If you're pregnant, you're aware that all of your body's new and wonderful developments come with a few snags. Some of these symptoms include being fatigued all of the time and experiencing aches, butterflies, and tingling in your stomach and back.
Pregnancy can also create discomfort in areas of the body that appear to be far apart from the action. Your new shoulder ache could be directly linked to your pregnancy, which may surprise you.
Shoulder pain (along with other symptoms) is common during pregnancy. Shoulder discomfort, coupled with other symptoms, can be a warning that something isn't quite right in some circumstances. It is critical if you have shoulder pain during your pregnancy.
If you're pregnant and have shoulder pain, here's what you should know and do.
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| What Causes Shoulder Pain When You're Pregnant? |
Common causes of shoulder pain in pregnancy
Shoulder pain can strike at any time and for a variety of reasons during pregnancy. It's typical most of the time.
Changes in your muscles and joints cause this. Straining your back, sleeping in an odd position, poor posture, and standing for too long are all possible causes.
Stiffness or achiness are common (and non-worrisome) symptoms of shoulder pain during pregnancy. It shouldn't be excruciating or stabbing.
First Trimester
Even before you get pregnant, your body produces a hormone called relaxin. From the start of your pregnancy till the birth of your baby, this hormone performs a variety of functions. Relaxin aids in the growth and alteration of your body in preparation for the birth of your child.
Relaxin works by releasing your connective tissue, which can cause aches and pains in many areas of your body, including your shoulders.
Second trimester
As your baby develops, so does your body in order to provide nourishment for this new life. Your baby bump starts to show in the second trimester, and your body shape and weight change for a healthy pregnancy.
The changes in your body have an affect on how you sleep, sit, stand, and even walk. In fact, one tiny medical study discovered that pregnant women have a slower stride (walking pace) than non-pregnant women.
This means that, even if you don't appear to be pregnant yet, your muscles and posture are being affected by the changes in your body. Muscle discomfort, particularly shoulder pain, can result as a result of this.
Third trimester
As your baby prepares to enter the world, you'll notice a lot of changes in your body throughout the third trimester. Carrying a baby and a small portable nursery changes your body in a variety of ways, including twisting your spine!
Researchers examined the spines of 19 pregnant women in their third trimester to the spines of women who weren't pregnant in the same 2015 study. The lumbar (lower end) of the spine was shown to be more curved in pregnant women in their third trimester.
This means that later in pregnancy, your spine will resemble a "S" to help bear the extra pounds of baby, food, blood, and other things. Your back and shoulder muscles may change as a result of changes in your spine. During pregnancy, this may cause normal shoulder soreness and pains.
Relaxin continues to relax your ligaments in the third trimester, allowing your pelvic bone joints to soften and open, allowing you to deliver your baby more easily. Other joints in your body, like your shoulder joints, loosen up as well.
During the third trimester, relaxing the shoulder joint, as well as making adjustments to your posture, sleep position, walking style, and everything else, might contribute to typical shoulder pain.
Shoulder pain in pregnancy can have more significant causes.
Shoulder pain from more serious causes can occur at any moment during your pregnancy. As a result, if you have shoulder pain or any other strange symptoms, you should see your doctor.
First trimester
An ectopic or tubal pregnancy could be the cause of pain in your shoulder early in your first trimester. The embryo implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the Fallopian tube.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy usually appear between weeks four and twelve of pregnancy. You may experience symptoms before you even realize you're pregnant or see your doctor.
Shoulder tip pain can be caused by an ectopic pregnancy. This could seem like an odd, unexpected pain between your shoulder and arm.
Because there is bleeding in the abdomen, this major cause of shoulder discomfort in pregnancy occurs. Although the bleeding is not visible, it might irritate the nerve that controls the diaphragm's involuntary muscles.
The nerve then transfers sensory information from the diaphragm to the shoulder area, resulting in the perception of pain in the shoulder (referred pain).
You'll probably experience other symptoms in addition to the shoulder ache, such as:
- stomach ache
- faintness.
- nausea or vomiting
- bleeding from the cervix
- bloating or fullness in the stomach
- During bowel movements, there is a lot of pain.
