How to get rid of muscle pain during pregnancy. Why do you experience pain in the abdominal muscles in pregnant women?

The oblique abdominal muscle hurts - why?

If the lower abdomen hurts during pregnancy, this may be a signal of an infection in the bladder or a violation of the digestive system.

It is important for a pregnant woman to take all the necessary measures on time, as an abortion may occur.

If the pain in the lower abdomen is from acute, it turns into cramping. Begins to repeat at regular intervals, with noticeable frequency, urgently call an ambulance.

Only after the diagnosis of ultrasound can be found out the nature of the stabbing pain in the lower abdomen in pregnant women.

These symptoms may indicate an increased tone in the uterus, detachment of the ovum or placenta.

Thanks to ultrasound, you can see the condition of the fetus, after which the doctor can find the right treatment tactics. Pregnancy requires special attention.

In the later period of pregnancy, cardiotocography is usually used, it allows you to find out about the condition of the unborn child and see the cramping contractions of the uterus.

Hearing such a question, the doctor understands that you have violated the training rules: you used too much load or performed too many exercises, did not warm up in front of her.

Stretching is also possible when doing twists during yoga, bending when working in the garden, lifting weights at a construction site.

Even microtrauma can bring severe suffering. Both an experienced athlete and a beginner can be injured. In this case, muscle stretching occurs most often. Do not worry, because after 2-8 weeks the patient can be cured with the help of painkillers: pills, creams, ointments.

Competent and timely first aid (cold compress and complete rest) can speed up treatment. But for muscle tears, surgery may be required, then the treatment will take about 3 months.

Exercise during pregnancy can also cause pain.

Many people think that pain in the abdominal muscles after exercise is good, which means that the muscles grow.

Weakly expressed short-term discomfort really only indicates that lactic acid has accumulated in the muscle, which will eventually oxidize to substances that are safe for the body.

The reasons for the painful contraction of the muscles of the uterus are obstetric and non-obstetric.

Obstetric pain refers to symptoms caused by spontaneous abortion or placental abruption. The factors that cause the appearance of non-obstetric pain are prosaic: colic, constipation, flatulence, sprains of ligaments and muscles, divergence of the pelvic bones due to heavy load.

When a woman's lower abdomen pulls and hurts during pregnancy, it is very important to quickly find out whether this is due to a physiological disorder or due to overload.

The main reason for the appearance of muscle pain during pregnancy is hormonal changes in the body. In addition, there are some specific reasons that lead to pain in certain muscles.

Very often women have abdominal pain during pregnancy. About 75% of these pains are attributed to tension and significant stretching of the round ligament that supports the uterus.

In addition, the rectus and oblique abdominal muscles are overly tense and stretched. This tension is especially felt by women who, before pregnancy, did not strengthen their abdominal muscles with exercise.

Soreness of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy most often does not require medical intervention, of course, unless it becomes intense or constant.

For various reasons, while waiting for a child, a woman may have groin muscle pain. As a rule, this is due to the influence of the hormone relaxin on the ligamentous apparatus or to physical overstrain.

The groin muscles during pregnancy can also hurt for non-physiological reasons, for example, with varicose veins of the pubic articulation or infectious diseases of the pelvic organs. Sometimes the pain may not touch the groin muscles, but the woman will feel it in them.

This condition is typical for pathologies such as diseases of the digestive system, kidneys and even constipation.

Physiological causes

All the reasons that can cause pain in the abdominal muscles during pregnancy can be divided into three large groups:

• obstetric pathology;
• extragenital pathology of a general nature;
• conditions associated with changes in the body during pregnancy.

It is far from all these conditions that the patient's muscle fibers hurt. Most of the pain is irradiating, and only a specialist can establish the true localization during examination.

Obstetric pathology

The most common causes from this group include:

• the threat of termination of pregnancy;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• premature placental abruption;
• threatened rupture or rupture of the uterus.

The symptoms that form the clinical picture of the disease are quite specific. As a rule, pain is localized in the lower abdomen. At first, it has a pulling character. Over time, the patient's condition worsens. At the same time, there is a bloody discharge from the vagina.

Rupture of the uterus usually occurs along the scar left from the previous caesarean section... Localization of pain corresponds to the area in which the scar is located.

Extragenital pathology

This term refers to those nosologies that are diagnosed during pregnancy, but are not associated with the pathology of the reproductive system. This is a broader group of diseases, the main ones of which are:

• inguinal hernia;
• umbilical hernia;
• inflammatory organ diseases - appendicitis, cholecystitis, adnexitis, pyelonephritis.

To establish the cause of the pain syndrome, it is very important to correctly collect and detail the symptoms, as well as study the medical history.

With cholecystitis, pain is localized in the area of \u200b\u200bthe right hypochondrium. With appendicitis, there is pain in the lower abdomen, on the right, but the pain syndrome can shift.

Pyelonephritis rarely gives abdominal pain, more often it is determined in the lumbar region. With adnexitis, pain is localized in the lower abdomen, on the right or left.

In addition to pain syndrome, all these nosologies are characterized by severe intoxication, changes in the results of additional research methods.

Uncomplicated umbilical and inguinal hernias are usually asymptomatic. In this case, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe navel or inguinal ring, a soft elastic protrusion, round or oval, is determined. When taking a horizontal position, it is easily adjusted into the abdominal cavity.

Of all the complications of a hernia, its infringement is most often observed - a condition in which the hernial ring spasms and compresses all structures of the hernial sac. Outwardly, this is manifested by intense pain in the umbilical region or lower abdomen. The patient requires immediate surgery.

What is associated with pregnancy

These causes of pain syndrome are associated with increased stress on the muscles of the abdominal wall. Most often, doctors diagnose:

• spontaneous hematoma of the rectus abdominis muscles;
• diastasis;

In some cases, there is a pathology that develops due to certain circumstances. It is not worth worrying about ahead of time. It is necessary to initially undergo an examination, pass tests, and only after collecting an anamnesis, treatment is prescribed with a diagnosis established by a doctor.

The main cause of muscle pain is hormonal changes in the body. The uterus is supported by the round ligament, it begins to strain and stretch during pregnancy, so the woman has unpleasant sensations.

In pregnant women, the abdominal muscles, both straight and oblique, are strongly tense and stretched. The tension is especially difficult for those who did not strengthen the abdominal muscles, did not play sports at all. Soreness in the abdominal muscles is not treated separately. But, when it becomes intense and constant, an urgent need to consult your doctor.

Often a woman is most worried about pain in the groin muscles. The discomfort is explained by the influence of the hormone relaxin, which affects the ligaments. In pregnant women, the groin muscles can be disturbed in the case of varicose veins of the womb, also an infectious disease in the pelvic organs.

In some situations, the pain does not touch the groin muscles, but only they hurt. Such unpleasant sensations are provoked by serious kidney diseases, disruptions in the digestive system, as well as constipation.

