Stomach cramps independent of pregnancy

It is often difficult to distinguish pregnancy-dependent and pregnancy-independent stomach cramps solely on the basis of the accompanying symptoms. For this reason, a doctor should always be consulted in case of doubt and a comprehensive diagnostic procedure should be initiated. The most common causes of stomach cramps that have nothing to do with the present pregnancy include inflammation of the appendix (appendicitis, appendicitis), inflammatory processes in the area of the stomach mucous membranes (gastritis), liver diseases and infectious gastrointestinal diseases.

Infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract usually manifest themselves as stomach cramps accompanied by nausea, flatulence and diarrhoea. Since persistent diarrhea during pregnancy can lead to dehydration much more quickly, a doctor should be consulted urgently and appropriate treatment initiated as soon as possible. Gastrointestinal infections that lead to nausea, flatulence and diarrhoea require inpatient treatment, depending on the severity of the symptoms. This is particularly necessary if the fluid loss caused by the diarrhoea cannot be adequately compensated for by the daily drinking amount. In such cases nausea, flatulence and diarrhoea should be treated by venous fluid substitution.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of stomach cramps in pregnancy involves several steps. As a rule, the possible causes of the symptoms are first identified in a detailed doctor-patient consultation (anamnesis). During this discussion, the symptoms present should be described as precisely as possible.

After the doctor-patient consultation, a blood sample is usually taken and sent to the laboratory for analysis. Especially the liver values and specific inflammation values (white blood cells and the C-reactive protein) must be urgently checked in case of stomach cramps during pregnancy. If infectious gastrointestinal diseases are suspected, a blood culture should also be prepared. Subsequently, an ultrasound examination can help to narrow down the possible causes for the occurrence of the stomach cramps.

Therapy – what to do in case of stomach cramps during pregnancy?

The treatment of stomach cramps that occur during pregnancy depends largely on the underlying cause. For this reason, many of the affected women ask themselves what they can do about the symptoms until they see their doctor.In general, no medication should be taken during pregnancy without consulting a doctor. The reason for this is the fact that although a harmful effect on the unborn child is known for many drugs, there are no extensive studies on other drugs.

For this reason, damage can never be completely ruled out, even with apparently harmless drugs. The pain reliever paracetamol is considered to be largely harmless. It can therefore be taken temporarily during pregnancy in case of light stomach cramps.

However, since this drug does not help many pregnant women sufficiently, they ask themselves what else can be done to relieve stomach cramps. In addition, herbs are the remedy of choice for stomach cramps during pregnancy. Most of these herbs are said to have a calming effect on the lining of the stomach and thus relieve the symptoms.

Camomile tea in particular is one of the most popular remedies for stomach cramps during pregnancy. A cup of chamomile tea, used in combination with a lukewarm hot water bottle, can usually provide sufficient relief. Furthermore, fennel tea, peppermint tea or nettle tea can be drunk without danger.

When drinking herbal teas during pregnancy, however, it is important to ensure that the temperature is kept as low as possible. Hot drinks may lead to circulation problems during pregnancy. In addition, a change in diet is something that can be done about stomach cramps during pregnancy.

Affected women should eat small meals at regular intervals. Protein-rich, fibre-rich foods are also beneficial. Fat-rich or carbohydrate-containing foods, on the other hand, can even increase stomach cramps.

Medications taken during pregnancy to treat stomach cramps should always be discussed in advance with the gynaecologist. Quite a few medications can have demonstrably damaging effects on the unborn child. So-called proton pump inhibitors, such as pantoprazole and omeprazole, are considered to be the most effective medicines for stomach cramps.

Nevertheless, the use of these drugs during pregnancy should only be reserved for exceptional cases. Both pantoprazole and omeprazole mediate their effectiveness by inhibiting the acid production of the stomach. In this way, the stomach lining can be effectively protected and stomach cramps relieved.

So-called antacids (e.g. magaldrate) should always be preferred to proton pump inhibitors during pregnancy. Although antacids have a comparatively weak effect, the risk of damage to the unborn child is significantly lower. In addition, medicines from the group of acid blockers (e.g. ranitidine) can be used for stomach cramps during pregnancy.