Abdominal cramps during early pregnancy are a common complaint experienced by pregnant women. The causes vary, ranging from hormonal changes to abnormalities in the uterus. Although common, stomach cramps during pregnancy still need to be watched out because it can be a sign of a serious disorder.
During pregnancy, the uterus continues to grow, causing the ligaments and muscles that support the uterus to stiffen. This can cause stomach cramps during early pregnancy. However, pregnant women do not need to worry if they experience this, because stomach cramps during early pregnancy are generally a normal condition.
Causes of Stomach Cramps During Pregnancy That Are Not Dangerous
The causes of stomach cramps during early pregnancy are quite diverse. The following are some of the causes:
Hormonal changes
During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone will increase. This turned out to have an impact on the decrease in the work system of the gastrointestinal tract.
The decrease in gastrointestinal function causes the food consumed by pregnant women to be processed slowly in the gastrointestinal tract. This is what eventually triggers constipation and stomach cramps.
Enlargement of the size of the uterus
The increasing size of the uterus can cause stretching of the abdominal wall and changes in the position of the intestines. This condition can cause pregnant women to experience stomach cramps and even nausea.
Ligament stretch
Ligament pain can also cause abdominal cramps during early pregnancy, especially during the second trimester of pregnancy. This can happen because the ligaments must support the uterus, which begins to enlarge and thicken as the fetus develops.
Ligament pain is generally described as a sharp, stabbing pain, especially when a pregnant woman changes her sleeping position suddenly, gets out of the bath, or coughs.
In addition to these three causes, several other things can also cause stomach cramps during early pregnancy, namely during or after sexual intercourse and when having an orgasm.
Stomach Cramps Conditions to Watch Out for
Stomach cramps during early pregnancy are a common condition. However, this does not mean that pregnant women can take this condition lightly, because stomach cramps may be a sign of a serious disorder.
The following are some serious conditions that can also cause stomach cramps during early pregnancy:
Miscarriage
Miscarriage in early pregnancy is quite common. At least 1 in 5 pregnancies miscarrying early in pregnancy because the fetus is not developing properly.
If pregnant women experience stomach cramps during early pregnancy and are accompanied by spotting or bleeding for several days, this could be a sign of miscarriage. Immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy can be a cause of stomach cramps during early pregnancy and is usually quite painful. Ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy outside the womb occurs due to fertilization of the egg outside the uterus.
Apart from abdominal cramps, other symptoms that pregnant women may experience due to an ectopic pregnancy are pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, dizziness and weakness, shoulder pain, or even signs of shock due to bleeding that must be treated immediately by a doctor.
How to Overcome Stomach Cramps when Pregnant Young
If pregnant women experience stomach cramps during early pregnancy, a simple thing that can be done to relieve pain is to sit down and rest for a while. In addition, pregnant women can also relieve it in the following ways:
Drink lots of water
If cramps are caused by constipation, Bumi is advised to consume lots of water and high-fiber foods. If these methods do not overcome the constipation experienced, immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will give medication to soften the stool or fiber supplements to treat constipation.
Change position while lying down
If your stomach cramps are caused by ligament pain, try lying on your side on the opposite side of your stomach that hurts. Also, try taking a warm bath or compressing the cramped stomach area with a bottle of warm water to relieve pain.
Move slowly
Getting used to moving slowly, such as when you get up from a sitting position, can also reduce the risk of stomach cramps during early pregnancy.
In addition, pregnant women can also do light exercise to help relieve stomach cramps, one of which is yoga. This exercise is very suitable for pregnant women after 3 months of pregnancy.
If these methods have been done and stomach cramps during early pregnancy are still felt, immediately consult a gynecologist to get the right treatment. This is because stomach cramps that occur can be caused by certain conditions that are serious and need to be treated immediately.