Many women complain of pain in early pregnancy. They are understandable: with the birth of a new life, the body of the future mother begins to gradually rebuild. Muscle fibers are stretched, ligaments swell. A woman usually experiences this kind of discomfort in the first trimester.
Not always pains are the result of the described changes. Any unpleasant sensations should alert the future mother in childbirth, as sometimes they signal pathological problems. This article discusses the main causes of pain in the lower abdomen on the left during pregnancy. Information is also provided on methods for diagnosing and treating such a condition.
Pain in the lower abdomen on the left during pregnancy
On the left side of the abdominal cavity are organs, each of which plays a specific functional role. Any discomfort during pregnancy should alert and become a reason for a visit to the doctor.
There are many reasons for the appearance of pain, and not all of them are due to pregnancy itself:
- Physiological (do not require treatment).
- The pathological course of pregnancy.
- Diseases not related to the birth of a new life.
Pain in early pregnancy is usually due to distention of the walls of the uterus. Such discomfort can be called physiological, and specific treatment in this case is not required. When attaching a fetal egg, some women feel a slight tingling sensation in the lower abdomen. It independently passes through 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, as with menstruation. Discomfort goes away during rest and increases with physical exertion. 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 sharp pain, which gives to the perineum. However, 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 pain is called obstetric.
Miscarriage
A large percentage of spontaneous abortion is recorded for up to 12 weeks. A miscarriage is usually preceded by certain symptoms that every woman should know. If a pathology is recognized in a timely manner and consult a doctor, in most cases it is possible to save the baby.
Brownish discharge with impurities of blood from the vagina, side pain during pregnancy - these signs indicate a miscarriage. A woman with such symptoms needs to 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 proceed to treatment.
At the same time, a small hematoma often remains behind the fetal egg, which causes drawing pains in the abdomen during pregnancy. When it resolves, the discomfort must go away, so do not worry. If there has already been a threat of miscarriage once , a woman should be especially careful and attentive to her situation. It is necessary to do ultrasound regularly to exclude various pathologies. Intrauterine anomaly often causes spontaneous abortion or, conversely, develops as a result of a deficiency in 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 fetal egg does not have time to reach the uterus and is attached in the fallopian tube. Rupture of the latter can lead to heavy bleeding. Sometimes an ectopic pregnancy entails a spontaneous abortion.
The first symptoms of pathology appear at 7-8 weeks, when an enlarged 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 symptoms:
- severe pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the anus or legs;
- unpleasant sensations appear suddenly, intensify with movement;
- vaginal bleeding.
This condition is considered extremely dangerous and requires immediate hospitalization of the patient for surgical care.
Placental abruption
In some cases, the placenta exfoliates prematurely from the walls of the uterus. Among the main reasons for the development of pathology, doctors include strong blows to the abdomen, hypertension, and overstrain. Exfoliation 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 heavy bleeding from the vagina. It may also appear weakness, headaches.
In the early stages of pregnancy, placental exfoliation is treated with medication. In the third trimester, if doctors detect an oxygen deficiency in the fetus, they usually decide on a premature birth.
Cervical insufficiency
This pathology is often diagnosed in women with a complicated obstetric-gynecological history. It is characterized by weakness of the internal pharynx of the cervix, due to which its gradual opening without delivery occurs. This condition is very dangerous because it threatens infection of 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 contractions are absent. A woman with suspected isthmic-cervical insufficiency is hospitalized. Treatment involves a complex operation, during which circular sutures are placed on the cervix.
Uterine hypertonicity
Many women complain that during pregnancy their stomach hurts, as with menstruation. This is a common phenomenon, which in medical practice is called uterine tone. Pathology implies an involuntary contraction of her muscles, characterized by the appearance of pain. She can give back.
Normally, the uterus is constantly relaxed and calm. That is why when discomfort occurs, you must visit a doctor. The tone of the uterus in the first trimester often signals a spontaneous abortion that has begun. 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 timely determine the cause and begin treatment.
Training fights
Training fights usually begin after 30 weeks. Thus, the uterus is "preparing" for the upcoming birth. If the 38th week of pregnancy is already ending , the stomach hurts and the characteristic discharge from the vagina is noticeable, you should call the team of medical workers and calmly go to meet with the baby.
It is very important for every woman to be able to distinguish training fights from the true ones. The former are characterized by irregularity, short duration. This is described in more detail in preparatory courses for future mothers.
Non-obstetric reasons
Given that in the small pelvis, in addition to the uterus, there are other organs, the pains in the lower abdomen on the left during pregnancy do 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, passes immediately after the body adapts to a new status.
Some women are diagnosed with common cystitis. This onset of pregnancy is considered unfavorable, since treatment of the disease is associated with the use of antibiotics. It is especially bad if a woman did not know about her interesting situation and used prohibited drugs for therapy. In such cases, pregnant women should drink plenty of water, treat with medicinal herbs and antispasmodics.
In addition to the bladder, hormonal changes can affect the intestines. Constipation, bloating, loose stools appear. All this leads to discomfort in the left part 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 stool and nutrition. The thing is that frequent constipation can negatively affect the development of the fetus.
Medical examination
In order to identify which organ provoked the occurrence of unpleasant sensations, pain syndrome should be as detailed as possible. This procedure implies an assessment of the severity and nature of the 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, stool disturbance). For example, if the side hurts during pregnancy, it is most often a question of spontaneous abortion. With isthmic-cervical insufficiency, in addition to discomfort, characteristic vaginal discharge appears.
After examining and collecting an anamnesis for a final diagnosis, a woman is prescribed a comprehensive examination, which includes laboratory and instrumental methods.
Why are pregnancy pains not treated?
After determining the cause of discomfort in the lower abdomen, a woman is prescribed treatment. If there is a risk of spontaneous abortion, drugs are prescribed to prevent uterine tone. With ectopic pregnancy, surgery is mandatory. In case of placental abruption, treatment is carried out in a hospital setting. A woman is prescribed antispasmodics (Papaverine, Metacin) and hemostatic agents.
When and why are pregnancy pains not treated? If the discomfort is due to physiological reasons, specific therapy is not needed. This is described 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. A disorder such as a neurogenic bubble passes on its own after the body adapts to a new life inside the womb. From constipation, diarrhea, bloating helps to correct the diet. It is recommended that a pregnant woman abandon products that promote increased gas formation, choose healthy and natural foods.
Conclusion
Pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy can have a different etiology. In order not to risk the health of the baby, you should not self-medicate and try to make a diagnosis. It is better to consult a gynecologist who can determine the cause of discomfort and draw up a treatment regimen. Be healthy!