Why does the side hurt during pregnancy and what to do. Possible causes of pain in the right side during pregnancy.

Unpleasant sensations accompany almost every pregnancy. Varicose veins, pain in the spine, nausea, heartburn. But sometimes, other symptoms are added to these symptoms. What to do if you have pain in the side during pregnancy?

Is it worth contacting specialists or is it enough just to wait out this period? What can be the reason for this condition and what organs during pregnancy should be paid attention first of all? Why does the right side hurt or colitis the left side? There are more and more questions, and answers ... We will try to find answers together.

What is the nature of the pain

Before making a decision on the need to contact specialists, it is necessary to determine what and how it hurts. How can you do it yourself? Of course. To do this, you need to try to determine which pain during pregnancy is “normal” and which indicates an obvious pathology. Just make a reservation that the pain threshold for all women is different. Therefore, what for one is expressed in a slight malaise, for another can cause unbearable pain. But we will consider the average version, with normal pain sensitivity.

During pregnancy, pains of a pulling or stabbing character are noted. This is due to the fact that with the growth of the child, the internal organs are displaced and the woman experiences certain inconveniences. If there is an acute cutting pain, then regardless of its localization and frequency, you should immediately seek help from specialists.

Where pain occurs

Experts suggest dividing the stomach conditionally into four squares: upper right and lower right, upper left and lower left. Depending on where it hurts, you can find out which organ is experiencing the maximum load. So, consider the situation if the right or left side hurts:

  • Top right square. The liver is localized in this part of the side and gallbladder, part of the intestine and right part diaphragm. Accordingly, if your right side hurts, then you should think about whether there are chronic diseases of these organs. In some cases, in later pregnancy, the pain may be related to the movement of the baby. With many women, they experience not only a physiological load on the internal organs, but also a mechanical effect. In addition to the fact that the baby is actively growing and there is practically no room left for its own organs, but it also moves. During the period of activity, the child can actively beat your own liver. This will explain the fact that your side hurts. In especially severe cases, hematoma formation is possible. Immunity in a pregnant woman weakens, nutrition becomes not quite familiar, and there may be a need for extravagant food combinations. The consequence of all of the above can be colitis during pregnancy.
  • Right bottom square. If colitis or pain in this part of the abdomen, then this may be due to inflammatory processes in the right appendage or bladder. The development of appendicitis or dysfunction of the right kidney is also likely. In this case, the right side will hurt in the lower part.
  • Top left square. If colitis or pain is in this area, then the cause may be related to the stomach, spleen, intestines, or the left side of the diaphragm.
  • Left bottom square. Pain can be caused by the same reasons as with right side, only appendicitis should be excluded from the list.

What is the reason

In order for the pain in the side to stop bothering, you should deal with its cause. In the later stages, many often complain that their side hurts after a long walk or sitting. This is due to a change in posture, as well as relaxation of the ligaments. Therefore, during pregnancy, lower back pain becomes common, and discomfort will also be localized in the region of the right or left side.

If the right side hurts in the upper part, then this is most likely due to diseases of the liver, pancreas or bile ducts or gallbladder. Hepatitis, exacerbation of pancreatitis, an attack of cholelithiasis. Do not discount diseases associated with the fallopian tubes, bladder or kidneys.

Only a specialist can determine what is the cause of this condition. Therefore, when pain occurs, you should not delay it and it is better to immediately contact a specialist. He should talk about chronic diseases, and what other symptoms you have developed besides the pain attacks.

What to do

If the right side hurts and the pain is sharp or recurring, then the only possible and right decision will contact a specialist. Under no circumstances should you self-diagnose or self-medicate by prescribing yourself any medications! Even in the event that the side hurt before pregnancy, if you are sure of the diagnosis and the doctor prescribed you drugs in advance, it is still worth going through an additional examination and clarifying whether the diagnosis is correct.

Moreover, you should not follow the advice of relatives and neighbor grandmothers, who “know exactly” what to do if a woman has a backache or a side ache during pregnancy. Be examined and let the specialist point out to you the reason for such sensations, and also tell you how you can remove all the discomfort.

