The state of pregnancy is associated not only with pleasant emotions, but also with a certain discomfort, which manifests itself in different ways for everyone. Often women complain that they have stomach pain during pregnancy. Do not ignore this symptom, as an early diagnosis will help determine the cause of the pain.
Stomach hurts during pregnancy: signs
First, you need to correctly identify the source of pain, not to be confused with intestinal diseases. The stomach is located above the navel under the costal arch of the chest. As a rule, painful sensations occur in the fourth left intercostal space. A woman should listen to her body and memorize such phenomena in order to tell the doctor how her stomach hurts during pregnancy.
Signs to look out for:
- unpleasant pain after eating sour and rough food. If it is dull and aching in nature, then this may mean the presence of chronic gastritis;
- cramping and sharp pains that increase an hour after taking a meal. Cantestify to serious diseases of the esophagus, duodenal ulcer, stomach cancer;
- stabbing and cutting pain of an intense nature. Often lead to pain shock and are symptoms of a perforated ulcer or duodenitis;
- sick stomach hurts. Prolonged burning pain occurs with gastritis;
- Feeling of fullness and heaviness in the stomach indicates the presence of cholecystitis, pancreatitis or colitis.
If your stomach hurts during pregnancy, then you should not panic and look for the listed diseases. Tell your gynecologist and he will prescribe tests and recommend treatment.
What else could be the reasons that the stomach hurts during pregnancy?
During childbearing, a woman's body undergoes many changes. As a result, stomach discomfort may be associated with physiological changes:
- enlargement of the uterus, which puts pressure on the internal organs;
- increased levels of the hormone progesterone. It relaxes the intestinal walls, which causes discomfort.
Stomach hurts during pregnancy also as a result of:
- overeating, or eating "heavy" and rough food;
- physical activity with tension in the abdominal muscles;
- reactions to an allergenic product;
- viral or infectious disease;
- trauma or stress.
If the expectant mother previously suffered from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, then duringchildbearing, these diseases can worsen.
Prevention of stomach diseases
In order to avoid discomfort and have a he althy stomach and intestines, you must follow these recommendations:
- keep a balanced diet. Eliminate fried, s alty, sour and smoked foods from your diet;
- eat small meals;
- add more fruits and vegetables to your diet and cut out baked goods;
- do not eat cabbage, peas and beans as these foods contribute to the formation of gas in the stomach.
If you experience pain, do not take chemicals. Opt for homeopathy, as well as decoctions from herbs, such as chamomile. Before taking any medication, you should get the advice of a supervising gynecologist.
