What to do if pregnant women have stomach cramps

It is well known that women will experience many discomforts in all aspects of their bodies after pregnancy. Of course, due to changes in taste, diet and other aspects, women in this period are more likely to suffer from gastric colic. Stomach pain in pregnant women is definitely caused by sphincter relaxation leading to stomach acid reflux, uterus pressing on the stomach, hormonal stimulation, or unhealed stomach disease before pregnancy. So what should pregnant women do if they have stomach pain? How can pregnant women relieve this pain?

1. Sphincter relaxation causes stomach acid to reflux. The sphincter is located at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach. Its function is to allow food to enter the stomach smoothly and not come back up. After pregnancy, due to hormonal changes, the sphincter relaxes, making it easy for food to come up again. The acidic contents in the stomach will reflux from the stomach into the esophagus, throat and mouth, irritating the mucous membrane and causing stomach pain. The growing uterus can also put pressure on the stomach, making it easier for stomach acid to surge upward and cause a burning sensation in the chest.

2. The uterus presses on the stomach. In the late stages of pregnancy, the gradually enlarging uterus will exert a certain amount of pressure on various organs, so the stomach may be affected. As the gestational age increases, there may also be mild shortness of breath, also due to uterine compression.

3. Hormone stimulation. After pregnancy, the pregnant woman's blood hCG rises rapidly, which will irritate the stomach and cause vomiting in the pregnant woman.

4. The stomach disease before pregnancy has not been cured. The pregnant woman had stomach problems before she became pregnant, and due to improper diet during pregnancy, she developed stomach pain. If the pregnant woman has stomach problems, or cannot distinguish between gastritis and stomach burning pain caused by pregnancy, it is recommended to go to the hospital to prevent the gastritis from getting worse. In addition, if vomiting is severe and some symptoms of acidosis appear, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time.

What to do if pregnant women have stomach pain

Pregnant women don’t need to be too nervous about stomach pain. Just pay attention to your diet in daily life.

1. Reduce your food intake appropriately

Due to pregnancy hormones and uterine pressure, gastrointestinal function will decline, and many pregnant women eat a lot of high-nutrition food during pregnancy, which causes the stomach to overload and cause stomach pain. Therefore, the amount of food you eat each time should be reduced appropriately, especially the food with high sugar content should be reduced. You can drink some porridge and soup when you have stomachache.

2. Semi-sitting position

If a pregnant woman has severe stomach pain and the pain is unbearable, taking a semi-sitting position can relieve the pain.

3. Acupoint massage

(1) Massage the Neiguan point: The Neiguan point is located in the middle of the wrist, about three finger widths (the width of three fingers put together) away from the transverse wrist crease, and is located between the two tendons. Use your thumbs to massage and circle the area 3-6 times, alternating between your hands. You can increase the amount of pressure when pain occurs.

(2) Press Zusanli: The Zusanli point is located three inches below the edge of the knee (equivalent to the width of four fingers put together), between the tibia and fibula. Use the tips of your thumbs to press the Zusanli acupoint, 3-6 times normally. You can increase the number of times when it hurts, and use a slightly heavier pressure.

4. Drug treatment

If you often have stomach pain at night, you can use some antacids under the guidance of a doctor and take them before going to bed. Taking some vitamin E+C or spirulina tablets can also relieve stomach pain. In serious cases, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to diagnose the cause and then receive targeted treatment.