I have a dull pain in my lower abdomen on the right side of my body during my fourth month of pregnancy.

The fourth month of pregnancy is the middle stage of pregnancy. Women in this period should pay special attention to their health. They often have many problems in their bodies, including a dull pain in the right lower abdomen. This situation can be caused by many reasons, and we have certain precautions after this situation occurs. So what is the cause of the dull pain in the right lower abdomen in the fourth month of pregnancy?

Physiological stomach pain. Around 4 months of pregnancy, the uterus enlarges and the round ligament of the uterus is stretched, causing many expectant mothers to feel some abdominal pain. This type of pain is mostly located on one or both sides of the uterus in the lower abdomen, and is referred pain, dull pain or lack thereof. The pain becomes more obvious when walking a long distance or changing body position. Expectant mothers don’t need to worry, the symptoms can be relieved by resting in bed more. Exercising too hard during sexual intercourse during the second trimester can also cause stomach pain in pregnant women.

Pathological stomach pain. In the second half of pregnancy, the baby gradually grows and the pressure in the expectant mother's abdominal cavity also increases. If the expectant mother's esophageal hiatus (the hole through which the esophagus descends to connect to the stomach) widens, she may develop a hiatal hernia and suffer from abdominal pain. At this time, abdominal pain is often accompanied by symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, chest pain, acid reflux, and hiccups.

The incidence of hiatal hernia during pregnancy is about 30-50%, and the symptoms are sometimes more obvious in the late pregnancy. Therefore, expectant mothers are advised to: eat small and frequent meals, and eat less sweet, spicy, or sticky food; do not lie flat on the bed or lie too low after meals, and try to bend over as little as possible to reduce acid reflux; keep bowel movements open. If you find symptoms of gastric reflux, you can raise your upper body about 20°.

Starting from the second trimester, the fetus will grow very fast and the belly will be stretched, so the area around the belly button will feel stretched. It is recommended to use moisturizer to moisturize the skin on the belly as much as possible at this time, otherwise it will easily cause stretch marks. But don't worry, the pain around the belly button of a pregnant woman will not affect the baby in the belly.

In the early stages of pregnancy, there will be occasional cramps in the lower abdomen, sometimes only on one side, and sometimes the entire lower abdomen will hurt, but it will not be too painful, only a slight cramp. This is mainly because the ligaments supporting the uterus are pulled upward due to the swelling of the uterus during pregnancy. No special treatment is required, just rest. If the pain is severe and unbearable, or the pain is continuous rather than occasional cramps, you need to see an obstetrician and gynecologist.