As your baby develops and your bump gets bigger by the day, your body will begin to adapt to the little one growing inside you. This extra strain can often lead to mild pregnancy pains such as backache and mild abdominal discomfort such as stretching.
If you are concerned, give your midwife or triage a ring to put your mind at rest. And of course, if there’s anything on your mind about your pregnancy, don’t forget our expert team is on hand 24/7.
Pains such as stretching sensations or tightening around your belly are perfectly normal during pregnancy. They’re not usually anything to worry about - but abdominal pain or stomach cramps can sometimes be a sign of something more serious.
Here you’ll find information from reliable sources, including nhs.uk, to help you identify the causes of your abdominal pain in pregnancy, as well as ways to soothe it. But if you are concerned at all, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Careline, your midwife, triage or your local hospital
There are a few potential causes of stomach pain in pregnancy, the majority of which won’t cause any harm to your growing baby. Let’s take a look at some of the things you might experience plus some handy tips on easing the symptoms.
Feeling full a little quicker than usual, getting bloated or suffering from indigestion, nausea, or belly cramps? The likelihood is that you’re feeling the effects of your growing uterus. This is completely normal as the pregnancy hormone progesterone can result in water retention and bloating – both very common in early pregnancy.
You can help to ease any discomfort by eating smaller meals more regularly, doing some gentle exercise, getting plenty of rest and going to the toilet as soon as nature calls!
Round ligament pain is also known as ‘growing pains’. This is because they’re caused by the ligaments on the sides of your tummy stretching as your uterus grows. These round ligaments attach your womb to your pelvis, and as your baby gets bigger they can go into spasm, leading to sharp pain in your lower belly and down into your groin2.
Round ligament pain is completely normal and harmless to you and your baby. It usually begins in the second trimester, but some pregnant women can feel them earlier. They’re similar to a stitch or sharp cramp, and they can feel worse if you change positions suddenly or increase abdominal pressure by sneezing, coughing or laughing2.
Constipation and trapped wind are some of the less glamorous symptoms, but they’re very common causes of cramping in early pregnancy. The changes in your hormone levels can slow down your digestion, leaving you with stomach pain if you can’t go to the loo3.
You can help ease the symptoms and keep everything moving by drinking plenty of water, exercising regularly, and eating high-fibre foods like wholemeal bread, fruits, vegetables, beans, and lentils3.
Whilst it’s not the same for every pregnant woman, constipation can continue during your second trimester4 and your third trimester, too5. Especially if you’ve been started on some iron tablets by your midwife!
Braxton Hicks contractions are a completely normal part of pregnancy that most women start to notice in their second or third trimester6. They happen when the muscles in your uterus tighten and relax as your body practices for when you go into labour.
If this is your first pregnancy, it’s easy to mistake Braxton Hicks for real contractions - but there are some key differences6:
If you’re still not sure whether the stomach pain you’re experiencing is Braxton Hicks, it’s best to check with your midwife at the hospital. During your antenatal appointment, your midwife should have given you the telephone number for the assessment centre at the hospital. The number is available 24 hours a day, and should be your first port of call if you need to speak to someone urgently.
There are a few symptoms that you should watch out for that could be a sign of something more serious. We’ll cover all these signs and what they might mean below, but bear in mind that you might not experience all of the symptoms listed. It’s always best to stay on the safe side, so get in touch with your doctor or midwife if you’re not sure.
An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilised egg implants itself somewhere other than the womb - usually in one of the fallopian tubes. The egg can’t develop into a baby in an ectopic pregnancy, and it can be a risk to your health7.
Not all ectopic pregnancies cause symptoms, but if they do they usually happen between the 4th and 12th week of pregnancy. Symptoms of ectopic pregnancies include7:
If you think you might be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, get in touch with your GP or ring 111 straight away. You should always go to A&E if you feel dizzy or sick, or have a sudden sharp pain in your stomach or shoulder7.
Having abdominal pain in pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re having a miscarriage, but it’s important to seek medical advice if you’re concerned.
The most common sign of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding which may be followed by pain (but not all vaginal bleeding is a sign of miscarriage). Other symptoms include8:
Call your midwife at the hospital, A&E, or Early Pregnancy Unit immediately if you have any of these symptoms.
Premature labour means going into labour before your 37th week of pregnancy9. Call your hospital where you’re booked to have your baby straight away if you’re less than 37 weeks pregnant and have any of the following symptoms:
The earlier in pregnancy a baby is born, the more vulnerable they are to complications linked with being premature. But it is possible for a baby to survive if they’re born at 24 weeks onwards - they’ll just need extra care in a special neonatal unit9.
The placenta is a temporary organ that grows inside your womb when you’re pregnant and provides your baby with the nutrients they need to grow10. Placental abruption is when the placenta partly or completely separates from the inner wall of the uterus before the delivery of your baby.11.
Symptoms include:
Placental abruption is a serious but rare condition, so if you have any of these symptoms you should be checked by a doctor or midwife straight away.
Pre-eclampsia affects some pregnant women in their second and third trimester (from 20 weeks) or soon after they’ve given birth12. Most of the time pre-eclampsia is fairly mild, but it needs to be monitored to avoid complications for you and your baby.
Most symptoms of pre-eclampsia should be picked up during the midwife appointments you have throughout your pregnancy. But sometimes other symptoms might develop, like12:
The earlier symptoms of pre-eclampsia are caught, the better it is for you and your baby. Talk to your midwife if you’re worried about pre-eclampsia.
If you’ve ever been unlucky enough to have a UTI, you’ll know they can be pretty uncomfortable. They’re also more common during pregnancy thanks to changes in your hormone levels13.
Symptoms of UTIs include14:
UTIs can usually be treated easily, but it’s best to talk to your GP or midwife as soon as you can if you have any symptoms. Find out more about UTIs and cystitis during pregnancy.
Appendicitis is pretty common in and outside of pregnancy. It’s caused by your appendix swelling, leading to symptoms like15:
Appendicitis is a little trickier to diagnose in pregnant women because the symptoms are so similar to being pregnant, but the main thing to look out for is severe pain in the abdomen. If it’s caught early enough, appendicitis is easy enough to treat by removing your appendix. As always, make sure to get in touch with your GP or A&E Labour ward if you have any doubts about your symptoms.
Gallstones are small stones made of cholesterol that can form in the gallbladder. Most of the time they have no symptoms, but if they get trapped they can cause severe pain in your stomach16.
It’s pretty common for pregnant women to experience symptoms of gallstones because increases in hormones like oestrogen can cause an increase in cholesterol levels17. If you’re experiencing intense abdominal pain in pregnancy, get in touch with your midwife. They’ll be able to check for gallstones and other possible causes of abdominal pain and get you the treatment you need.
Stomach pain in pregnancy is usually a completely normal and harmless side effect of growing a baby. Slight discomfort from growing pains and gas is all part of the journey and often nothing to worry about.
But you know your body best and you should always trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, or you just need some reassurance, your midwife will be more than happy to put your mind at ease.
Last reviewed: October 2024
Reviewed by Nutricia’s Medical and Scientific Affairs Team
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