.

Although abdominal pains are common symptoms of pregnancy and are usually not a source of concern or threat, it is still best to watch out for the symptoms listed above. Trust your intuition and do not hesitate to call your doctor or midwife and seek professional help immediately, should you feel anything unusual with your abdominal pains and pregnancy in general. This will not only keep your pregnancy and baby in good health, it may also save you from potential life-threatening conditions. 

References

Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy: Causes and Treatment. (n.d.). American Pregnancy Association. Retrieved June 19, 2023, from https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-complications/abdominal-pain-during-pregnancy/

Belly Pain in Pregnancy: Care Instructions. (n.d.). My Health Alberta. Retrieved June 19, 2023, from https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abq3222

Stomach (abdominal) pain or cramps in pregnancy. (n.d.). Tommy's. Retrieved June 19, 2023, from https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-symptom-checker/stomach-abdominal-pain-or-cramps-pregnancy

Stomach pain in pregnancy. (n.d.). NHS. Retrieved June 19, 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/stomach-pain/