Pain Like Needles During Early Pregnancy, Is It Dangerous?

Some pregnant women may often feel pain like being stabbed by a needle during early pregnancy. This feeling can radiate from the lower abdomen to the upper abdomen. Although some other pregnant women do not feel it, we need to know the cause of this condition. 

Experts reveal that pain or cramping in the stomach during pregnancy is normal. The reason is, at the time of early pregnancy, there are significant changes in a woman’s body. In addition, the growth of the fetus in the stomach can also be an influencing factor.

Although it’s natural, you also need to know specific conditions where abdominal pain or pain, like being pricked by needles during early pregnancy, becomes unnatural. Alleged dangerous complications can occur.

So, when is abdominal pain considered normal, and when does it become unnatural so that it needs to be watched out for? For more details, see the following review.

Causes of Abdominal Pain During Early Pregnancy 

There are several causes of abdominal pain or cramps during early pregnancy, including:

1. Gas that builds up in the stomach

At the time of early pregnancy, gas production in a woman’s stomach will increase. This occurs due to changes in the progesterone hormone during pregnancy. Well, the gas that accumulates is what causes the stomach to feel sick.

2.  Constipation

Pregnant women often experience constipation due to hormonal changes. In addition, constipation also occurs due to lack of fiber, lack of exercise, and anxiety. Constipation that occurs during early pregnancy causes the stomach to feel pain like being stabbed.

3. Fake Contractions

False contractions don’t just happen in the last trimester of pregnancy. Pregnant women can also feel this in the early months. Of course, what is meant by contractions is not labor contractions but contractions that occur when the fetus grows and begins to move. You need to know that false contractions also cause pain in the abdomen.

4. Complications

A problematic pregnancy or complications can also cause abdominal pain like pins and needles during early pregnancy. When this happens, you need to be careful because it is not a regular thing.

Some of the symptoms of pregnancy complications include severe nausea and vomiting, fever, severe dizziness, blurred vision, bleeding, severe cramps, swelling of the hands and feet, and blood in the urine. If you experience it, immediately consult a doctor for treatment.

When to Be Alert?

As described above, lower abdominal pain, like being stabbed during pregnancy accompanied by symptoms of complications, needs to be watched out for. You need to get treatment immediately if you experience this.

The following are dangerous pregnancy complications characterized by pain, like being pricked by a needle during early pregnancy.

1. Ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is essential to watch out for. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fetus grows outside the uterus. So the fetus that is supposed to develop in the womb instead grows outside the womb.

Ectopic pregnancy can cause abdominal pain or pain on one side. Generally, the pain feels stabbing and occurs throughout the day.

2. Miscarriage

Miscarriage is the most feared complication of pregnancy. One of the symptoms is pain, like being pricked by a needle during early pregnancy. Abdominal pain during a miscarriage can be mild or severe cramping. It can even pierce up to the back.

Miscarriage can also be preceded by bleeding or spotting from the vagina. Generally, abdominal pain due to miscarriage occurs in the early trimester of pregnancy.

3. Detached placenta

A detached placenta or placental abruption is also characterized by abdominal pain. This condition occurs when the placenta partially or completely separates from the uterus in early or mid-pregnancy.

Because it is an emergency and is life-threatening, you need to be aware of placental abruption. Some of the symptoms include sudden spots and bleeding.

4. Preeclampsia

Another pregnancy complication that also threatens the baby and mother’s life is preeclampsia. This condition causes pregnant women to feel cramping and abdominal pain like when menstruating.

Preeclampsia is characterized by vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and lower back pain. In addition, positive protein in the urine is also a symptom of this complication. Preeclampsia cannot be underestimated because it can cause coma to death in infants and pregnant women.

5. Urinary tract infection

You need to worry if you feel pain like being pricked by a needle during early pregnancy accompanied by urine bleeding. This could indicate a urinary tract infection that could endanger the pregnancy.

Abdominal pain in small tract infections is generally felt in the lower abdomen, just above the pubic bone. This condition is very uncomfortable, plus a burning sensation when urinating. Urinary tract infections must be treated immediately because they can trigger premature birth.

6. Premature birth

Babies born prematurely can occur when pregnant women feel contractions long enough in a tight period. These contractions cause severe abdominal cramps like during childbirth.

A baby is called premature if born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Because babies are immature, being born prematurely can trigger other health problems later in life. Some signs of premature birth include low back pain and pressure in the pelvis.

So it can be concluded that pain like pins and needles during early pregnancy is natural but does not apply to abdominal pain caused by complications. Complications of pregnancy such as placental abruption, urinary tract infection, and preeclampsia must receive proper treatment to endanger lives. Therefore, make sure you go to a health facility if you experience abdominal pain accompanied by signs of complications.