Many expectant mothers are wondering - why does the lower abdomen hurt during pregnancy?

It is generally accepted that if a stomach ache during pregnancy is a serious cause for concern associated with a threat to the unborn child. We dare to reassure you, pain in the abdomen while waiting for the baby does not always indicate fetal pathology or exacerbation of the disease.

Minor pulling pains can accompany you throughout pregnancy, and this does not mean at all that something is wrong with you or your baby. Common physiology can be the cause of abdominal pain.

Stretching the muscles that hold the uterus

During the first pregnancy, pain in the pelvic floor muscles that hold the pelvic organs and the uterus itself will torment you from the second trimester to childbirth. They can be localized on the left or right in the lower abdomen and above the pubis. But if such pains bother you on early dates - should be wary.

Sprain of the round uterine ligaments

Together with the muscles, the ligaments also have to stretch, which is why you may periodically feel short-term, but sharp or stabbing pain. It is especially strongly felt with sudden movements or after intense physical exertion.

The sprain causes pain in the left or right lower groin, or completely covers the lower abdomen.

Flatulence

Although soreness is the norm during pregnancy, you should still be wary of it. If minor discomfort begins to replace constant and severe pain, this may be a signal of pathology.

Risk of miscarriage

At the beginning of pregnancy, absolutely all women are at high risk of miscarriage, which, according to statistics, ends from 10 to 20% of confirmed pregnancies (80% of them - in the first months of bearing a child).

A miscarriage is an abortion that occurs spontaneously before 20 weeks. If the pregnancy ends later, it will already be considered a premature birth.

Why does a miscarriage occur? Most often due to the fact that the fertilized egg in a woman is formed with anomalies incompatible with life.

With the threat of miscarriage, you can observe:

• the presence of scanty or profuse bleeding,
• periodic pains, as before menstruation.

Placental abruption

Normally, this process should occur only after the baby leaves the uterine cavity. But in some cases, placental abruption begins during pregnancy, thereby increasing the threat to the baby's life.

The risk of developing such a pathology increases with multiple pregnancies, as well as if the expectant mother has complex diseases associated with blood pressure, or gestational diabetes.

Do not ignore the following symptoms that may be causing a detachment:

1. Recurrent pain in one part of the abdomen.
2. Slight spotting.
3. Severe weakness and dizziness.
4. Sweating.
5. Decrease in temperature.
6. The appearance of a painful bulge on the abdomen.

Sometimes problems with the placenta can develop without any symptoms, and they can only be determined with an ultrasound examination. Therefore, it is extremely important to make regular visits to the obstetrician-gynecologist.

Ectopic pregnancy

A feature of such a pregnancy is that after conception the ovum does not move into the uterus, but gets stuck in the fallopian tube.

Danger of muscle pain for a pregnant woman

Sometimes a pregnant woman complains that she has cramps at night. The discomfort is explained by the lack of vitamins and microelements. Convulsions appear if a woman lacks potassium, magnesium, calcium, while a large amount of phosphate or sodium. An unpleasant convulsive state is typical for pregnant women who lack B vitamins.

It is dangerous when seizures are triggered by low blood glucose levels. It is she who provides the pregnant woman with energy. If a woman does not eat properly, she may develop seizures.

The main threat to muscle pain is the risk of termination of pregnancy. The main complications include the following pathological conditions:

• Ruptured uterus.
• Acute pyelonephritis.
• Aneurysm.
• Ectopic pregnancy.
• Hematoma.
• Artery rupture.

Legs hurt during pregnancy

• The pain does not diminish even when the woman changes her body position or arrives at rest.
• Muscle pain is sudden, intense, and sharp.
• Muscle pain that does not go away within three days.
• Heat.
• There is a sign of "acute abdomen", in which tachycardia, sharp pains, blood pressure drops, and the skin turns pale.
• When strange vaginal discharge starts to appear.

The first thing to do: forget for a while about physical activity, different types of stress. Remember! During pregnancy, it is forbidden to wear heavy, overexert yourself.

Your doctor may order a blood test to measure the level of white blood cells in your blood. It is imperative to pass a urinalysis to check the organs of the urinary and renal systems.

The attending physician recommends trying to relax and rest, usually this is enough to get rid of unpleasant sensations in the muscles. When pain is provoked by a serious pathological process in the internal organs, appropriate treatment is prescribed.

It is very important that a pregnant woman pays attention to the state of her nervous system, she can often be exposed to serious stress, and they negatively affect the abdominal muscles.

Treatment methods depend on the diagnosis and timing.

In the early stages

At the first stage of gestation, with the threat of miscarriage, medication is often prescribed, which helps the expectant mother to overcome unpleasant moments and give birth to a healthy baby. But sometimes patients complain that they feel unwell from Terzhinan or similar drugs. In this case, be sure to consult a doctor.

Another method of treatment is surgery. It is prescribed for exacerbation of diseases, their transition to the acute stage and ectopic conception.

The solution to the problem is surgical intervention, sometimes ending with the removal of the embryo. The appearance of pulling and aching symptoms after cleansing the uterus is temporary and disappears within a few days.

Also, a surgical operation is indicated in case of embryo freezing. After scraping the dead flesh, a supportive therapy is performed.

At a later date

Often pregnant mothers in the second trimester of pregnancy notice unpleasant pain in the abdominal muscles. The cause of such pain is muscle stretching as a result of an increase in the size of the uterus and, accordingly, the size of the abdomen. This is a natural reaction of the muscles to excessive tension, and pains of this nature go away on their own. In the case of very strong pain sensations, one cannot do without a medical consultation.

Abdominal pain during pregnancy is quite common. Probably, at least once every pregnant woman noticed that her lower abdomen ached, or sipped a little, or something injected.

Of course, self-medication is not good, especially during pregnancy, when you can simply waste time. Therefore, in case of obvious concern, immediately consult a doctor. However, it happens that a pregnant expectant mother feels slight discomfort in the abdomen, while there is no sharp pain, and after a while the stomach stops hurting at all.

Can my stomach hurt at all during pregnancy?

Not always abdominal pain during pregnancy speaks of any pathology. Most often, this is a natural restructuring of the body under changing circumstances (implantation, the growth of the child, his activity). When abdominal pains are short-term, mild, non-recurrent, it is not scary. Although, in any case, you need to tell the doctor about them, and if there is a mobile connection, call and tell about your concerns. Better to play it safe.

Let's see what reasons for what periods can cause painful sensations inside (below) the abdomen and what to do about it.

Abdominal pain during pregnancy: first trimester

Most often, the stomach hurts in the first trimester due to physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. Hormones do their job: the tissues that support the uterus soften. And the uterus itself is growing, shifting.

Someone does not notice these processes at all, others complain about the unexpressed nature of the pain: aching stretching in the lower abdomen, tingling without periodicity. If menstruation was painful before pregnancy, then the likelihood that you will encounter such concerns is slightly higher.