If pain during pregnancy occasionally manifests itself and does not cause any particular inconvenience, then it should be told about it at the next visit to the gynecologist or therapist. But in the case when, during pregnancy, pain in the right side is accompanied by fever, nausea, fever or vomiting, you should immediately contact an ambulance. After all, this condition should be stopped immediately. Try not to take any painkillers until the doctors arrive, because in this case, the clinical picture will not be so clear and it may be difficult to make a diagnosis. During pregnancy, it is better not to delay the establishment of the reason why the side hurts.

Today, we will discuss the topic of pain in the left hypochondrium in pregnant women and girls. During pregnancy, the appearance of pain in the left side can be physiological, but this symptom should not be ignored: it may indicate the presence of life-threatening diseases.

Why does the left side hurt during pregnancy?

From the beginning of pregnancy, under the influence of hormones in the body of the expectant mother, a lot of changes take place aimed at maintaining pregnancy. Hormones regulate the processes of digestion, are responsible for muscle relaxation, blood flow to the pelvic organs and the placenta. All this may be accompanied by symptoms unusual for a woman. including the pains mentioned above.

Pain in the left side at the beginning of the gestation period

This imbalance of the body at the beginning of pregnancy is often caused by changes under the influence of hormones. Pain in the epigastric region and in the left hypochondrium It occurs due to the weakening of the muscles of the digestive system. At the same time, the secretion of digestive juices is somewhat inhibited, digestion slows down, and when overeating or eating food quickly, pain in the stomach occurs. To improve the condition switch to easily digestible food, eat often, but in small portions, do not overload the stomach with protein foods, drink a little between meals. Pain in the left side It can be pulling, aching, stabbing or sharp in nature, it can be weak or intense. Most often associated with a weakening of intestinal motility. May be accompanied by flatulence and constipation, intensify 2-3 hours after eating and disappear after defecation.

To eliminate the symptom, it is necessary to include easily digestible laxative products in the diet, normalize the diet, drink more fluids and lead a mobile lifestyle.

Pain under the left rib from below It is most often caused by indigestion and constipation. However, at the very beginning of pregnancy, the pain that occurs in this area should alert. Pulling and aching, cramping pain from below may indicate a tubal or ovarian left-sided pregnancy. In this case, the pain gets worse over time., and when the tube breaks, it becomes acute and strong, accompanied by vomiting, severe sweating, a sharp deterioration in well-being, weakness. An ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition for a woman that requires emergency medical care.

Pain in the left side in the second trimester of pregnancy

In the second trimester, the uterus begins to rapidly increase in size, displaces and squeezes the pelvic organs, which can also provoke pain under the ribs on the left side. Pain in the left hypochondrium It can be caused by digestive problems in the lower intestines due to bowel displacement, constipation - such pain disappears after defecation. Sometimes pain on the left at the end of the second trimester appears with uterine pressure on the left ureter: urine outflow is difficult, fluid accumulates in the bladder and kidney. If the pain in the upper part of the left side radiates to the back With the pressure of the uterus on the ureter, stagnation of fluid in the kidneys is often observed. At the same time, the pelvis increases, and pulling, sometimes severe pains appear in the side, radiating to the back. To alleviate the condition of the pregnant woman, it is necessary to wear a prenatal bandage, lying down to rest on a healthy side and more often stand in a knee-elbow position: the uterus moves forward, the pressure on the ureter weakens, the natural process of removing fluid normalizes.

Pain under the left rib in the third trimester of pregnancy

At this stage, the bottom of the uterus rises higher and higher, begins to displace the stomach, spleen, pancreas, and put pressure on the diaphragm.

Therefore, in addition to the pains listed above, on the left, pains in the stomach can be localized due to its displacement (in the left hypochondrium), pancreas (on the left under the ribs), as well as from aggravation of problems with the intestines (in the left side and inguinal regions).

You can try to eliminate unpleasant symptoms by maintaining the principles proper nutrition, switching to a diet without sour, fried and salty, regular wearing of a bandage, as well as light physical activity. Cramping pain in the left side after 37 weeks may indicate the onset of labor.

