Stomach (abdominal) pain or cramps in pregnancy

Some pain and very light cramps in the stomach (abdominal) area are common in pregnancy and is usually nothing to worry about. But it is always best to get stomach pains checked out if you are worried.

Mild stomach (abdominal) pains or cramps are common in pregnancy. They are usually nothing to worry about, but they can sometimes be a sign of something more serious. 

When should I get help for stomach pain in pregnancy? 

Call your GP, midwife or visit your maternity unit if you have stomach pain and: 

Any of these could be the symptoms of something that needs to be checked or treated urgently. 

Remember to trust your instincts. Contact your midwife if you are worried about any pains you are having, or you just feel like something is wrong. Do not be concerned about wasting anyone’s time. It is always best to get checked out. 

Stomach pain and miscarriage 

Having stomach pain does not necessarily mean you are having a miscarriage. But it is important to get help if you are worried.  

The most common sign of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. Other symptoms include: 

  • cramping and pain in your lower stomach (tummy) (like period pain) 
  • a discharge of fluid from your vagina 
  • a discharge of tissue from your vagina (this may look like a blood clot) 
  • no longer experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy, such as feeling sick and breast tenderness. 

Contact your GP, midwife, nearest Early Pregnancy Unit (before 12 weeks) or maternity unit (after 12 weeks) straight away if you have any of these symptoms. You can also call the NHS 111 at any time of day or night. 

Harmless stomach pains in pregnancy 

Mild stomach pain in early pregnancy (during the first 12 weeks) is usually caused by:

  • your womb (uterus) expanding 
  • the ligaments stretching as your bump grows (you may also feel this during the second trimester also) 
  • hormones  
  • constipation, bloating or trapped wind.

Mild stomach pain may sometimes feel like a ‘stitch’ or mild period pain. It is probably nothing to worry about if the pain is mild and goes away when you change position, have a rest, do a poo or pass wind. 

You may also feel light period-like discomfort or cramps at the end of your pregnancy. This is nothing to worry about. But call your midwife if you have any concerns. 

Round ligament pain 

You may get sharp pains on both sides of your (stomach) tummy, which get worse when you move. These are called round ligament pains. These usually begins in the second trimester, although some people will have them earlier.  

The round ligaments are two cords of connective tissue on either side of the womb. They attach the womb to the pelvis, holding it in place. As your baby grows and the uterus gets bigger, this stretching can cause the round ligaments to go into spasm, causing pain in the lower abdomen or groin area. 

The pain is usually sharp or stabbing. It can be made worse by: 

  • sudden movement such as standing up from sitting or rolling over in bed 
  • the increases in abdominal pressure caused by sneezing, coughing or laughing. 

Round ligament pains will not harm you or your baby and are nothing to worry about. But call your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns, or any other worrying symptoms.  

Braxton Hicks contractions 

Braxton Hicks contractions are a sign that the muscles of your womb are tightening, because of pregnancy hormones. This can happen in early pregnancy, but most people feel them in the second or third trimester. 

Braxton Hicks contractions are often : 

  • irregular (more than 10 minutes apart) 
  • short-lasting 
  • uncomfortable more than painful. 

You do not need to contact your maternity unit or midwife unless you are worried, or your contractions become stronger and regular over time. 

Contractions or cramps after 37-40 weeks could be a sign of the early stages of labour.  

Stomach pains that may be caused by something serious 

Severe pain on one side of the lower stomach in early pregnancy 

This kind of pain could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. This is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. It is usually noticed between weeks 4 and 12. 

An ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening for you, so it is very important that it is treated quickly. 

 As well as stomach pain, you may have: 

  • vaginal bleeding or a brown, watery discharge 
  • pain in the tip of your shoulder 
  • brown discharge 
  • feeling faint or dizzy 
  • discomfort when pooing or weeing.

Contact your GP or call NHS 111 if you have a combination of any of the above symptoms and you might be pregnant – even if you have not had a positive pregnancy test. 