Abdominal pain during pregnancy: second trimester

Usually, the second trimester is the quietest in every respect. This also applies to my mother's belly. The kid is not yet big enough to be troublesome with its size.

The inner limbs are not compressed, although the uterus grows and the abdominal muscles stretch. Sometimes you may feel a slight pulling pain, usually they are associated with an increase in the size of the uterus.

Abdominal pain during pregnancy: third trimester

Pregnancy is a time when great changes take place in the body of the expectant mother. From the moment of conception and from the beginning of fetal development, changes occur that affect all vital systems, organs, tissues and the whole body of a pregnant woman in general. Now is the time to listen to your body and pay attention to pain and any discharge, because sometimes they can carry some complications.

Abdominal pain

Every expectant mother, knowing her situation, treats her body with caution, so as not to accidentally harm her baby. Realizing the full responsibility of her position, at the first sign of possible danger, she immediately begins to sound the alarm!

Abdominal pain during pregnancy is regarded by the expectant mother as a possible threat to the fetus. However, abdominal pain during pregnancy is not always a sign of a miscarriage or some kind of trouble.

If you have a stomach ache during pregnancy, don't worry. First you need to determine what this pain is associated with.

Do your legs hurt during pregnancy? Of course, and this is absolutely natural, leg pain during pregnancy worries many women, especially on later dates pregnancy.

An unpleasant feeling of discomfort in the lower abdomen may be an indirect hint of pregnancy when menstruation is delayed. Almost always, the pain has a pulling and aching character.

After fertilization, the egg enters the uterus and begins to penetrate into its wall, on average, a week after conception. At the moment of attachment of the embryo to the inner surface of the uterus, a woman may feel cramping pain and notice a slight vaginal discharge.

Doctors assure that these symptoms are natural at the very beginning of the long nine months.

The fact that with the appearance of a little man under a woman's heart, various painful sensations begin to annoy her, without undue doubt can be taken as a variant of the norm. To be convinced of this, it is enough to analyze what changes occur in the female body after conception.

Sometimes it is enough for a mother-to-be to adjust her diet and daily routine in a certain way to feel better.

Diet for pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy

If the expectant mother is sure that the pains that interfere with her are devoid of periodicity and do not tend to increase, that is, they are caused by physiological reasons, you can take some measures to alleviate them:

• a warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes - this will help relax the muscles and relieve spastic tension in the lower abdominal cavity;
• rest in a lying or half-sitting position for 30 minutes;
• regular wearing of a bandage, which will reduce the stretching of the abdominal muscles and thus get rid of pain in its lower part;
• before visiting a doctor, you can take an antispasmodic drug that is not prohibited for use by pregnant women. No-shpa in the form of tablets or Papaverine in the form of suppositories is suitable. If the pain persists 1 hour after using the medicine, you can take another 1 tablet, provided that the painful sensations do not worsen.

To minimize negative symptoms, as it turned out, you just need to strictly follow the recommendations of the attending physician:

1. Eat a balanced diet.
2. Wear a bandage.
3. Perform remedial gymnastics.
4. Take medications prescribed by your doctor.
5. Do not be nervous.
6. Rest more often.

If you follow the installation “I accept and do everything that the specialist says,” you will avoid many negative consequences.

Pregnancy can be safely called a time of great changes in the body of the expectant mother. From the moment of conception and as the fetus develops, significant changes occur in all vital systems and organs, tissues and the body as a whole. These changes also concern the muscles, first of all - the smooth muscles that line the uterus, the walls of blood vessels, intestines, and surround the eye and hair follicles.

Some smooth muscle groups seem to relax during pregnancy. For example, relaxation of the smooth muscles of the arteries is necessary to expand blood vessels and reduce pressure - this ensures an increased flow of blood, and with it oxygen and nutrients to the placenta. The smooth muscles of the intestines, in turn, also relax, thanks to which the mother, and with her the baby, receives more nutrients from food.

Strong changes accompany during pregnancy the abdominal muscles - the so-called rectus muscles, which run from the ribs to the pubic bone. Before pregnancy, the rectus abdominis muscles, belonging to the skeletal muscle group, formed the press, but now they support the uterus. Skeletal muscles, including rectus abdominis muscles, are forced to support and move much more weight during pregnancy than before. And if a woman neglected physical exercise before pregnancy, her skeletal muscles are less elastic, and therefore the risk of injuries and sprains increases. In order to avoid injury and sprains, it is necessary to devote time to special stretching and strength exercises.

The pelvic floor muscles also experience stress during pregnancy: while carrying a baby, they seem to support him, and if childbirth takes place naturally, these muscles take part in “pushing” the baby. Often after childbirth, the pelvic floor muscles are weakened: the reason for this can be a rupture of the tissues of the perineum, cutting the perineum for assistance in childbirth. Subsequently, a decrease in the elasticity of the pelvic floor muscles can cause a weakening of the muscles of the urethra: in this case, a small amount of urine may involuntarily be released through it (especially during laughter, coughing, during physical exertion). You can avoid these problems by resorting to special exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor.

The load during pregnancy also increases on the back muscles. The fact is that as the fetus develops, the mother's center of gravity changes, and therefore the usual body position. If the back muscles were not strong enough before pregnancy, the posture of the pregnant woman may change while carrying the baby, and the back often hurts. The only way out of this situation is to develop a muscle corset even before pregnancy: it is impossible to swing back muscles in the position, it is only allowed to keep them in good shape.

It is known that in parallel with the development of the baby in the womb, the weight of the pregnant woman also grows - accordingly, the load on the muscles of the legs increases. Frequent among pregnant women the appearance of cramps of the calf muscles. In order to prevent edema, varicose veins, you can again use gymnastics for pregnant women, including exercises for the muscles of the legs. Cramps of the calf muscles, in turn, occur in pregnant women as a result of a lack of essential vitamins and minerals - calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin D, E and others. In the last stages of pregnancy, in the last trimester, cramps in the calf muscles can provoke varicose veins or inferior vena cava syndrome.

When talking about muscles during pregnancy, one cannot help but remember the muscles of the chest. While carrying a baby, under the influence of hormones and preparing for breastfeeding, the breast increases in size. Accordingly, the load on the pectoral muscles increases. Special gymnastics will help to avoid sagging breasts and keep them in shape - and it is advisable to perform exercises to strengthen the pectoral muscles even before pregnancy.

Muscle pain during pregnancy is considered an inevitable phenomenon associated with natural processes, changes in the work of many organs and systems.

Literally from the first week of conception, the smooth muscles that line the hollow organs (uterus), striated muscles, the vascular and hormonal systems begin to "prepare" for childbirth. Such a general transformation of the body of the expectant mother really provokes discomfort of varying degrees of intensity, especially if a woman before pregnancy did not bother with sports, strengthening muscle fibers, maintaining physical fitness. In this case, the contractile property of the muscles is initially reduced, and the activation of the function of the muscle tissue provokes a pain symptom in connection with chronic hypertonicity, overstrain.