Pathological conditions causing pain in the left side

A decrease in immunity in pregnant women leads to an exacerbation of chronic and an increase in cases of infectious and fungal diseases. During pregnancy, pain on the left under the ribs may indicate the following pathologies:

  1. exacerbation of chronic or the appearance of acute gastritis (localized under the rib);
  2. exacerbation of stomach ulcers;
  3. diseases of the spleen (in the hypochondrium and left flank);
  4. the appearance of a diaphragmatic hernia, pinching of the stomach (on the left under the ribs, in the epigastric region);
  5. pancreatitis;
  6. infectious and inflammatory diseases of the stomach, left kidney (gives to the left lumbar), ureters, left uterine appendages (left iliac region);
  7. inflammation, peptic ulcer of the departments, infection of the intestines (in the left flank and groin) and many other conditions.

The nature of pain from the left during pregnancy

The pain on the left can wear different character, be weak, acute, intense. By the nature of the pain, as well as the presence of additional symptoms, one can assume the cause of its occurrence.

If pulls in the left side

Drawing pain in the side can occur with left-sided pyelonephritis, pleurisy, left-sided pneumonia, indigestion, inflammation of the left uterine appendages, stomach cancer. If the pain is accompanied by fever, it is most likely caused by infectious diseases.

If colitis under the left rib

Stitching pains of varying intensity appear with pathologies of the spleen, problems with the intestines, as well as intense physical exertion.

If you are in severe and sharp pain

It often speaks of an acute course of the disease, occurs with severe damage to the tissues of the stomach (perforation of an ulcer, acute gastritis), rupture of the spleen, incarceration of the stomach, left-sided renal colic, rupture of a cyst of the left ovary or the ovary itself, rupture of the fallopian tube during an ectopic pregnancy, volvulus of the intestines. Practically always accompanied by a host of additional symptoms, always requires emergency medical care.

Please read what they can signal. Also, information about acute toothache during pregnancy will be important. Relevant for expectant mothers. When carrying a child, a woman's immunity weakens, such simple things as a cold can easily overtake almost any woman. And if you get a sore throat during pregnancy, please read this information.

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pain syndromes of the left hypochondrium

During pregnancy, the causes of pain in the left side can be natural or pathological. Likewise, the condition in this case can be both quite normal and very dangerous. Acute or persistent pain can only be treated by a doctor., since only he, after the examination, will be able to detect its true cause. On your own, you can only get rid of mild, pain that is natural during pregnancy. At the same time, in all cases, it is recommended to normalize the diet, work and rest, increase physical activity and, with a long stay in an upright position, wear a prenatal bandage.

In anticipation of a child, she always feels some anxiety related to her health, and, consequently, to the health of the child. The sudden feeling that the left side hurts during pregnancy should alert the young mother, especially if this is the first pregnancy. During this period, hormones rage in the body, rebuilding it so that it is physiologically ready for gestation and childbirth. But sometimes abdominal pain is a signal to take emergency measures.

Feelings may vary

Pain occurs most often in and this happens due to the restructuring of all internal organs. Therefore, when the left side hurts during pregnancy in the first trimester, this can be perceived as a simple sensation of discomfort. At the same time, the symptoms may indicate various health problems. You need to be able to distinguish simple uncomfortable sensations from really threatening symptoms for the health of a young mother or baby.

Listen carefully to changes happening to you

1. When the stomach hurts as if pulling the left side during pregnancy, then those women who have no more than two months of pregnancy and before her painful menstruation should not be worried should not be a common occurrence. The ligaments supporting the abdomen are stretched, the uterus presses on the internal organs, so discomfort in the initial period of pregnancy is not terrible if slight pain disappears by the end of the first trimester. Subsequently, it is more advisable to purchase a bandage in order to support the stomach. It will help get rid of the feeling that the left side hurts during pregnancy.

2. When the growing fetus shifts the intestines to the side, the feeling that the left side hurts during pregnancy may intensify, since the shift occurs precisely to the left. Your lunches and dinners in the intestines may be uneven. In addition, hormones “work” to relax all muscles. Peristalsis in the intestines is somewhat reduced, so constipation, flatulence may occur and, as a result, the left side hurts. During pregnancy, it is important to pay attention to the nature of the pain. Whether she has minor symptoms or is acute.

