A pregnant women has to bear a lot of pain and discomfort during the nine months of pregnancy. While mild back pain or hip pain is expected but beware of severe pain especially severe abdominal pregnancy pain on left side. Although unilateral abdominal pain may signal that something is wrong but then at times it is normal to experience sudden bursts of pain. Nevertheless it is always wise to consult with a doctor.
Abdominal pregnancy pain on the left side may occur due to several reasons. The pain may be achy or stabbing, mild or intense, it may be localized or spread out, whatever be the case when consulting with your doctor don’t overlook anything. A general fact is that intermittent pain is less worrisome than a constant pain, whereas mild pain may not indicate a serious problem a severe pain. If your pregnancy pain on left side is constant and severe then according to doctors you should monitor it and consult with your doctor as soon as possible.
Remember the common reasons for early pregnancy pain on left side are different from the pain experienced in the later stages. Early pregnancy pain on left side is generally related to the ovaries or the fallopian tubes whereas pain in the later stages of pregnancy pain on left side is related to the uterus as the ovaries and fallopian tubes are less related to pregnancy after sixteen or seventeen weeks. During the early stages of pregnancy the body undergoes a lot of changes physically. All these changes are not so comfortable and may cause a certain degree of pain and soreness , that’s why pregnancy pain on the left side are more common during the early stages.
According to Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book, “Human Physiology” early pregnancy pain on left side may be caused due to the formation of a cyst as during early pregnancy cyst formation in the ovaries is not unusual. Formation of a Corpus luteum cyst can cause pain while moving but it disappears after three to four months.
Pregnancy pain on the left side during the later stages of pregnancy is generally related to the uterus. As the uterus expands to accommodate the growing baby the ligaments holding it may stretch. Now depending on the baby’s position in the uterus the ligaments may stretch disproportionately with more pressure on the left side. This may lead one to experience a sharp, sudden pain in the lower left abdomen while standing up or walking. Among pregnant women ligament stretching is a common cause of pregnancy pain on the left side and it doesn’t signal anything serious.
Most of the sources discussed till now were not serious but one source of pregnancy pain on the left side is serious – ectopic pregnancy. This is a serious condition in which the egg fertilizes outside the uterus. Usually the fetus starts growing in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. If ovulation had occurred from the left tube and the fetus starts growing in the left fallopian tube then the expectant mother will start experiencing pregnancy pain on the left side. The pain will continue to grow and become more concentrated around the area where the fetus is. In such cases emergency medical supervision is required as an ectopic pregnancy poses a life risk to the mother.