Causes of muscle pain during pregnancy

Pregnancy, in addition to bringing joyful anticipation, sometimes causes understandable discomfort and even pain. Most often, pain is concentrated in muscle tissue and ligaments, since it is they who are subjected to increased stress, sprains.

The causes of muscle pain during pregnancy can be both physiological and pathological.

1. Physiological causes of muscle pain in pregnant women.

Before moving on to listing the reasons, here are some statistics:

• The woman's body becomes like a "double" - two hearts beating in it, her own and the heart of the fetus, respectively, an additional circle of blood flow appears.
• The heart muscle of a pregnant woman experiences increased stress and increases in size.
• The blood flow increases to 6-7 liters.
• The body of a pregnant woman needs a double volume of oxygen for normal tissue nutrition, including muscle tissue.
• The spine and the surrounding muscles are exposed to a particular load, the weight of a pregnant woman can increase by 10-20 kilograms.
• 70-75% of women experience pain symptoms of varying intensity in the back area due to temporary spinal dysfunction.
• An increase in the size of the uterus inevitably entails a shift in the center of balance, gravity, respectively, the muscles of the lower back and pelvis are subjected to increased stress.
• The posture and gait of a woman is changing, the muscles of the shoulder girdle, cervical, and thoracic regions have to work in hypertonicity.
• An increase in body weight leads to a violation of venous blood flow, respectively, the muscles of the legs hurt.
• Overeating or vice versa, lack of nutrients due to nausea and vomiting caused by toxicosis can disrupt the vitamin and mineral balance, respectively, muscle tissue does not receive proper nutrition, myalgia develops.

1. Pathological causes of muscle pain during pregnancy:

• Disease of the cardiovascular system, decreased blood supply to muscle tissue.
• Atherosclerotic changes in the vascular system.
• Inflammatory processes in muscles, fascia, joints caused by infections.
• Neurological conditions associated with osteochondrosis of the spinal column.
• A history of fibromyalgia.
• Local muscle injury (ossifying process).
• Nephropathology (pyelonephritis).
• Infectious pathologies, most often genital herpes.
• Inguinal hernia, umbilical hernia.
• Varicose veins, including vaginal varicose veins.

In what areas can muscle pain occur during pregnancy?

• The muscles of the abdominal region are most susceptible to changes - the rectus abdominis muscles. Before pregnancy, these skeletal muscles performed the function of maintaining an elastic press, forming it. After conception, the rectus muscles must perform a completely different task - to support the enlarging uterus. Atonic, untrained abdominal muscles are at risk of painful sprains, resulting in pain.
• The pelvic muscles, which not only support the uterus and other organs in their proper places, but also directly participate in the process of labor.
• The back muscles can ache due to an atypical shift in the center of gravity, excessive stress on the enlarging body. The atonic muscle corset is not able to cope with the additional load, the muscles stretch, become inflamed, the woman feels back pain.
• Leg muscles that may hurt starting in the first trimester. The most typical cramps of the calf muscles during pregnancy, such a symptom most often develops in the initial phase of sleep, or at night, less often in the morning.
• The muscles of the chest, which, under the influence of changes in the hormonal balance, increase due to increased blood circulation, activated lymph flow.
• The groin muscles can hurt for various reasons, but most often the pain symptom is due to physical overstrain or the influence of a specific hormone relaxin on the ligamentous apparatus. A painful symptom in the groin may not touch the muscle tissue, but the sensations are reflected precisely in the muscles, as it happens with nephropathologies, diseases of the digestive tract, and even with constipation. Also, pain in the groin muscles during pregnancy can be caused by many nonphysiological reasons - varicose veins of the pubic articulation, infectious diseases of the pelvic organs and others.
• During pregnancy, the muscles of the vagina experience an increased vascular load, venous hemodynamics change, the elasticity of muscle tissue decreases, and pain appears.
• Statistics say that 70-75% of pregnant women experience pain in the lumbar region, the muscles of which are subject to increased stress due to increased body weight and physiological displacement of internal organs.

It should be noted that not all types of muscles spasm during pregnancy, there are also those that, on the contrary, relax. Relaxation of smooth muscles on the one hand allows oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to the placenta, on the other hand it can cause reflex radiating pains from overly atonic organs (gallbladder, stomach, intestines).

To summarize, we can say that the organism of the expectant mother sometimes experiences an exorbitant load, comparable, according to experts, only to the intensity of cosmonaut training. Accordingly, a woman periodically feels pain symptoms, most often localized in the back, pelvic region, abdomen and legs.

Why do muscles hurt during pregnancy?

Why does a pregnant woman experience muscle pain? The simplest answer is this - due to systemic physiological changes in the body. The stages and types of transformation can be designated as follows:

1. Hormonal changes in the body.

• The level of progesterone and estrogen changes, and an increased secretion of relaxin begins. Progesterone is needed to increase the tone of both the smooth muscles of the uterus and other muscle tissue, the production of progesterone in the first trimester is especially important, so that conception really goes into pregnancy, is fixed. In addition to influencing the state of the uterus, progesterone helps to stimulate breast development, the muscles of the mammary glands soften, the glands increase. In addition to the clearly beneficial effect on the body, progesterone inhibits the activity of the immune system so that it does not reject the embryo (fetus) that has invaded the uterus in the process of "recognition". Thus, a reduced immune defense is a potential risk of infectious, bacterial infections, diseases, often accompanied by muscle pain. Also, progesterone can contribute to the retention of salt and fluid in the body, which in turn disrupts the rate of normal blood circulation, venous outflow and provokes pains of various kinds, including myalgia.
• The increased level of estrogen fulfills the task of activating the growth of the uterus, if there is too much estrogen, it works like a diuretin, sometimes too actively. As a result, a violation of the water-salt, electrolyte balance develops and muscle pain appears.
• Chorionic gonadotropin and somatomammotropin do not provoke myalgia by themselves, however, they accelerate all metabolic processes, and somewhat increase the muscle mass of the chest, less often other areas of the body (buttocks, feet).
• Diseases of organs and blood supply systems of the small pelvis in history can also be the answer to the question - why do muscles hurt during pregnancy. Among them, the following are common and most often diagnosed:
  • Ovarian cyst.
  • Fibroids of the uterus.
  • Adnexitis.
  • VRVMT - varicose veins of the small pelvis

1. The causes of pain in muscle tissue during pregnancy can also be the following pathologies and acute conditions:

• Pyelonephritis.
• Inflammation of the appendix.
• Cholelithiasis.
• Infringement of an inguinal hernia.
• Infringement of the intervertebral disc.
• Risk of miscarriage.
• Constipation, flatulence.
• Sprain.
• Muscle injury.
• Placental abruption.
• IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• Intestinal obstruction.
• Genital herpes.
• Symphysitis (in the third trimester).
• General venous insufficiency, vein occlusion.
• Urolithiasis disease.
• Braxton Hicks contractions, mock, training contractions.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of muscle pain in pregnant women are most often transient, more intense sensations, especially chronic ones, require immediate diagnosis, hospitalization and treatment.