3. At any stage of pregnancy, even without the occurrence of pain, immediate intervention of doctors is necessary for any type of bleeding.

When can a pregnant belly become “acute”?

Signs of an "acute" abdomen must be known in order to call an ambulance in time when a woman is pregnant. Pain in the left side can be caused by a fairly large group of diseases. They can be united by common signs that require the mandatory intervention of doctors. The main signs of an "acute" abdomen:

  • Sharp pain that occurs, no matter where it is located. There can be both severe and increasing pain.
  • When the abdominal muscles on the front wall tense up (throughout the abdomen or in a limited area).
  • When causeless nausea or vomiting occurs, severe flatulence, delayed departures.
  • If the pressure decreases, the woman is faint, and pallor is also present.
  • There is an increase in temperature and This is also a reason to call a doctor.

Do not panic, but show maximum attention

The causes of abdominal pain in pregnant women, especially acute ones, can have a variety of reasons, and it is better to be safe than not to pay attention, so you should definitely consult a doctor in case of acute pain. The cause of pain can be a pathology that manifests itself only during pregnancy - preeclampsia. If there are pains in the upper abdomen, acute headache, "flies" in the eyes, high blood pressure and faces - immediately call a team of doctors.

What to do before he arrives Ambulance"? Create all the conditions for a pregnant woman to feel as good as possible. Draw the curtains or dim the bright lights, do not make noise, try not to leave the woman alone. Watch closely to make sure she doesn't have seizures. In case of their occurrence, keep a spoon wrapped in a towel ready to prevent the patient from clenching their teeth hard. The head should be raised. If your doctor has prescribed medication, you must take it. Gestosis requires inpatient treatment.

When a woman is pregnant, she tries to be especially attentive to her body and health, listening to even the most minor symptoms. For example, if the right side is colitis during pregnancy, the expectant mother may begin to think about the worst. In fact, things might not be so bad. Sometimes stabbing sensations in the side are a normal physiological phenomenon.

During pregnancy, any symptoms are alarming. Feeling a stabbing pain in the right side, you need to be alert, as it can be a symptom of numerous reasons, both safe and not very.

In the right side there are a number of important human organs. These are the liver, gallbladder, intestines, part of the diaphragm.

Determine which organ can manifest itself as stabbing sensations, can, paying attention to the localization of pain:

  • If pain is noted in the right hypochondrium, we can talk about inflammatory process in the liver.
  • If there are problems with the gallbladder, the nature of the pain may be different. Often there are spastic sensations.
  • In diseases of the pancreas, not only the right side will hurt, but also the left. Pain can be felt all over the back.
  • With problems with the intestines, pain often manifests itself as contractions. Other symptoms are possible, such as nausea, diarrhea.
  • If the source of pain is inflammation of the right kidney, then the pain will appear in the upper abdomen and radiate to the hypochondrium. Wavy attacks of pain in the perineal region are possible.

Only a specialist can determine the exact cause, so you should not make a diagnosis yourself. In most cases, stabbing sensations are not related to serious disorders.

But the risk of infection or exacerbation of some chronic disease always remains, so try to listen to your feelings and report them to your doctor. Problems can be:


  • Ectopic pregnancy. If frequent, sharp and strong stabbing sensations appear in early pregnancy, there is a risk of an ectopic pregnancy. Then the doctor will refer you to an examination that will help eliminate the risk of developing a fetus outside the uterus.
  • Appendicitis. With such inflammation, sharp pains on the right side also appear. Additionally, the temperature rises. If such a diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is sent for an operation to remove this process.
  • Intestinal spasms. During the entire period of pregnancy, the expectant mother may suffer from constipation. The latter, in turn, can lead to spasm of the intestinal walls. In this case, you can solve the problem by adjusting the diet and an antispasmodic drug.
  • Ovarian cyst. If pain is felt at the bottom right, giving into the anus, an examination will be required to exclude the growth of an ovarian cyst.

The reason may be more banal and harmless. The uterus during pregnancy is actively growing and presses on other organs, which can provoke discomfort in the abdomen.

