Stomach (abdominal) pains or cramps are common in pregnancy. They're usually nothing to worry about, but they can sometimes be a sign of something more serious that needs to be checked. It's probably nothing to worry about if the pain is mild and goes away when you change position, have a rest, do a poo or pass wind. But if you have stomach pains and are worried, call your midwife or maternity hospital. Harmless stomach pains, which can be dull or sharp, may be caused by: Urgent advice: Call your midwife immediately if you have stomach pain and:
Any of these could be the symptoms of something that needs to be checked or treated urgently. Possible causes of serious stomach painSome conditions that can cause stomach pain need to be checked urgently. Ectopic pregnancyThis is when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb, for example in a fallopian tube. The pregnancy cannot survive and needs to be removed with medicine or surgery. Symptoms typically appear between 4 and 12 weeks of pregnancy and can include:
Find out more about ectopic pregnancy MiscarriageCramping pains and bleeding before 24 weeks of pregnancy can sometimes be a sign of miscarriage or threatened miscarriage (when you bleed but the pregnancy normally continues). Pre-eclampsiaPain just under the ribs is common in later pregnancy due to the growing baby and uterus pushing up under the ribs. But if this pain is bad or persistent, particularly on the right side, it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy) which affects some pregnant women. It usually starts after 20 weeks or just after the baby is born. Other symptoms of pre-eclampsia include:
You'll need to be monitored in hospital. Find out more about pre-eclampsia Premature labourIf you're less than 37 weeks pregnant and are having regular abdominal cramps or tightenings, call your midwife. This could be a sign of premature labour, and you'll need to be monitored in hospital. Placental abruptionThis is when the placenta starts to come away from the wall of the womb, usually causing bleeding and constant severe pain that does not come and go like a contraction pain. It's sometimes an emergency because it means the placenta may not be able to support your baby properly. You should go to the hospital so you and your baby can be checked. Find out more about placental abruption UTI (urinary tract infection)UTIs are common in pregnancy and can usually be easily treated. They can cause tummy pain and sometimes, but not always, pain when you pee. Find out more about UTIs PREGNANCY Last modified on Thursday 6 May 2021 Have you heard rumours that you can feel your stomach to see if you're pregnant? Read on to find out the facts, including when you can feel your baby move from the outside, and how to tell you're pregnant in the early stages. This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team. If you think you could be in the early stages of pregnancy, you might be wondering how to feel your stomach to see if you are in fact pregnant. Here's what you need to know... Feeling your belly from the outside There are a lot of myths out there but, unfortunately, it's not possible to tell if you're pregnant by feeling your stomach or belly from the outside in the early stages of pregnancy. Later on in pregnancy, it may be possible for you or others to feel your baby moving by touching your belly from the outside, and you will start to develop a feel-able baby bump – but these things won't happen until much later down the line, around the middle of your pregnancy. By this point, most people will already know they are pregnant anyway, either by taking a pregnancy test and/or because they've noticed pregnancy symptoms and changes to their body. How your belly might feel on the inside While you won't be able to tell that you're pregnant by physically touching your stomach in the early stages of pregnancy, there are some early pregnancy symptoms which you may feel internally in your abdomen area, and these could give you an early sign that you're pregnant. These signs include: period-type pains (but no period), cramping or bloating in your belly, and feeling nauseous or sick. You'll also start to feel your baby moving inside but, again, this won't happen until later on in your pregnancy. The earliest you're likely to feel your baby move from the inside is at about 16 weeks. However, some women don't feel their baby move until 24 weeks. If this is your first pregnancy, you might not feel any movement until after 20 weeks. When you do feel your baby moving, this might feel like a gentle fluttering or swirling feeling at first, and as your baby gets bigger you'll start to feel kicks and jerky movements – or even hiccups! As your pregnancy progresses, other people will be able to feel your baby moving by touching your belly from the outside too. The point when this is possible will be different for everyone, so be patient and eventually it will happen!
Your browser cannot play this video. What are the early signs of pregnancy?While you won't be able to feel your stomach to see if you're pregnant during the early stages of pregnancy, there are some early symptoms that it's possible to experience in the first few days or weeks after conceiving, and before a missed period. These can include:
You can find out more about the early signs of pregnancy here. Of course, the best way to know you're pregnant for certain is to take a pregnancy test. When to take a pregnancy testYou'll ideally want to take a pregnancy test from the first day of your missed period. Some modern pregnancy tests claim to give accurate results before your period is due, but waiting until you've missed your period will usually give you the most reliable answer. Find more information on how soon you can take a pregnancy test here. What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff is a must-read for all expectant parents. Packed full of advice, it has over 15,000 positive reviews on Amazon! See more details here. A full body pregnancy pillow will keep you comfy at home; during sleeping and relaxing and it can be used to support you during breastfeeding when your baby arrives. See Dunelm's wide variety of pregnancy pillows here. Looking for more information on what to expect during pregnancy? Read our articles below or share advice with others in the forum. Related storiesHow big is my baby? Baby size by week CHAT: Pregnancy Your pregnancy week by week What does stomach feel like when first pregnant?Early pregnancy (first trimester) abdominal symptoms include nausea/morning sickness, cramping, constipation, heartburn, bloating, and gas. Pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, and pregnancy symptoms may begin in some people as early as a week after implantation.
What does lower stomach feel like in early pregnancy?Lower abdominal pain is normal during pregnancy and is most common between 18 and 24 weeks. Your growing uterus is pulling and straining the muscles that support it. You may feel sharp pains or just a mild pulling sensation. It often occurs when you cough, sneeze, stand up, sit down, roll over, or during sex.
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What will your stomach feel like in early pregnancy
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