Morning sickness is characterized by nausea, sometimes vomiting, loss of appetite and increased sensitivity towards the smell of food. It is a natural sign of pregnancy. It appears in the early stages of pregnancy in the first trimester. It usually occurs in the sixth week of pregnancy and ends in 12-15 weeks at the start of the second trimester. Stomach pain is uncommon during pregnancy. It is usually not related to morning sickness. Stomach pain can be a sign of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption or other problems that can be serious for pregnancy.
Does Your Stomach Hurt With Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness as the name suggests a condition that happens usually in the morning. It is represented by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Its other symptoms may include loss of appetite, breast tenderness, and increased sensitivity towards the smell of food items. It itself is a symptom of pregnancy. It starts in the first trimester (first three months) and ends at the start of the second trimester (second three months). However, it can continue to rest of the trimesters in the pregnancy in a few cases. Almost 90 percent of pregnant ladies develop morning sickness in their pregnancy. In the majority of pregnant women, it starts near the sixth week of pregnancy, roughly three weeks after conception or two weeks after the missed period. It cannot start earlier than six weeks of after menstrual period. It ends in 12-15 weeks of pregnancy.
Abdominal Pain In General Condition In Pregnancy
General abdominal pain is quite common in pregnancy as the abdomen grows and the organs shift a little. This causes dull shifting pain. The causes of abdominal pain are-
- Cramping pain may occur due to an expansion of uterus. It tends to reduce after rest.
- When progesterone levels increase during pregnancy, digestion process slows down leading to gas or constipation.
- In the second trimester, the round ligament is stretched more that causes dull aching pain.
- Braxton hick’s contractions that appear in the second or third trimester may cause discomfort or pain in some pregnant ladies.
Abdominal Pain In The Diseased Condition In Pregnancy
Preeclampsia and eclampsia– this condition arises in pregnancy when blood pressure increases significantly and protein is excreted in the urine. It directly affects the growth of the fetus.
Miscarriage– it is a dangerous condition for pregnancy in which abdominal pain is accompanied by vaginal bleeding. The pain is a severe cramp type.
Ectopic pregnancy– in this condition, the fetus is implanted in place other than the uterus.
Placental abruption– in this condition, placenta separates from its position that leads to abnormal abdominal cramps resulting in preterm labor.
Symptoms Of Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is not an illness. It can appear and disappear at any time during the day. It is represented by following symptoms-
- Nausea that can be mild or severe
- Vomiting
- Lightheadedness
- Feeling of sickness due to the smell of specific food item or all food items
- Lethargy or weakness throughout the day
- Aversion to a particular food
- Reduced appetite or loss of appetite
- Swelling or tenderness in the breast.
Pregnancy does not cause cramps or pain in the stomach. But, digestive problems are quite common during pregnancy. Slight cramps in the stomach are possible during pregnancy. Morning sickness does not hurt the stomach. This does not mean that pain is due to miscarriage. Pregnant ladies catch stomach infections easily. Such infections are not dangerous in normal conditions but in pregnancy, it may cause serious harm to the baby.
Conclusion
Almost 70% of pregnant ladies experience morning sickness. It is represented by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and others. Morning sickness does not cause pain in the stomach. However, morning sickness and stomach pain may appear together. But the reason for stomach pain can be due to other stomach problems.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2020). Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/morning-sickness-nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy
- American Pregnancy Association. (2021). Morning Sickness During Pregnancy. https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/morning-sickness-during-pregnancy/
Also Read:
- Can You Get Morning Sickness Before A Positive Pregnancy Test?
- Can Morning Sickness Start At 1st Week Of Pregnancy?
- How Soon Can You Get Morning Sickness?
- Do You Feel Better After Throwing Up Morning Sickness?
- Lifestyle Changes For Morning Sickness
- Can Morning Sickness Just Be An Upset Stomach?
- What Helps Morning Sickness That Lasts All Day?
