Stomach pain during pregnancy

Stomach pain is a common phenomenon during pregnancy. Almost every expectant mother complains of stomach pain during pregnancy. These are often accompanied by a feeling of fullness and heartburn.

During early pregnancy, hormonal changes are mainly responsible for the stomach pain. They lead to many adjustment processes in the body, to which many react sensitively. This type of stomach pain is usually harmless and disappears by itself.

As the size of the unborn child increases, stomach pains can then reappear. This can be explained by the mechanical pressure on the stomach, which can vary depending on the position of the child. Again, no treatment is necessary.

Relaxation exercises and avoiding physical exertion are helpful. In rare cases, however, stomach pain during pregnancy may require treatment. On the one hand, inflammation or ulcers, as in non-pregnant women, can be behind it. On the other hand, stomach pain can be an expression of rare but dangerous diseases occurring during pregnancy. These include (pre-)eclampsia and even the dangerous HELLP syndrome.If high blood pressure, seizures or water retention occur in parallel, a doctor must therefore be consulted immediately.

Stomach pain together with pain in the upper abdomen

Stomach pain and upper abdominal pain are in many cases inseparable. The stomach is located in the middle upper abdomen, so if the stomach is diseased, pain is perceived especially here. Increased attention must be given to stomach pain and upper abdominal pain when these occur on the left or right side.

Then it is possible that pain mistaken for stomach pain is caused by other organs. For example, an acute inflammation of the gallbladder can cause cramps and pain in the upper abdomen on the right side. Diseases of the intestine can also cause a feeling of illness and upper abdominal pain.

An appendicitis, for example, often begins with nausea and pain in the upper abdomen. In addition, upper abdominal pain, which is as impressive as stomach pain, must always be considered as an inflammation of the pancreas. A special feature is that the pain radiates from the abdomen to the back in a belt shape.

However, the main cause of upper abdominal pain is still the stomach. If stomach pain occurs more frequently and has a protracted course, it is advisable to consult a doctor. For diagnosis, information about the frequency of stomach pain and the time of occurrence depending on food intake are important.

A laboratory examination of the blood can provide important information if there is a suspicion of gastrointestinal bleeding. The hematocrit and the hemoglobin value are then reduced. There is a normocytic normochrome anemia.

The examination of the stool also provides information about a bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract (haemocult test). In most cases, a gastroscopy is performed to establish the diagnosis as well as to confirm a harmless finding. The patient is given a sleeping pill so that he or she does not feel anything from the examination.

The examiner inserts a so-called endoscope (a long tube with a camera) into the patient’s esophagus and can thus examine the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Frequently, small tissue samples are taken for special examination. It is important to visit a hospital or call an emergency doctor if the stomach pain can be linked to an injury or accident.

In addition, a heart attack could be the cause of the stomach pain if the chest pain is accompanied by chest pain, in which case the emergency doctor should also be called. A doctor should also be consulted urgently if the pain is extremely severe, so that, for example, sitting still is not possible or some relief is only felt when the patient is squatting strongly. The same also applies if the stomach pain is accompanied by bloody stools, persistent nausea and vomiting, yellow skin, or a “hard” or swollen stomach.

If the stomach pain is worrying and/or persists for more than two days, a doctor should always be consulted to deal with the problem. In case of stomach pain, a gentle diet should be eaten, which is not very stressful for the stomach and the rest of the digestive tract. It should therefore not be spicy or very fatty food.

Because of the pain, one is inclined to take painkillers such as acetylsalicylic acid or ibuprofen, which in turn can cause problems in the stomach area. An alternative pain medication in this case is paracetamol. It should be noted, however, that an analgesic treatment in no way treats the cause of the stomach pain and may only conceal it. For this reason, self-medication should not be used if possible and questions should be directed to the treating doctor. Diarrhea-inhibiting drugs such as loperamide should also only be used in emergencies, for example during forthcoming journeys, as the causative germs remain in the digestive tract and there is no way to combat the cause of the illness.