Pregnancy-related pains

Very low urgency
Common-

Discomfort or pain that can occur as pregnancy progresses due to the enlargement of the uterus caused by the growing foetus.

The most common symptoms are back, groin and thigh pain. Other pains, such as in the pelvic region (pubic bone and waist), can also occur as a result of the pressure exerted by the baby's head, its increase in size and its flexibility of articulation.

It is diagnosed clinically by means of an interview and a gynaecological examination. Other diseases that may cause abdominal pain should be excluded: acute pyelonephritis, urinary tract infection, labour, etc.

Treatment consists of the application of local heat, rest and, if necessary, analgesics.

Bibliographic references
  1. Purizaca, Manuel, Modificaciones fisiológicas en el embarazo. Revista Peruana de Ginecología y Obstetricia [Internet]. 2010;56(1):57-69. Recuperado de: https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=323428195010
  2. Ramírez O, Martínez M, García S. Duración del embarazo, modificacio- nes de los órganos genitales y de las mamas. Molestias comunes del em- barazo normal. En: Cabero L (editor). Tratado de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Medicina de la Reproducción. Tomo I. Madrid: Editorial Panamericana. 2003:232-48
  3. Cunningham F, Leveno K, Bloom S, Hauth J, Gilstrap L, Wenstrom K. Fi- siología materna. Vigésimo segunda edición. Buenos Aires: Editorial Mc Graw Hill. 2005:121–50
  4. Cappell MS, Friedel D. Abdominal pain during pregnancy. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2003 Mar;32(1):1-58. doi: 10.1016/s0889-8553(02)00064-x. PMID: 12635413.
  5. Vermani E, Mittal R, Weeks A. Pelvic girdle pain and low back pain in pregnancy: a review. Pain Pract. 2010 Jan-Feb;10(1):60-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2009.00327.x. Epub 2010 Oct 26. PMID: 19863747.
  6. Hu X, Ma M, Zhao X, Sun W, Liu Y, Zheng Z, Xu L. Effects of exercise therapy for pregnancy-related low back pain and pelvic pain: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Jan;99(3):e17318. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000017318. PMID: 32011431; PMCID: PMC7220333.
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Symptoms

    Pain above the pubis


    Groin pain


    Pain in lower limb


    Back pain


    Leg pain

Symptoms to watch out for

Fever (temperature higher than 38 ºC)
Bleeding
Pain when passing urine
Pain that doesn't subside with analgesics
Acute belly pain

Self-care

Consume over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.
Apply heat to the affected area.
Relative rest, rest until symptoms subside.