Is the pain in the upper abdomen of pregnant women a stomachache?

Studies have found that there are many reasons why pregnant women may experience upper abdominal pain, such as sphincter relaxation, uterus pressing on the stomach, hormonal stimulation, and uncured stomach disease in pregnant women. This shows that the possibility of stomach pain is very high. Experts say that stomach pain in the short term will have little impact on the fetus, but if it happens frequently, it must be treated in time. First of all, you should develop the habit of eating small meals frequently, and also avoid eating spicy and irritating foods.

1. Causes of stomach pain in pregnant women

1. Sphincter relaxation

It is caused by the reflux of gastric acid. The sphincter is between the esophagus and the stomach, helping food reach the stomach smoothly and preventing food from returning to the stomach. However, due to hormonal changes in pregnant women, the sphincter is no longer tight and cannot perform its function well. When food comes back up, the acidic substances in the stomach will also go back up into the esophagus, throat, and mouth along with the food. The acidic substances are very irritating and can irritate the mucous membrane and cause stomach pain.

2. The uterus presses on the stomach

In the later stages, the uterus gradually increases in size and compresses the body's organs, especially the stomach, causing them to produce a large amount of gastric acid, which rises and causes a burning sensation in the chest.

3. Hormone stimulation

After successful conception, when a woman's blood HCG rises rapidly, it will irritate the stomach and cause vomiting.

4. Pregnant women’s stomach problems have not been cured

If a pregnant woman has stomach problems before pregnancy and does not pay attention to her diet during pregnancy, it will also cause stomach pain. If you cannot tell whether the stomach pain occurred before or during pregnancy, it is best to see a doctor as soon as possible to prevent the condition from getting worse. Vomiting during pregnancy is normal, but if the vomiting is severe or even causes acidosis, you should go to the hospital to see a doctor immediately.

2. Does stomach pain during pregnancy affect the fetus?

Generally speaking, stomach pain has little impact on the fetus, but it is necessary to pay attention to check the cause of the stomach pain and rule out pain caused by other diseases. If the abdominal pain is caused by pancreatitis, suppurative cholangitis, etc., it is more likely to affect the health of the fetus.

If it is just an eating disorder, such as stomach cramps caused by eating too much sugar in a short period of time, it will not have much long-term impact on the baby. The baby will only be temporarily affected when the stomach hurts. It is recommended that pregnant mothers should not be nervous, eat regularly, strengthen nutrition, do not overeat, pay attention to rest, exercise moderately, and take good care of themselves during pregnancy.

If you experience stomach pain during pregnancy, you should eat small meals frequently and vary your diet. Eat when you want to eat, and make sure to drink plenty of water. At the same time, avoid irritating and overly greasy foods, such as chili peppers, curry, ginger, garlic, etc. At the same time, try to choose light foods and foods high in protein. Fruits, soy products and milk are all good choices. If it is food poisoning, stomach pain accompanied by vomiting, or even inability to eat or drink, then you need to go to the hospital for treatment.