Stress-related abdominal pain during pregnancy

Especially during pregnancy, severe stress, which can lead to physical discomfort, should be avoided at best, as this can have a negative effect on the pregnancy and the development of the unborn child. Ultimately, very strong stress can also increase the risk of premature labour and thus the risk of premature birth or miscarriage. For the sake of the mother and the child, it is therefore important to reduce the stress level and the associated abdominal pain.

However, pregnancy itself is an exciting time, which can be associated with many fears and stress. Birth preparation courses give expectant mothers the opportunity to learn strategies for coping with stress and anxiety before the birth. The support of a midwife, who with her experience and knowledge of the birth and the child is a great help, can also be used to cope with stress.

The exchange with other expectant mothers or mothers who have already had experience with babies can also help them to look forward to the forthcoming birth or similar in a more relaxed manner. Pregnant women who suffer from stress-related abdominal pain due to strong psychological strain should definitely seek support. This can be the partner, family or friends.

If the worries, fears or interpersonal conflicts cannot be resolved, it is advisable to seek the help of a therapist. Here pregnant women can, for example, address their feelings of helplessness and overburdened by partnership conflicts, money worries or other problems and approaches to solutions can be worked out together. In general, exercise in the fresh air, a balanced diet and “pregnancy-friendly” physical activity are sensible measures to increase well-being and promote stress reduction. Medication for treating abdominal pain during pregnancy should only be taken in consultation with the doctor. Many medications are not permitted during pregnancy and medical expertise is required to prescribe a suitable remedy.

Anxiety-induced abdominal pain

The digestive organs sometimes react very sensitively to stress and above all to fear – to what extent exactly depends very much on the person affected. Genetic backgrounds as well as experiences and habits accumulated in the course of life play a role. In short, one has little influence on how sensitive the digestive tract reacts to psychological stress.

But why do stress and anxiety lead to stomach aches, nausea, diarrhoea or similar? Stress in its original sense is a useful reaction of the body to dangerous situations. Stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are released, mainly to increase the blood flow to the muscles, so that they can react faster to threats. At the same time, however, the blood flow to initially unneeded organs, such as the intestine, also decreases. This reduced blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract can then lead to physical complaints such as abdominal pain.