Feeling the Tummy

All sensations that arise in the abdomen during pregnancy are divided into two large groups: obstetric - that is, associated with the special changes that occur in a woman’s body, and non-obstetric, which can occur in any person.

Obstetric causes of sensations
In the middle to end of the second trimester, the fetus begins to move. At first, the mother feels movements like slight flutters. Over time, movements become more intense, because towards the end of pregnancy the weight and size of the fetus increases - now it is not as spacious in the uterus as before. The number of movements gradually decreases, but their strength increases. And therefore, fetal movements, especially intense ones, can cause periodic unpleasant sensations in the mother, especially in the right or left hypochondrium. This is explained by the fact that in a normal cephalic presentation (the baby is positioned head down in the uterus), the blows of the baby’s legs are projected into the area of ​​the mother’s internal organs: the liver, stomach, intestines and spleen. Such sensations and even pain are natural and do not require treatment.
Mild pain in the lateral abdomen also does not require treatment. The cause of this pain is a change in the structure and stretching of the uterine ligaments, changes in the fallopian tubes (they thicken, blood circulation increases in them), in the ovaries (they increase somewhat in size, cyclic processes stop in them, and the position of the ovaries changes due to an increase in the size of the uterus ). Such complaints may occur several times during the day, but, as a rule, they quickly disappear if the woman takes a comfortable position.
Nagging pain in the lower abdomen and sacrum, as well as cramping pain, especially with discharge from the genital tract, may be a symptom of a threatened miscarriage, and therefore requires immediate medical attention. Most often, in such cases, the woman is hospitalized for diagnostic measures and treatment in a hospital setting.

Non-obstetric causes of sensations
Discomfort in the upper abdomen is most often a sign of exacerbation of chronic gastritis - inflammation of the gastric mucosa. It can be caused by poor nutrition, eating very spicy or salty foods, overeating, as well as taking certain medications, such as hormonal drugs. It should be remembered that the main painkillers (Aspirin, Paracetamol, Nurofen) have an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, and Aspirin, moreover, is contraindicated for pregnant women.
Sometimes at the end of pregnancy, the uterus, which has significantly increased in size, begins to put pressure on the stomach and gall bladder, promoting the reflux of the contents of these organs higher: from the gall bladder into the duodenum, and from the stomach into the esophagus, which most often provokes heartburn. In this case, vertical body position (sitting, standing) and taking antacids - drugs that reduce acidity - help. The doctor must choose the medicine and schedule the time for taking it. Most antacid drugs are not contraindicated during pregnancy, and their choice largely depends on individual tolerance. In addition, antacids may affect the absorption of other medications, which must be taken into account when taking them.
Heaviness in the right hypochondrium, especially worse after eating fatty foods, may be associated with inflammation of the gallbladder - cholecystitis. Predisposition to this disease is inherited. During pregnancy, a sedentary lifestyle, and errors in diet, the outflow of bile is disrupted, conditions are created for the formation of stones in the gall bladder, and an exacerbation of cholecystitis is provoked. In such cases, you should definitely consult a therapist or gastroenterologist.
Chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, chronic cholecystitis, cholelithiasis are not contraindications