How to Relieve Abdominal Pain during Pregnancy

There are many causes that can cause discomfort during pregnancy focusing on the belly area: from an enlarged uterus, the baby's movements or the position in which you sit or sleep, contractions or stretching of the ligaments that hold the uterus.

Of all these, the most common underlying cause of abdominal pain in pregnancy is uterine growth which is caused by the expansion of the lateral zones inside you. These increase each time the foetus grows inside you. If your child grows very fast, you will feel as if you've just pulled a muscle especially in the area of the lower back and the groin.

Lay on a comfortable surface

To truly relieve yourself of the pains of pregnancy, especially in the abdomen, it is recommended that when you notice the pain, set yourself on a smooth surface (a bed, sofa, etc.), elevate your legs and relax. Think that when your body is at rest, the muscles relax and, therefore, the pain will lessen.

Avoid quick changes of position

Another way to prevent abdominal pain during pregnancy is that when you're resting, you should avoid quick changes of position. If you're lying on your side and you want to turn around, do it slowly to make sure the foetus will also move into the new position and it will not shift around, causing you pain.

Stay hydrated

Being dehydrated can cause Braxton Hicks contractions to appear so it is important that you drink plenty of fluids, especially water, throughout the day for your body to function properly and thus the pain in your belly will not appear as often.

Don't stress

Another way that you can reduce pain in your belly during pregnancy is by avoiding stress at all costs. Note that the concerns and high stress levels caused by stress have an effort on your body both psychologically and physically. You should reduce your stress levels in order to avoid worse symptoms that can crop up at any point in time.

To avoid these pains, it is important to do relaxation techniques like pilates or yoga and be sure to be well rested throughout the day.

Sleep in a comfortable position

A maternity pillow may also help you deal with lower abdominal discomfort during pregnancy, especially when you are in the last months of the period. You may feel a strong pressure whilst resting, which can be alleviated if this pillow is used. Depending on the pain you feel, you can put this cushion under your legs, under your breasts or between your legs.

Eat a balanced diet

The gases during pregnancy are one of the main causes of pain that women feel pain in the belly. For this reason, it is important to take care of your eating habits during this period. Take into account some simple practices that will help reduce those troublesome internal gases:

• Eat during the day: distribute meals into 7 or 8 doses per day, in smaller but more frequent quantities. This will help to improve your digestion and, in turn, pain will not appear to bother you.

• Switch to healthy eating: Fruits and vegetables are highly recommended ingredients for this period of your life as they're great for their nutrients and vitamins that help ensure the healthy growth of your foetus. Leave aside meals with too much fat and head over to the salad bar for a healthy diet full of greens.

• A walk after meals. Doing mild exercise after eating is a good way to get off the bad food and opt for a healthier alternative and to prevent gases that accumulate in the stomach.

Use heating pads to apply some heat in the area

A good way to get relieve abdominal pain during pregnancy is to use heating pads. Heat applied to the area where you feel the discomfort can help you get decrease the pain and it can help you be more relaxed. Therefore, you can take a hot bath when you're feeling this pain or you can also put a clean cloth in warm water and then let it sit on your belly.

Visit your doctor if the pain is accompanied by other symptoms

We've already commented that abdominal pain is normal during pregnancy. However, you must pay attention to your health and seek medical advice if the discomfort is accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• Bleeding
• Fever
• Shaking chills
• Excruciating pain in the abdomen

These and other symptoms may denote that there are any complications in pregnancy so it is important that you see your doctor immediately so they can examine you to see what might be happening.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

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