Myalgia - Pain in muscle tissue can be felt as:

• Shooting pain.
• Sharp, stabbing pain (rare).
• Aching, pulling (often).
• Breaking.
• Burning, tingling.

Depending on the provoking factor, the symptoms of muscle pain during pregnancy can be temporary, situational, transient, or permanent, chronic. As a rule, the discomfort in one or another area of \u200b\u200bthe body of the expectant mother is of a transient nature, the pain can subside or completely neutralize with the course of pregnancy, the change of trimesters. This is due to constant changes in a woman's body, which directly affect the state of muscle tissue.

Symptoms of physiologically tolerable conditions:

• Aching pain in the legs, subsiding with a change in body posture, at rest.
• Pulling back pains that subside with lek massage, relaxing procedures.
• Pain in groin, relieving at rest.
• Bursting, pulling pain in the back, in the pelvic region, caused by a sprain.
• Cramping pain associated with training cramps, Braxton Hicks contractions.

Warning signs that require a doctor call, examination and medical attention:

• Sudden, spontaneous severe pain with a tendency to intensify.
• Pain that does not subside at rest or when changing posture, body position.
• Myalgia, accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
• Muscle pain that lasts more than 2-3 days is not even acute or intense.
• Pain in the muscles of a cramping character with atypical vaginal discharge (blood).
• Symptoms of "acute abdomen" - pain, drop in blood pressure, tachycardia, cyanosis of the skin.

Abdominal muscle pain during pregnancy

A painful abdominal symptom in a pregnant woman is in vain considered a common occurrence, a natural signal of muscle stretching due to an enlarged uterus. Indeed, every day the uterus becomes larger, this is especially noticeable in the second trimester, when the displaced center of balance provokes a change in the woman's gait. Pain in the abdominal muscles during pregnancy may indicate a pathological development of the process of bearing a fetus or other serious illnesses - cyst, inflammation of appendicitis. Fortunately, 75-80% of pain in pregnant women in the abdomen is caused by tension and sprain of the round ligament, which acts as a support for the uterus. The pelvic floor is lined with three-layer muscle tissue and fascia, which provides support for almost all organs of the reproductive system, as well as for the abdominal organs. The uterus is supported by thick ligaments, one of which is round, which directly holds the uterus in place. An increase in the size of the uterus provokes a sprain of the round ligament, which is quite naturally accompanied by pain in the abdomen.

In the same way, the muscles are subjected to stress, especially the smooth (uterine walls) and abdominal muscles. If the expectant mother did not strengthen the muscle tissue in advance with the help of sports, exercises, rectus muscles and abdominal muscles during pregnancy are stretched or overstretched, since they have to participate in supporting the growing uterus. It is too fast stretching, muscle hypertonicity provokes pain symptoms, and while carrying a baby, the waist volume can almost double, for example, from 65 to 100 centimeters.

Pain in the abdominal muscles during pregnancy most often does not require the intervention of a doctor and special treatment, however, a woman needs to be wary if the pain symptom does not subside with a change in posture, rest, relaxation. Therefore, for any disturbing pain sensations, it is better to consult with your attending gynecologist.

The list of the main emergency conditions in which a painful muscle symptom in the abdomen may appear:

1. Obstetric conditions:

• Risk of miscarriage.
• Septic miscarriage (acute abdomen clinic).
• Ectopic pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy.
• Fibroids.
• Placental abruption.
• Aneurysm rupture (splenic artery, renal artery, and others).
• Distension and rupture of the uterus.

1. Common pathologies manifested by abdominal pain, including muscle pain:

• Acute pyelonephritis.
• Appendicitis.
• Spontaneous hematoma in the rectus abdominis muscle (hemorrhage into muscle tissue).
• Acute cholecystitis.
• Cystitis (pain in the lower abdomen, in the perineum).
• Chronic inflammation of the ovary.
• Umbilical hernia.
• Groin hernia.

If leg muscles hurt during pregnancy?

Most often, leg pain in pregnant women is either vascular disorders (varicose veins), provoking aching, pulling pains, or cramps, especially at night.

Why do leg muscles hurt during pregnancy?

• Flat feet, which, of course, existed before pregnancy, but the period of gestation aggravates the load on the muscles and provokes their overstrain (hypertonicity). To prevent pain symptoms, which are most often localized in the calves of the legs and intensify when walking, a woman should purchase orthopedic insoles and choose shoes with a stable, medium heel with a sufficiently rigid sole that fixes the foot.
• Vascular dysfunctions. The increase in the weight of a pregnant woman inevitably entails additional stress on the vascular system. If there was already a history of varicose veins before pregnancy, compression garments and stockings should be worn to reduce pressure on the walls of blood vessels. Muscles with varicose veins ache due to the fact that they do not receive proper nutrition.
• Failure to comply with the rules of high-grade, rational nutrition, as a result of which muscle tissue does not receive the necessary proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements. Convulsive syndrome is often observed in women who follow a strict vegetarian diet.

Often during pregnancy, the muscles of the legs in the calf area, that is, the calf muscles, hurt. Cramps are severe pain, which women describe as “cramping”. The most common nocturnal cramps in the calf muscles are caused by natural relaxation of the body and dissonance between relaxation and chronic muscle hypertonia. Also, hypnagogic convulsions often occur, that is, muscle spasms before the phase of deep sleep. Convulsive syndrome is diagnosed in 65% of cases in the middle of pregnancy, when the needs of the developing fetus are growing rapidly, and the resources of the mother's body are already significantly depleted.

Possible causes of seizures:

• Deficiency of B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, calcium.
• Preservation of bad habits - smoking, abuse of caffeinated beverages.
• Decreased blood sugar levels.
• Anemia, decreased hemoglobin level.
• Phlebeurysm.
• Syndromum venae cavae inferioris syndrome - the inferior genital vein, when in a horizontal position (at night) the uterus presses on a large vessel, venous outflow is disturbed, convulsions develop. This syndrome occurs in 80% of pregnant women in the third trimester.
• Abuse of diuretics to eliminate puffiness.

If the muscles between the legs hurt during pregnancy?

Despite all the joyful and exciting moments of waiting for the baby, the period of its bearing is accompanied by transient discomfort. In addition to the fact that the expectant mother hurts in the lower abdomen, in the lower back, there are many symptoms that can further complicate pregnancy, for example, the muscles between the legs hurt. In fact, such pain, most likely, does not appear in the muscles, but in the ligaments, nerve endings.

