It is not clear why not all women experience umbilical cord pain during pregnancy, but acute umbilical cord pain is one of the most common complaints during pregnancy in some women that with increasing age, both the probability and severity increase. But what causes this pain? The doctors of our specialized group will continue to answer the above questions.
what you will read next :
Why does umbilical cord pain occur during pregnancy?
The umbilicus is the place where the placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus; as the fetus grows in the mother’s womb and the size of the uterus increases, the pain of the umbilical cord increases. In other words, umbilical cord pain will be more in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy
We will introduce you the causes of acute umbilical cord pain below:
- Uterine pressure:
As the uterus enlarges, it expands around. This expansion causes the umbilicus to stretch and put pressure on the organs adjacent to the uterus. In the second trimester of pregnancy, the uterus comes out of the pelvis and is located between the umbilicus and the breasts. With the delivery and removal of the fetus and the contraction of the uterus, this tension and pressure will be removed from the umbilicus and your pain and discomfort will be relieved.
The pressure and tension on the umbilicus causes pain, discomfort and itching around the umbilicus. With the delivery and removal of the fetus and the contraction of the uterus, this tension and pressure will be removed from the umbilicus and your pain and discomfort will be relieved.
- Stretching:
During pregnancy two things in the following happen
During pregnancy, both the mother’s weight gain and the size of the uterus increase, all of which, along with hormonal changes, stretch the tissues under the skin and the muscles around the umbilicus.
Sometimes the pressure inside the abdomen increases so much that the rectus abdominis muscle (the rectus abdominis muscle that is in the middle of the abdomen and extends from under the breast to the pelvis) develops diastasis and divides into right and left parts. And the increase in the volume of the uterus is more on the umbilicus and the cramps of the uterus are transferred to the umbilicus and cause more pain and itching around the umbilicus. Skin stretching and hormonal changes alone can increase umbilical cord discomfort and itching in early pregnancy.
- Popped belly button:
Increased uterine volume following fetal growth as well as weight gain during pregnancy increases the pressure inside the abdomen. This increase in pressure causes your umbilicus to protrude. This change can cause sharp umbilical cord pain during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters.
- Umbilical hernia:
Increased pressure in the abdomen causes part of your intestines to fit into the space around the umbilicus. Although umbilical hernias usually do not cause problems during pregnancy, there is a risk of the intestines getting stuck in the hernia and becoming inflamed. It will usually cause the doctor to wait until the pregnancy is over if the symptoms are not severe and the mother’s health is not in danger.
If the intestines’ torsion inside the hernia cut off the blood supply to the intestines, there is a possibility of death of the trapped intestines. Surgery in these cases is a little risky for the mother and the fetus, but it will not be very serious.
- Navel piercing:
Removing or installing a navel piercing may cause damage and tearing of the tissue. Damaged tissue is at risk of infection. If less than a year has passed since the piercing was installed and you have had umbilical cord pain early in pregnancy, it is best to consult your doctor.
In the following cases, if you have sharp umbilical cord pain in early pregnancy, you must see a doctor:
- If the umbilicus is inflamed, red and sensitive to touch
- If the umbilicus pain is very severe and sharp
- If sharp umbilicus pain is associated with vaginal bleeding
- If there is a foul-smelling discharge in the inflamed umbilicus
- If umbilicus pain is accompanied by fever and lethargy
We emphasize that sometimes abnormal uterine cramps that lead to pregnancy loss and miscarriage are accompanied by sharp and severe umbilical cord pain, especially in early pregnancy, so if the severity of sharp umbilical cord pain is increasing or if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding, be sure to go to an equipped medical center immediately
Home treatment of acute umbilical cord pain in pregnancy
Most umbilical cord pain in pregnancy is not serious and dangerous; we have mentioned the warning signs above. If your umbilical cord pain does not include warning signs, you can relieve the pain with the following methods:
- Use cold compresses or hot compresses, whichever is more useful for you
- Avoid using hot compresses or too much ice
- Calamine Lotion softens the stretched skin around the navel
- Aleo Vera gel relieves tight and sensitive skin around the navel