Is it normal to have tummy pain due to fetal movement?

When the baby is about to be born, there will be fetal movements. The frequency of fetal movements will be relatively high and the amplitude will be large, so you must pay attention to the timing of fetal movements. Sometimes fetal movements are normal, and some are abnormal. If you feel pain in your belly during fetal movement, you need to see if such symptoms occur often. You must also adjust your posture in time, because incorrect posture of the mother may also cause the baby to protest.

How to identify abnormal fetal movement

Physiological factors

1. Biological clock factors: Generally speaking, the fetus is least active in the morning, increases in the afternoon, and becomes active again in the evening and night. However, the fetal biological clock is different, and the fetal movement may also be different.

2. Factors affecting pregnant women: pregnant women's exercise, posture, emotional changes, or external loud noises, strong lights, and touching the abdomen can cause changes in fetal movements.

Pathological factors

1. Sudden decrease in fetal movement

Causes: Pregnant woman has fever, decreased amniotic fluid, or takes sedatives.

If a pregnant woman's body temperature continues to be high and exceeds 38 degrees Celsius, the fetus may reduce its activity and she needs to go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible. A decrease in amniotic fluid or the use of sedatives by pregnant women can also reduce the number of fetal movements.

2. Fetal movement suddenly accelerates

Cause: Severe trauma to the pregnant woman.

If a pregnant woman is subjected to severe external force, it will cause violent fetal movement.

3. Sudden increase in fetal movement

Cause: Placental abruption.

After the second half of pregnancy, if the pregnant woman has high blood pressure, trauma, or a short-term decrease in intrauterine pressure, fetal hypoxia is likely to occur, which will aggravate fetal movement, vaginal bleeding, and uterine contractions, and in severe cases may lead to shock.

4. Rapid fetal movement then stops suddenly

Cause: The umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck and tied.

If the umbilical cord is too long, it may easily get entangled around the fetus' neck and torso. The fetus may be trapped and prone to hypoxia and suffocation, which may cause rapid movements and sudden stops. This is a signal of fetal abnormality.

How to distinguish fetal movement from abdominal pain during pregnancy

Abdominal pain during pregnancy is a common symptom for expectant mothers, and expectant mothers tend to confuse fetal movement with abdominal pain during pregnancy.

Early pregnancy identification

If a pregnant woman experiences abdominal pain within 4 months of pregnancy, it is usually not fetal movement. For most pregnant women, fetal movement will not occur until 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. If you experience symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, anal swelling, and vaginal bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy, you should consider ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, etc. and seek medical treatment promptly.

Late pregnancy identification

Fetal movements in the late pregnancy have a certain regularity and generally do not cause obvious discomfort to pregnant women. Even if there is local abdominal discomfort, it will be relieved within tens of seconds. If a pregnant woman experiences abdominal prolapse, anal distension, paroxysmal abdominal pain, or vaginal bleeding in the middle or late stages of pregnancy, she should consider premature birth, placental abruption, etc.

If a pregnant woman experiences irregular abdominal pain in the upper or lower right part of the body, along with high fever, nausea, vomiting, etc., she may be suffering from acute appendicitis.

If a pregnant woman experiences severe abdominal pain and stiffness during labor, uterine rupture may occur.