This is due to the increased secretion of a specific hormone - relaxin. Its main task is to reduce (inhibit) the contractile function of the uterus in the first trimester so that the pregnancy is preserved. In addition, later relaxin is needed to relax, soften the pelvic bones, symphysis, and prepare them for labor. Relaxin begins to be produced literally from the first week of conception, but the consequences of its influence are felt later, in the 2nd, and especially in the 3rd semester. Usually, a pregnant woman complains of "muscle pain between the legs" during these periods, pain is also felt in the thighs, in the pubic area, in the lower abdomen.

Another reason that provokes a pain symptom in the groin area, between the legs, may be a neurological factor - entrapment of the sciatic nerve. Pinching of the nerve roots occurs due to the pressure of the enlarging uterus, and the pain is projected onto the buttocks, groin, and lower extremities. This pain cannot be attributed to true myalgia, although it affects muscle tissue.

Pregnancy, the muscles between the legs hurt - this condition can be caused by a banal overstrain, when a woman overestimates her own physical capabilities and continues to engage in sports exercises without taking into account her special position. Such cases are not uncommon among professional dancers, athletes who continue their activities during pregnancy.

What can relieve muscle pain between your legs?

• Rest and reasonable physical activity (avoiding overload).
• A bandage that supports muscles, ligaments.
• Gentle physiotherapy (only as prescribed by a doctor).
• Warm compresses.
• Performing a set of special exercises for pregnant women for preparatory muscle stretching.

If groin muscles hurt during pregnancy?

During the entire period of pregnancy, an increase in venous pressure occurs, especially for the vessels of the lower extremities. This process is due to the increased venous pressure of the enlarging uterus and at the same time slower pressure in the veins of the groin and legs. The growing uterus compresses the pelvic veins, the outflow of blood from the legs is difficult, this is one of the reasons why groin muscles hurt during pregnancy.

In addition, groin pain is explainable by another physiologically acceptable cause.

In the second trimester, the round ligament is significantly stretched, whose task is to support the uterus. Pain in the groin area when the ligament is stretched can be very acute, but short-term, it can be felt as a spasm, cramp, radiating down the abdomen.

In addition to physiological stretching, the following factors can explain why groin muscles hurt during pregnancy:

• Inguinal hernia. The pain is localized to the right or left as a result of a decrease in the tone of the local supporting muscle tissue. As a result, the intestinal loops can slip out under the pressure of the enlarging uterus right into the groin. A hernia looks like a bulging in the groin area, when the muscles are pinched, it provokes pain. The entrapment is a medical emergency to avoid necrosis (the blood supply is cut off) and rupture of the bowel.
• Swollen lymph nodes located in the groin. Enlarged lymph nodes can be a sign of an infectious inflammatory process in the pelvic organs. As a rule, a pregnant woman undergoes a thorough examination when registering, and inflammations are recorded on the card. However, the very process of bearing a fetus can provoke an exacerbation of diseases such as adnexitis, parametritis, proctitis, endometritis, as a result, a pain symptom develops, including in the muscles.
• Urolithiasis also provokes pain, which in the form of renal colic can be reflected in the muscle tissues of the back, thighs or groin, depending on the location of the calculus. If the stone is located low, the pain will appear in the groin area.
• Pain in the groin muscles during pregnancy can be reflected when, due to the increased load on the spine, the nerve endings in the lumbosacral region are pinched.
• Bruise, groin blow.
• Genital herpes, which manifests as erythematous papules, itching, vaginal discharge, swollen lymph nodes, myalgia, and hyperthermia.
• VVMT - varicose veins of the small pelvis, a disease that develops asymptomatically, but becomes acute during pregnancy. Venous hemodynamics is disturbed, pulling pains in the groin and legs develop.

When do the muscles of the perineum hurt during pregnancy?

The muscles of the intestines, gallbladder, esophagus and stomach during pregnancy are physiologically more relaxed, since they are directly involved in the nutrition of the fetus, however, the muscles of the back, abdomen and muscles of the perineum, on the contrary, are subjected to increased stress and strain. This is perhaps the first and most common reason why the muscles of the perineum hurt during pregnancy.

In addition, the muscle tissue of the perineum can ache due to the pressure of the enlarging uterus on the nerves and ligaments located in this area. As a rule, pain in the perineum after childbirth subsides irrevocably, which proves the physiology and naturalness of the pain symptom. An exception may be painful sensations due to severe stretching of the perineum due to symphysitis, which develops in the second half of pregnancy.

Symphysitis, in turn, is due to a calcium deficiency in bone tissue, primary or secondary. Pain during symphysitis is aching, pulling, an ache feeling spreads in the pelvic region, groin, perineum, especially if a woman, lying in bed, tries to straighten her legs.

Overloads and a kind of "softening" of the pelvic bones, which, in addition to being subjected to pressure from the uterus, "prepare" for childbirth (the body secretes relaxin for this), lead to a pain symptom. It can be felt as a pulling or shooting pain in the lower back, lower abdomen, and perineal muscle tissue. As a compensatory consequence of muscle hypertonia, hypotension develops, a decrease in elasticity bladder, urethra. For expectant mothers, involuntary urination is typical, even with slight tension of the muscles of the abdomen or back - when laughing, when coughing. The same symptom is observed in some women when squatting or loading the muscles of the perineum.

Also, during the period of gestation, a woman may have muscle pain in this area due to venous stasis, insufficiency. If, when registering, there is a history of varicose veins, most likely a pain symptom in the groin, in the perineum, in the legs will be inevitable, but reversible with the right treatment.

Why do vaginal muscles hurt during pregnancy?

The vagina is an organ that contains many nerve endings, receptors, blood vessels, so it is very dependent on the quality of the circulatory system.

Do vaginal muscles hurt during pregnancy? There may be several reasons:

• Weight load on the pelvic region, respectively, a decrease in active blood flow and a decrease in the supply of vaginal tissues. Congestion, swelling is a typical condition accompanying pregnancy, the result of which is transient pain in the groin and vagina. In addition to a painful symptom, a woman may feel itching, tingling, which, as a rule, subside at rest, in a horizontal position (blood outflow).
• Varicose veins, varicose veins of the labia. This pathological phenomenon can only be associated with the period of pregnancy, but it can also be observed before it. Varicose veins of the labia can be caused by a weak valvular vascular system, overweight, inflammatory processes in the internal organs of the small pelvis, constant physical overstrain (wearing weights). In addition, varicose veins of pregnant women can be explained by increased secretion of progesterone and estrogen, lengthening and expansion of the entire circulatory network, starting from the 10th week after conception. Uterine blood flow is activated during the entire period of gestation and reaches a peak (600-700 ml per minute) by the time of delivery. Accordingly, the fallopian tubes inevitably thicken and hyperemic, the cervix swells, the labia swells, and pain appears.

Symptoms of varicose veins can be manifested in the following signs:

• Drawing pain in the groin, in the vagina.
• Feeling of fullness in the labia.
• Swelling of the vagina.
• Dryness, lack of lubrication, itching.
• The appearance of visible varicose nodules on the labia and groin is possible.

