Why Does a Pregnant Woman Experience Abdominal Pain When Coughing?

Expecting mothers should take care of their bodies during pregnancy, and strengthening nutrition intake regularly is beneficial for fetal development. Pregnant women should also keep warm and avoid catching a cold. Some pregnant women may experience abdominal pain when coughing, and the cause of this pain depends on the stage of pregnancy. If the fetus is growing larger and the abdomen feels physiologically painful, no treatment is required. Pregnant women should attend regular prenatal check-ups, and if the check-ups are normal, there is no need to worry. So, what causes abdominal pain in pregnant women when coughing? Let's take a closer look.

Firstly, coughing is a protective respiratory reflex action that clears secretions or foreign bodies from the respiratory tract. It is a major symptom of respiratory diseases, and long-term coughing can lead to respiratory bleeding, which can have significant impacts. Pregnant women may not only feel uncomfortable when coughing, but also worry that coughing may affect the fetus. To treat coughing symptoms in pregnant women, it is first necessary to understand the cause of the coughing. Generally, as the baby grows, the uterus gradually enlarges. The enlarged uterus continuously stimulates the abdominal wall, which can cause abdominal pain. Typically, this is physiological and does not require special treatment. Sleeping on the left side can help relieve the pain. Mild coughing itself does not affect the fetus, but severe coughing can increase abdominal pressure, leading to uterine contractions and increasing the risk of miscarriage. Mild colds with symptoms such as sneezing, nasal discharge, and mild coughing do not affect the fetus, and expectant mothers can rest, drink plenty of water, and often recover without medication. However, if the coughing in pregnant women is severe, it may affect the fetus. If symptoms persist for a long time or the pain is severe, it is recommended to seek medical treatment. With the guidance of a doctor, medication can be used without causing harm. It is important to avoid self-medication blindly to prevent adverse effects on the fetus.

Secondly, what should pregnant women eat to ease coughing? 1. Drink plenty of warm water: Holding warm water in the mouth can effectively relieve coughing. 2. Bake oranges: Make a hole in the bottom center of an orange with a chopstick, fill it with some salt, wrap it in aluminum foil, and bake it in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove the peel and eat it while it's hot. Alternatively, dry the orange peel into tangerine peel, boil it in water to make tea, and drink it in large gulps for remarkable effects. 3. Radish syrup: Cut white radish into small cubes about one centimeter in size, place them in a dry and clean container, fill it with honey, tightly seal it, and let it soak for about 3 days until water and honey mix. Store it in the refrigerator; scoop out a small amount each time and mix it with warm water for excellent cough relief. If you need to drink it immediately and don't have time to soak it, you can grind the white radish, mix it with one-third of the amount of honey, and add warm water to drink. 4. Boiled kumquats with sugar: Wash the kumquats, poke two or three holes in them with a toothpick, boil them in water until they are submerged, add rock sugar, cook them until they are soft over low heat, and eat them while they are hot. Store any leftover cooled mixture in the refrigerator and reheat a small amount each time before consumption. 5. Steamed pear with rock sugar: Peel fresh pears, cut them open and remove the seeds, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar, and steam them over a pot of water until they are soft. They can then be eaten.

Lastly, what should pregnant women pay attention to during pregnancy? During pregnancy, it is important to maintain a healthy diet and avoid eating cold and chilling foods such as crabs, longans, watermelons, and coix seeds, as these can easily lead to threatened miscarriage. Additionally, pregnant women should avoid contact with animals like cats and dogs as they can carry Toxoplasma gondii.