- diarrhea.
- One-sided cramping or pain
Second and third trimesters
Hormones that help you get pregnant and stay pregnant might have negative effects, including gallstones in rare cases. You may be completely unaware that you have gallstones, yet a gallstone lodged in a duct or tube might produce dangerous symptoms.
Gallstones could be the cause of pain in your right shoulder during pregnancy. Other signs and symptoms include:
- a feeling of nausea and vomiting
- The discomfort in your upper right abdomen is strong and getting worse.
- a sharp pain in the center of your abdomen that worsens
- Between your shoulder blades, you may experience back pain.
Gallstones can cause pain that lasts for minutes or even hours. You may have a high fever and possibly jaundice in severe cases (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
If you have a major obstruction or other issues, you may need surgery to remove the gallstones. Gallstones can usually be treated with lifestyle adjustments, such as:
- eating regular meals
- adding more fiber-rich foods to your diet
- avoiding fried foods
- avoiding sugary foods
- avoiding simple carbs
- getting light exercise every day
Shoulder pain may be one of the symptoms of preeclampsia in the second or third trimester. When you have high blood pressure (hypertension) and other difficulties during or after your birth, you get this dangerous disorder.
Symptoms often appear after week 20, but they can appear earlier. Other symptoms of preeclampsia, besides from shoulder pain, include:
- face swelling.
- swelling of the hands.
- headache pain.
- changes in vision.
- blurred vision or seeing spots.
- sensitivity to light.
- pain when breathing in deeply.
- pain in the upper abdomen.
- pain on the upper right side.
- nausea and vomiting.
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
Preeclampsia is treated by regularly checking your blood pressure and visiting your doctor for frequent examinations. To help control your blood pressure, you may require medication, a low-sodium diet, and bed rest.
If your preeclampsia symptoms don't improve, your doctor may advise you to have your baby sooner rather than later. After your baby is born, you should be able to recuperate quickly.
How to get rid of the most prevalent reasons of shoulder pain when pregnant
With a few ideas and tactics, you should be able to cure common pregnant aches and pains, including shoulder pain. You should feel much better if you:
- stretches
- massages — just try to see a practitioner who’s knowledgeable about pregnancy
- a warm (not hot) bath
- warm or cold compresses
- posture support
- sleeping support pillow
Inquire with your doctor about which pain relievers are safe to take during pregnancy and which are best for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is usually safe to consume on a regular basis.
You'll need more precise medical care from your doctor if you have a more serious cause of shoulder pain, such as ectopic pregnancy, gallstones, or preeclampsia.
When should you consult a doctor?
If you have any unexpected, new, or strange symptoms during pregnancy, such as severe shoulder discomfort or pain that doesn't go away, call your doctor.
If you suspect an ectopic pregnancy or are experiencing severe, intense pain, call your doctor and seek immediate medical attention. To help prevent severe consequences from an ectopic pregnancy, you may need emergency treatment or perhaps surgery.
If you develop nausea and vomiting, or other preeclampsia symptoms during your second or third trimester, call your doctor straight away.
How to Avoid Shoulder Pain During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, you won't be able to avoid most aches and discomfort. Shoulder pain is a common side effect of pregnancy.
However, significant complications such as preeclampsia may be avoided with your support. Consult your doctor about the best strategies to keep your blood pressure under control throughout pregnancy.
The following are some suggestions for keeping your blood pressure in check when pregnant:
- drinking plenty of water every day.
- reducing salt in your diet.
- adding more protein to your diet.
- putting your feet up when you can.
- avoiding standing for too long.
- getting light exercise everyday.
- avoiding fast food.
- avoiding fried food.
The bottom line
It's fairly uncommon to experience shoulder pain when pregnant, and it can occur for a variety of reasons.
A few uncommon reasons of shoulder pain can be dangerous. An ectopic pregnancy in the first trimester and preeclampsia in the second or third trimester are two examples.
If you have sudden, unusual, or severe pain, contact your healthcare practitioner straight once. Any symptoms that don't feel "normal" should be reported to your doctor. Even when you're pregnant, you know your body better than anybody else!
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