Is it normal to have painful cramps while pregnant

Gas can cause excruciating abdominal pain. It may stay in one area or travel throughout your belly, back, and chest. According to the Mayo Clinic , women experience more gas during pregnancy due to increased progesterone. Progesterone causes intestinal muscles to relax and extends the time it takes food to get through the intestines. Food remains in the colon longer, which allows more gas to develop. As your pregnancy progresses, your enlarging uterus puts extra pressure on your organs, which can slow digestion further and allow gas to build up.

If abdominal pain is caused by gas, it should respond to lifestyle changes. Try eating several small meals throughout the day and drink lots of water. Exercise may also help aid digestion. Identify foods that trigger gas and avoid them. Fried and greasy foods, as well as beans and cabbage, are common culprits. Avoid all carbonated beverages, too. Many women write off abdominal pain during pregnancy as gas, but there are other benign reasons for pain to occur.

There are two large round ligaments that run from the uterus through the groin. These ligaments support the uterus. As the uterus stretches to accommodate your growing baby, so do the ligaments.

This may cause sharp or dull pain in the abdomen, hips, or groin. Shifting your position, sneezing, or coughing can trigger round ligament pain. This usually occurs in the last half of the pregnancy. If you feel a sneeze or cough coming on, bend and flex your hips.

This can help to reduce the pressure on the ligaments. Constipation is a common complaint among pregnant women. Constipation may cause severe pain.

Try increasing the amount of fiber in your diet. Increasing fluids may also help. It is important to differentiate Braxton Hicks from true contractions. The true contraction will be closer together, last for a longer period of time, and are painful. True contractions will take your breath away, so a general rule of thumb is that if you are able to carry on your normal activities, then it is most likely Braxton Hicks.

Also, doctors report that Braxton Hick can be caused by dehydration, so drinking plenty of water can help eliminate this problem.

Read more on Braxton Hicks Contractions. Common Discomforts: In addition to those listed above, there are several other common abdominal discomforts that can be experienced during pregnancy and are generally non-threatening.

Your growing uterus, stomach viruses, kidney stones, fibroids, and food sensitivities are all valid forms of harmless abdominal pain. When Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy is Serious Although many women who experience abdominal pain have healthy pregnancies, there are times when abdominal pain can pose a serious risk. Ectopic Pregnancy: Occurring in 1 out of 50 pregnancies , an ectopic pregnancy is when the egg is implanted anywhere other than the uterus. Most often, the egg is implanted in the fallopian tube.

Sadly, an ectopic pregnancy cannot continue to term and requires medical treatment. In the unlikely event that you have an ectopic pregnancy, you may experience intense pain and bleeding between your 6th and 10th weeks of pregnancy. Women at increased risk for ectopic pregnancies include those who have had an ectopic pregnancy in the past or have had endometriosis, a tubal ligation, or an intrauterine device IUD in place at the time of conception. Learn more about Ectopic Pregnancies.

Placental abruption: Placental abruption is a life-threatening condition in which the placenta separates from your uterus before the baby is born. One symptom of placental abruption is constant pain that causes your stomach to stay hard for an extended period of time without relief. Another sign is bloody fluid or premature breakage of your water. Additional symptoms include tenderness in your abdomen, back pain, or fluid discharge that includes traces of blood.

You can access the complete Placental Abruption article here. Miscarriage: The unfortunate truth is that 15 to 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage making it the most common form of pregnancy loss.

Signs of a miscarriage include mild to severe back pain, true contractions happening every minutes , brown or bright red bleeding with or without cramps, tissue or clot-like material passing from the vagina, and a sudden decrease in other signs of pregnancy. Read the full article on Miscarriage. Urinary Tract Infection: While easily treated during pregnancy, if ignored, a urinary tract infection can cause complications.

Should you notice pain in your lower back, the sides of your body under your rib cage or above your pelvic bone accompanied by fever, nausea, sweats, or chills, then it is possible that the UTI has spread to your kidneys.

Some additional causes of normal cramping in pregnancy include:. If you experience minor cramping during pregnancy, there are a couple of things you can do for prevention and self-care:. While cramping can be common, there are some serious causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy:. If you experience the following types of cramping, you should contact your doctor right away:. Pregnancy Cramps. What Causes Cramps During Pregnancy?

If you experience minor cramping during pregnancy, there are a couple of things you can do for prevention and self-care: Try to sit, lie down or change positions. Soak in a warm bath. Try doing relaxation exercises.

Place a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel on the ache. Make sure you get plenty of fluids. While cramping can be common, there are some serious causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy: Ectopic pregnancy — This type of pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies can cause painful cramping and is a serious medical condition that must be treated by your doctor.

Miscarriage — Vaginal spotting accompanied by mild or sharp cramping can be a sign of a miscarriage, although some pregnant women who have spotting and cramping can go on to have healthy pregnancies. Preeclampsia -This is characterized by high blood pressure along with protein in your urine.