If we talk about the causes of stabbing sensations in the abdomen, which are specifically related to the state of pregnancy, then they can be:

  • Risk of termination of pregnancy. It is worth alerting if the pain is felt in the lower abdomen and manifests itself as contractions.
  • Start of labor. Then the pain will be periodic.
  • The fetus is high and puts pressure on the ribs. This is purely a physiological sensation.
  • Development or exacerbation of neuralgia. Pain in this case will be sudden, as if "shooting".

Doctors also notice that the physiological state of a pregnant woman, including pain, largely depends on her mood and emotions. Also, stabbing pain in the abdomen depends on the individual sensitivity of the expectant mother.

Localization of pain

It is possible to determine the cause that led to the stabbing sensations in the side of a pregnant woman by paying attention to their exact localization.

  • So, if the pain manifests itself at the bottom right, becomes strong and does not go away for a long time, then most often its cause lies in appendicitis. The symptoms of the latter may be expressed in a different way, or may no longer appear in any way. In any case, with a clear localization of pain and its duration for more than eight hours, most often it is about appendicitis.
  • But if the pregnancy is early, then an ectopic pregnancy is also possible.. In this case, the egg is not attached to the wall of the uterus, but in the fallopian tube, and the fetus develops outside the uterus, which makes its normal development impossible.
  • If there is additional bleeding from the genital tract, we can talk about rupture of the ovary, as well as such dangerous complications of ectopic pregnancy as tubal abortion or rupture of the fallopian tube. Symptoms in this case will resemble appendicitis: nausea and vomiting are possible, the temperature may rise, and stomach upsets also appear.
  • Ovarian rupture and ectopic pregnancy show similar symptoms, but in the first case can be recognized due to bleeding. Severe blood loss can lead to anemia. In each case, the treatment will be individual: medical or surgical.
  • Also, cysts can form in the ovaries, when they break, severe pain will be observed.. As a result, loss of consciousness is also possible. Pain can occur when urinating, when making sudden movements. High fever and intestinal disorders are possible.
  • But sometimes stabbing sensations in the right side are a symptom of a disease of the ureter. or even this or that venereal disease. Therefore, try not to hesitate to visit a specialist.

If the expectant mother regularly feels stabbing sensations in her right side in its upper segment, it is worth checking the condition of the intestines, liver and gallbladder. Without a specialist, you will not determine exactly what the problem is. So, with hepatitis or, for example, inflammation of the pancreas, the pain manifests itself quite strongly, the symptoms are pronounced.

Possible severe nausea, constant causeless weakness. However, tingling pains can also indicate other things, such as insufficient liver function or gallstones. Regardless of what specific reason we are talking about, one cannot do without consulting a specialist.

Problems of this kind are often felt in the last months of pregnancy.. Along with tingling, heaviness on the right can also be felt. Perhaps this is how cholecystitis manifests itself. In pregnant women, it can be caused by stagnant processes, a decrease in motor activity, a change hormonal background. Due to such factors, smooth muscle relaxation in the gallbladder occurs, as a result of which the latter is stretched and provokes pain.

Also, the uterus, increasing, mechanically presses on the gallbladder, as a result of which the separation of bile is disturbed. In this case, nausea, belching, heartburn are possible, which, in principle, are normal among pregnant women. Getting rid of discomfort in this case can be quite simple - to review your diet. But this should not be done without the participation of a doctor. He should prescribe the necessary measures for you, taking into account your specific condition.

Colitis right side: what to do?


If you have colitis on your right side during pregnancy, you should not leave this seemingly harmless symptom unattended. You need to contact your gynecologist. The fact is that there are a lot of factors that can lie behind such pain, and many of them can endanger the life and health of the unborn child.

If you feel pain, try to lie down for a while and relax. If you rested, and within an hour the discomfort did not go away, you cannot do without a doctor.

Try to avoid medication since the vast majority of drugs during pregnancy are unsafe. Remember that for the expectant mother, self-treatment is a double threat.

Most often, the right side is colitis during pregnancy due to purely physiological, natural causes, so do not panic in advance. But it's worth it to be safe.

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