Can pain in the navel be a sign of pregnancy? | Pain in the navel

Can pain in the navel be a sign of pregnancy?

Abdominal pain is not uncommon during early pregnancy. However, specific pain in the navel is not a typical sign of pregnancy, as it can have many different causes. Umbilical pain typically occurs later in pregnancy, when the growing child puts increasing pressure on the mother’s abdominal wall.

The stretching and stressing of the abdominal wall can then lead to pulling pain in the navel area as well as a protrusion of the navel. Theoretically, navel pain is therefore conceivable as a sign of pregnancy, but it should not be regarded as specific to it. Pregnancy tests should be carried out to obtain certainty.

Is pain in the navel dangerous during pregnancy?

Pain in the navel during pregnancy is usually not dangerous. Most women suffer from such pain at times during pregnancy. As the child grows, pressure is increasingly exerted on the abdominal wall.

Over time, this causes the navel to come out. This is normal and no cause for concern. Due to the unusual strain, the navel can also hurt more or less strongly.

However, the pressure can also lead to an umbilical hernia. In this case tissue protrudes through a gap in the abdominal wall and becomes visible and/or palpable as a bulge. With small hernias, only some fat and connective tissue protrudes, with larger hernias, intestinal loops may be passed through.

Larger hernias are usually in need of treatment, as there is a risk of intestinal loops becoming trapped, which could cause them to die. Since this is a threatening complication, the gap in the abdominal wall must be closed surgically in such a case. This is usually possible without any problems even during pregnancy.

Small hernias often do not require any therapy and can be repaired naturally by training the abdominal muscles after pregnancy. In most cases, however, the pregnant woman does not have to worry about navel pain. However, if the symptoms are persistent and severe, a medical clarification is recommended.

There is usually not much that can be done about pain in the navel during pregnancy. The pain is usually caused by the pressure of the growing baby on the abdominal wall.Once the abdominal wall has adapted to the new load and stretched, the pain usually subsides again. Sometimes the pain can be relieved by careful massage of the abdominal wall or application of heat.

However, it is important to rule out an umbilical hernia as the underlying cause. In the case of a larger hernia, which has already led to the passage of parts of the intestine, surgical treatment is often necessary to prevent complications. Smaller hernias can usually be treated by waiting. A medical clarification is therefore highly recommended in order to be able to initiate a necessary therapy of the symptoms if necessary.