Severe cramps in your stomach, with or without bleeding, that lasts for several hours  

This could be a sign of miscarriage. The most common sign of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. Other symptoms include: 

  • cramping and pain in your lower stomach (tummy) (like period pain) 
  • a discharge of fluid from your vagina 
  • a discharge of tissue from your vagina (this may look like a blood clot) 
  • no longer experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy, such as feeling sick and breast tenderness.

Contact your GP, midwife, nearest Early Pregnancy Unit (before 12 weeks) or maternity unit (after 12 weeks) straight away if you have any of these symptoms. You can also call the NHS 111 at any time of day or night. 

Severe cramps, with or without bleeding can also be a sign of placental abruption. The level of pain with an abruption can vary. Some women feel as if their stomach (tummy) is bruised, while others describe the pain as very severe or even excruciating. 

Other symptoms include: 

Placental abruption usually happens in the second half of pregnancy. But it is important to get checked out if you have these symptoms at any point in your pregnancy.   

Contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away if you think you have symptoms of a placental abruption. If you are unable to contact them, call 111 for advice. Call 999 if you have severe bleeding or pain that is making you feel very unwell.   

Regular painful contractions/cramps before 37 weeks of pregnancy 

This could be a sign of  premature labour, especially if you also have: 

  • period-type pains or pressure in your vaginal area 
  • a "show" – when the plug of mucus that has sealed the cervix during pregnancy comes away and out of the vagina 
  • a gush or trickle of fluid from your vagina – this could be your waters breaking 
  • backache.

Contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away if you think you are in early labour. 

Pain in the upper stomach  

Pain just under the ribs is common in later pregnancy because your baby is growing and the uterus is pushing up under the ribs. 

But if this pain is bad or persistent, particularly on the right side, it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.  

Pre-eclampsia usually develops in the second half of pregnancy (from around 20 weeks) or just after the baby is born. 

Other symptoms may include: 

Your midwife may be able to detect the early signs of pre-eclampsia by doing urine and blood pressure checks during your antenatal appointments.  

But contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away if you have these symptoms at any time.  

Lower stomach pain or dull back pain  

Call your midwife if you have this pain and one or more of the following: 

  • pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria) 
  • needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia) 
  • pee that looks cloudy, dark or has a strong smell 
  • needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual 
  • needing to pee more often than usual.

This may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI). These can be common in pregnancy and it is important to get treatment as soon as you can. 

Contact your GP or midwife if you have some or any of these symptoms.  

What to do if you have stomach pain in pregnancy 

Stomach pain can be common in pregnancy. But do not hesitate to contact your GP, midwife or maternity unit if you think something is wrong.  

Remember to trust your instincts and do not worry about wasting anyone’s time. It is always best to get checked out. 

NHS. Stomach pain in pregnnacy. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/stomach-pain/ (Page last reviewed: 20 June 2021 Next review due: 20 June 2024)

NHS. Miscarriage https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/miscarriage/symptoms/ (Page last reviewed: 9 March 2022 Next review due: 9 March 2025)

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Round ligament pain in pregnancy. https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/media/wtai0ety/round-ligament-pain-in-pregnancy_oct19.pdf (Last reviewed: October 2019 Review due: October 2021)

Raines DA, Cooper DB. Braxton Hicks Contractions. [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470546/

NHS. Ectopic pregnancy. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/ (Page last reviewed: 23 August 2022 Next review due: 23 August 2025)

BMJ Best Practice (2022) Placental abruption. https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/1117

NHS. Premature labour and birth https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/premature-labour-and-birth/ (Page last reviewed: 9 December 2020 Next review due: 2023)

NHS. Stomach pain. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/stomach-pain/ (Page last reviewed: 20 June 2021 Next review due: 20 June 2024)

NHS. Pre-eclampsia. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pre-eclampsia/ (Page last reviewed: 20 September 2021 Next review due: 28 September 2024) 

NHS Urinary Tract Infections. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/ (Page last reviewed: 22 March 2022 Next review due: 22 March 2025) 

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Review dates
Reviewed: 21 February 2023
Next review: 21 February 2026