If vaginal muscles hurt during pregnancy, the cause can be looked for in the past. If a woman, long before conception, systematically took hormonal contraceptives or hormonal drugs to treat a chronic disease, her vascular system is used to the help of hormones. During pregnancy, without the usual dose of hormonal substances, the vessels may not work at full strength, venous outflow is disturbed, congestion develops in the lower abdomen and pain, including in the vagina

When do abdominal muscles hurt during pregnancy?

The abdominal muscles, which were responsible for the condition and appearance of the abs before conception, must perform a completely different task during pregnancy. Support of the uterus and other internal organs is a new function of the rectus muscles, which are located in the anterior part of the peritoneum. The abdominal muscles are two muscles, the right straight and the left straight, which are connected in a place called very poetically - the "white line" of the abdomen. The rectus muscles originate from the lower sternum, from the lower ribs, extending downward vertically along the abdominal region, reaching the pubic bone, where they are fixed. Rectus muscles are crossed by specific tendon elements - bridges, it is this combination of rectus and transverse muscles that gives the much-desired visual effect of "cubes" of the press. However, for a normal pregnant woman, cubes are not as important as the health of the baby and her own health, which is sometimes overshadowed by uncomfortable pain. The rectus muscles (abs) undergo changes during all 9 months, because they have to keep the growing uterus all the time. In this state, they are able to constantly close in place of the "white line" and gradually spread evenly along the sides. It is this phenomenon that is called diastasis, it is this that explains why the abdominal muscles hurt during pregnancy.

Not every expectant mother may have diastasis, those who previously went in for sports, led an active lifestyle, was in motion, strengthened the abs, diastasis is very rare. However, even among those who did not devote time to sports at all and "acquired" diastasis during pregnancy, it passes 2-4 months after childbirth, this is a unique adaptive property of muscle tissue.

If the abdominal muscles hurt during pregnancy, this is considered a completely acceptable phenomenon, but under certain conditions and sensations:

• The muscles of the press ache only in the navel area, the pains are transient, appear after the 12th week, and gradually subside with the adaptive stretching of the muscles.
• The rectus abdominis muscles only hurt during exercise.
• The pain in the abdominal area is not associated with an increase in body temperature, does not move down the abdomen and does not have an acute, intense character.
• All other pain symptoms in the rectus muscles require medical supervision, in this sense it is better to play it safe and minimize the risk of possible complications.

Why do groin muscles hurt during pregnancy?

A painful symptom in the groin area in pregnant women can be triggered by various factors, the diagnosis of which is rather difficult. The fact is that the groin area is not considered a separate anatomical unit, rather it is the area where the thighs join and the abdominal joint. A large number of different muscles are attached to the groin, which are called adductors, they are responsible for the movement of the hips and their attachment to the pelvis. Also in the inguinal zone there is a canal that includes one of the largest arteries of the body - the femoral vessels, there is also an important element - the round ligament of the uterus, which is subject to severe stretching during pregnancy.

Usually, groin pain is well known to athletes and those who are exposed to intense physical activity, but groin muscles also hurt during pregnancy.

The reasons why there is pain in the groin muscles in a pregnant woman?

• Physiological stretching of the round ligament that supports the uterus.
• Varicose veins.
• Infectious inflammatory diseases of organs located in the pelvic region. Inflammation causes swollen lymph nodes in the groin, pain.
• Adnexitis, inflammation of the appendages, ovaries.
• Calcium deficiency associated with increased consumption during pregnancy.
• Bursting back pain radiating to the groin may have nothing to do with muscle tissue, but feel like muscle pain. This happens with urolithiasis, its exacerbation, renal colic.
• Pain in the groin area can be triggered by constipation - both a physiological, hormonal factor, and caused by the psychoemotional state of a pregnant woman (neurotic spastic constipation).
• Inguinal hernia.
• Varicose veins of the large leg vein located under the skin in the groin area.
• Trauma, bruised groin.
• Symphysitis in the second half of gestation (softening, stretching of the bones of the pubic joint).
• Excessive stress on the thigh muscles when doing stretching exercises for pregnant women.

If your back muscles hurt during pregnancy?

About 70-75% of pregnant women experience pain of various kinds in the back and lower back.

Why do back muscles hurt during pregnancy?

• Physiologically permissible hormonal changes, the secretion of relaxin, resulting in the expansion and relaxation of the pelvic bones, intervertebral ligaments. At the same time, the muscles still try to perform the "corset" function, but are subject to increased stress, are in hypertonicity. Such pains subside after 20-22 weeks, when the body is already prepared and the production of relaxin decreases.
• Displacement of the main center of gravity due to the increase in body weight of the expectant mother. The center is significantly displaced forward, respectively, all the muscles of the back are tense with double force. Sometimes the woman herself aggravates the pain symptom, since she does not follow the posture, the back bends too much forward following the stomach.
• The pressure of the increasing, growing uterus on the nerve endings of the spinal column, the vessels are also squeezed, the blood flow and nutrition of the tissues surrounding the vertebral discs are disturbed. Such shooting, strong, but short-term pains in the lumbosacral zone of the back are especially characteristic.
• A significant increase in the body weight of a pregnant woman provokes varicose veins, disrupts the venous outflow of blood in the pelvic region, aching legs, lower back.
• Improperly selected shoes, especially high heels, which are not useful in principle, as they provoke an unphysiological gait, increase the load on the spine. For pregnant women, high heels are taboo.
• History of osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system before pregnancy.
• Back muscle pain during pregnancy can be caused by pressure from the fetal head, especially in the last month of gestation.
• Fibromyalgia, a history of myofascial syndrome before pregnancy.
• Back pain in the last days of pregnancy can be a harbinger of a close birth.

When should back muscle pain alert you?

• The pain is permanent, accompanied by high temperature body.
• Back pain is caused by bruising, falling.
• Back muscle pain is accompanied by loss of sensitivity in the legs, buttocks, and thighs.
• The pain is accompanied by incontinence or vice versa with retention of urine and feces.
• The pain symptom develops shortly before childbirth.
• Back pain is combined with nausea, vomiting, and a drop in blood pressure.

Diagnosis of muscle pain during pregnancy

Any complaint of discomfort from a pregnant woman should be taken into account and taken into account during the routine examination. Diagnosing muscle pain during pregnancy is just as difficult as determining the root cause of myalgia in non-pregnant women. The symptomatology of muscle pain is nonspecific, often the area of \u200b\u200bpain localization is determined using several tests within 2-3 days (observation of pain in dynamics). In addition, previously undetected latent diseases of internal organs and systems also complicate the diagnosis. This is especially typical for dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system, the spine. Any type of osteochondrosis, which in itself is a diagnostic problem, can become a serious obstacle to a quick diagnosis of myalgia.

