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Original poster

Upper abdominal pain - 31 weeks pregnant

39 replies

ActonBell · 19/10/2021 18:57

I’m feeling really rough today with dull but persistent pain in my upper abdomen - top of my bump, all across. It’s been on and off the past few days but today it seems to be all day.

Is it baby pressing on things? Something I ate? Third trimester indigestion? I have reduced appetite and I’m a little nauseous but no vomiting or diarrhoea. I’ve been taking Gaviscon and paracetamol but nothing much seems to help.

I was worried the pain was a sign of early labour or something as I’m at high risk of a preterm birth (cervical incompetence) but I can’t see any worrying signs. I’ve had a few braxton hicks but nothing else. No bleeding. Checked my blood pressure at home and it’s fine. Baby is moving as usual.

I’m seeing my midwife on Thursday but this is really, really getting me down today. I’m not sleeping well and I’m so tired of being uncomfortable. Does anyone have an idea what it could be/tips to ease it?

OP posts:

KellyMarieTunstall2 · 29/10/2021 18:57

I'm glad you've been checked at MAU. I had this regularly towards the end of my pregnancies and it was a combo of wind, acid and rib pain, where the muscles were stretching. Some days it was worse than others. I hope your pain is nothing sinister.

Original poster

ActonBell · 29/10/2021 20:20

Being sent back to MAU again. Feel like a fraud. It’s horrible when it’s something and nothing and you’re worried that it needs investigating but also it might be just ‘pregnancy is a pain’ pain.
Does anyone ever feel like a fake for complaining about stuff? It’s such a weird feeling as I know I’m not making it up but I feel like I should just put a brave face on it and not make a fuss.

OP posts:

89redballoons · 29/10/2021 20:32

I was in and out of the antenatal assessment unit from week 30 of my last pregnancy onwards. Not with pain, mine was because of spotting but then they also picked up an infection and then they also picked up that baby had ectopic beats and also were concerned about the size of my bump, and that meant I was being monitored multiple times a week for various things. It was never anything serious but they kept on checking.

I very much felt like a fraud and also thoroughly grumpy about being poked and prodded so much when I just wanted to hibernate and nest. However, at the time someone told me that actually, this is what good maternity care looks like. Things can change very quickly in pregnancy and it is always worth getting checked out. If they've advised you to go into MAU again you definitely should.

In the end I had a straightforward labour on the MLU and ended up with a healthy baby, so all good, but wow it was stressful at the time.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3rd trimester Antenatal & postnatal Families General health

TheHuntingoftheSnark · 29/10/2021 20:57

I had this and I had a complication of pre eclampsia called Hellp syndrome. They should give you blood tests to check your liver function and levels of iron and platelets. Keep being insistent, trust your instincts.

Original poster

ActonBell · 29/10/2021 23:21

Thanks @TheHuntingoftheSnark and @89redballoons

Did you have any other symptoms with HELLP @TheHuntingoftheSnark ?

OP posts:

TheHuntingoftheSnark · 30/10/2021 01:06

@ActonBell

Thanks *@TheHuntingoftheSnark* and *@89redballoons*

Did you have any other symptoms with HELLP @TheHuntingoftheSnark ?

I didn’t have high bp or protein in my urine until I had to go to A & E for the abdominal pain. I did fill nauseous and had a headache (not a bad one) and had visual disturbances (which looked like the sparkles you see when you get up too quick). I did have a sense of foreboding for a couple of days before it went critical.

Silvercatowner · 30/10/2021 07:53

Another with upper abdominal pain then pre-eclampsia.

BlackCatTabbyCat · 30/10/2021 08:13

Have they done a blood test to check for pre eclampsia? I had severe pre eclampsia which led to HELLP Syndrome and the only way mine was picked up was by doing a blood test. I had protein in my urine and blood pressure was normal. Higher than what is usual for me but still well within normal range. I was told they were almost postivive it wasn't pre eclampsia and sent me home. Half an hour later I was phoned to go back up to the hospital and told my blood result came back that I did have pre eclampsia after all and needed to be induced there and then. I had absolutely no symptoms and felt completely normal. I'd had protein in my urine for the last few weeks so I don't know how long it was developing for but within less than an hour of being told I turned very unwell blood pressure sky high and full body swollen. They said they think the stress brought my symptoms on and if I had still been at home unaware I may not have known for a long time. I often tell this story on here and I hate to feel like I'm scaring anyone but I always feel its important to highlight that although rare it is possible to have pre eclampsia and not have any of the symptoms.

HomeCountiesMum · 30/10/2021 08:19

I had this albeit 30 years ago with my first baby. It turned out to be obstetric cholestasis. I think it has a different name now?
Very dangerous as it can cause stillbirth. I was admitted immediately and baby was monitored then induced.
I subsequently had it in following pregnancies too and my babies had to be induced early.

After each pregnancy I also developed gall stones due to the OC

Original poster

ActonBell · 30/10/2021 09:28

Thanks all. So they did blood tests to try to rule out pre-eclampsia/hellp and ruled out all the other things it might be - not preterm labour or anything like that.
They let me go home and will ring today if the results show anything.
They also gave me some omeprazole in case it is digestive.

OP posts:

TheHuntingoftheSnark · 30/10/2021 09:37

@ActonBell

Thanks all. So they did blood tests to try to rule out pre-eclampsia/hellp and ruled out all the other things it might be - not preterm labour or anything like that. They let me go home and will ring today if the results show anything. They also gave me some omeprazole in case it is digestive.

Pleased you have been tested. Keep aware and keep getting checked if anything changes

makelovenotpetrol · 30/10/2021 09:58

@ActonBell

Being sent back to MAU again. Feel like a fraud. It’s horrible when it’s something and nothing and you’re worried that it needs investigating but also it might be just ‘pregnancy is a pain’ pain. Does anyone ever feel like a fake for complaining about stuff? It’s such a weird feeling as I know I’m not making it up but I feel like I should just put a brave face on it and not make a fuss.

No no no OP. Just no. Its your unborn baby and the most precious thing in the world to you. Please never feel like a 'fake" or anything. Hopefully it's absolutely nothing and just baby pushing on your stomach of something but you have every right to want something checked out.

GoT1904 · 08/01/2023 01:39

Did you ever get any other answers OP? Did you develop anything or was it pregnancy woes? Your experience sounds like me to a tee, including big baby.

Mimi2022 · 19/10/2023 11:33

@GoT1904 did you find out anything?

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