Pregnancy is very demanding period in a woman’s life. There is immense pressure on the mother’s physical, psychological and nutritional requirements. Development of a fetus forces the body to change and adapt itself to sustain a rapidly growing embryo. This causes the body to undergo various modifications. The mother’s blood volume nearly doubles. This is accompanied with increase in food intake to support the growth requirements of the fetus. Failure to maintain optimum conditions can have detrimental effects on the fetus and the mother’s health.

In the first trimester of pregnancy (the first 3 months), the mother’s body goes through a sudden hormonal change causing several physiological modifications. This period is called early pregnancy. Upper abdominal pain during this stage is a common complaint. This pain could be due to indigestion, a problem commonly associated with pregnancy. Various hormones are released in large quantities causing the digestive tract vessels to distend and relax. This coupled with a growing fetus exerts tremendous pressure on the abdomen leading to indigestion and pain. The problem will subside over time with proper dietary modifications. Urinary tract infections, constipation, gastritis and heartburn are very common during pregnancy and can also cause upper abdominal pain.

The mother might also feel upper abdominal pain if she suffers from:

• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
• Retroverted uterus
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Kidney infections
• Cholecystitis
• Hiatus hernia
• Miscarriage

Simple blood and urine tests are sufficient to diagnose and treat the condition. In rare cases, a radiograph or ultrasound scan becomes mandatory to rule out a more serious complication.

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• Indigestion And Upper Abdominal Pain
• Upper Abdominal Pain In Early Pregnancy
• What Causes Abdominal Pain On The Lower Left Side ?
• What Does Abdominal Pain Mean ?