In order for the diagnosis of muscle pain during pregnancy to be accurate and specific, such questions are clarified and the following actions are taken:

1. Re-collection of anamnestic data, including hereditary.
2. A clear definition of the nature and extent of pain - diffuse or localized.
3. Clarification of the time of symptom onset, its frequency, duration and dependence on movements, changes in body position.
4. Clarification of the area of \u200b\u200bdistribution and the source of pain - localized myalgia, somatic pain, reflected or radiating pain.
5. Determination of trigger zones in case of suspected fibromyalgia or MFBS - myofascial pain syndrome.
6. Palpation of the painful zone and identification of a reflex pain response to palpation.
7. Finding out possible combined symptoms - muscle pain and nausea, muscle pain and dizziness, fever, muscle pain and constipation, and so on.

The methods that involve the diagnosis of myalgia in pregnant women should be as gentle as possible and not traumatic for the body of the expectant mother and fetus. One of the problems of clarifying the provoking factor is the inadmissibility of radiography to identify a possible cause in the spine, in the joints.

A pregnant woman can have an ultrasound scan, prescribe laboratory tests of blood, urine and feces, determine hormonal balance, but as for muscle tissue, old, proven methods of interrogation, examination, palpation come to the doctor's aid. All these methods must be combined with professionalism and, most importantly, with practical positive experience of the doctor.

Self-diagnosis or the definition of non-existent pathologies with the help of compassionate omniscient relatives, girlfriends and the dubious quality of disposable magazines is unacceptable. If a woman regularly visits a gynecologist, undergoes regular dispensary examinations, then it will be much easier to diagnose muscle pain as well as treat it.

Muscle pain associated with physiological factors - an increase in the uterus, muscle stretching, are treated only with the help of local effects:

• Applications with relaxing ointments, rarely with ointments based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Warm short-term baths, baths.
• Cooling compresses.
• Gentle prenatal massage.

Swimming in the pool, dosed, taking into account the condition of the woman, gives an excellent effect. The same relaxing and at the same time strengthening effect can be provided by yoga, Pilates, colanetics. Among the most popular methods of treatment and prevention of pain in the muscles of the perineum, groin and pelvis, the Kegel exercises (strengthening the muscles of the sphincter, vagina, groin), which have been proven for more than one decade, stand out.

One of the most effective and simple ways to reduce, if not completely neutralize the risk of muscle pain, is a bandage. Elastic, comfortable, it gently but confidently holds the belly of the expectant mother, reducing the increased load on the muscles, ligaments of the abdomen and spine. In addition, those who wear a properly selected bandage are 1.5-2 times less likely to have characteristic postpartum stretch marks on the skin. The bandage is not worn all the time, allowing the skin and muscles to breathe and work independently, but it is a necessary tool in case of a significant increase in the weight of a pregnant woman.

Prevention

The main method that helps to prevent muscle sprains and, therefore, pain in a pregnant woman is sports, physical activity and strengthening muscle tone long before conception. If you systematically deal with the health of your body in combination with reasonable physical activity, then during the period when some muscles shorten, contract, and others stretch, preparing for childbirth, a woman will practically not feel pain.

Prevention of muscle pain during pregnancy can also begin during gestation; today there are many sets of exercises for gentle stretching of the ligaments and muscle tissue. Fortunately, muscles are a very rewarding material in terms of learning, their structure quickly adapts to a new regime and, having learned, they again perform their tasks - protecting internal organs and systems, distributing and maintaining organs according to their normal anatomical structure.

By gradually strengthening the muscles of the back, chest, groin, the woman facilitates the work of the spine, supporting the functions of the ligaments, especially in the abdomen. In addition, preventive measures to neutralize pain during pregnancy can help in the future, when the mother will have to carry the baby in her arms for more than one day.

Muscle training includes strengthening, increasing the elasticity of muscles and ligaments, and teaching relaxation. It is relaxation that helps relieve muscle spasms, hypertonicity and makes it possible to restore blood supply to the muscles. Also, as a prevention of pain symptoms, breathing techniques are effective, the timely intake of carbon dioxide or oxygen ensures normal nutrition, the work of the vascular system, and therefore muscles.

The body of a pregnant woman prepares for a very important event day after day. A woman in a position very often experiences tension and pain in the abdominal muscles due to this preparation. Before pregnancy, muscles are responsible for the appearance of the abdomen, for its beauty, but during pregnancy, these muscles play a huge role in supporting the uterus.

The abdominal muscles are the so-called abdominal muscles, which consist of two muscles and are connected in one line (the so-called "white line"). Starting from the lower sternum, they are fixed at the pubic bone. Where they join in one line, they are crossed by jumpers, visually creating "cubes" of the press. Of course, "cubes" or their outline appear only on the body, at least a little trained. For a pregnant woman, such a relief is not important, since at this time the woman takes care of her health and the health of the child. It is worth noting that women who worked on the abdominal muscles before pregnancy are less susceptible to pain from the abdominal muscles. The role of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy is enormous, and during the entire period of pregnancy they undergo many changes, sometimes causing very unpleasant sensations, and sometimes pain.

The abdominal muscles can hurt for various reasons: injuries, exercise, overuse, and pregnancy itself can cause such pain.

The abdominal muscles during pregnancy hold the growing uterus for all 9 months. This is due to the stretch ability of the press. Constantly connecting in the middle (in the "white line"), they stretch on the sides and support the stomach.

The most common cause of abdominal pain during pregnancy is diastasis.

Diastasis is characterized by the divergence of the rectus abdominis muscles in the "white line", due to pressure on the connective tissues that connect them. Usually this phenomenon occurs in women who did not lead an active lifestyle before pregnancy, but there are other reasons.

Diastasis reasons:

Large fruit.
Genetic predisposition.
Multiple pregnancy.
Not the first pregnancy.
Weak muscles.

Diastasis passes after childbirth with certain exercises. After giving birth, a woman with diastasis has a stomach that is too rounded, and when the press is strained, a hollow is felt in the area of \u200b\u200bthe "white line". Such a belly is difficult to clean even with intense exercise and diets. This is why it is so important to engage in physical activity before pregnancy.

Pain in the abdominal muscles is quite normal and is allowed during pregnancy, but only with a little pain. Normal abdominal muscle pains are:

Pain in the navel, which usually appears in the second trimester of pregnancy with the growth of the abdomen. Such pain comes and gradually subsides after stretching the muscles.
Pain after exercise.

Diastasis can be detected only after childbirth. Treatment is also carried out after the birth of the child and consists of doing exercises, preferably with an instructor.

Pain in the abdominal muscles should not be acute and cramping in nature, as well as without an increase in temperature. Additional symptoms should be a reason to visit your doctor.

It is very important to do abdominal exercises both "before" and "after" childbirth. Classes after childbirth are especially necessary for those who still want to give birth and prevent diastasis, since usually during the second pregnancy it occurs much more often than during the first one.

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