Dolor en el cuadrante inferior derecho durante el embarazo

Even if you are pregnant, you can still have tummy pain caused by all the same conditions seen in non-pregnant women. See our separate leaflet called Dolor en el cuadrante inferior derecho.

The rest of this leaflet looks only at common causes specific to pregnancy. Some examples of rarer causes are provided in Further Reading.

What causes right lower quadrant pain in pregnancy?

Aborto espontáneo

• This is very common in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy (first trimester) - about 1 in 4 recognised pregnancies end in miscarriage.

• It can happen later in pregnancy (second trimester) but this is less common.

• Miscarriage usually causes cramping pain, like period pain, over both sides of the lower tummy.

• It is often accompanied by bleeding, which can range from a small amount of dark blood to larger amounts of bright red blood with clots.

You can find out more in the separate leaflet called Miscarriage and bleeding in early pregnancy.

Estreñimiento

• Constipation is very common in pregnancy.

• It gives you crampy lower tummy (lower abdominal) pains.

• Evacuarás tus intestinos con menos frecuencia de lo habitual y, por lo general, pasarás heces duras y en forma de pellets.

You can read more about this in the separate leaflet called Constipation.

Dolor de ligamentos pélvicos

• Typically this starts at around 14 weeks and goes on into late pregnancy.

• Se debe al crecimiento del útero (matriz) que tira de las estructuras (ligamentos redondos y ligamento ancho) que lo mantienen en su lugar.

• It usually causes a stabbing pain down one or both sides of the tummy (abdomen) and sometimes down into the hips and genital area.

• El dolor puede ser bastante notable.

You can read more about this in the separate leaflet called Common problems in pregnancy.

Infección urinaria

• La infección urinaria es más común durante el embarazo.

• Los síntomas habituales son dolor al orinar y orinar con más frecuencia.

• También puede experimentar dolor de estómago y fiebre (temperatura alta) y notar sangre en la orina.

• If you do get pain, it's usually across the lower tummy but can be on one side if you are developing a infección renal (pielonefritis).

See the separate leaflet called Urine infection in pregnancy.

Embarazo ectópico

• An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that is not in the womb (uterus).

• El dolor a menudo es repentino y puede ser severo, pero puede aparecer en el transcurso de unos días.

• Es posible que hayas perdido tu período, pero aún puedes tener un embarazo ectópico incluso si crees que has tenido un período.

• El sangrado vaginal ocurre a menudo, pero no siempre.

• Ocasionalmente puedes sentir dolor en la punta de tu hombro.

Consulte el folleto separado llamado Embarazo ectópico.

What causes right lower quadrant pain in later pregnancy?

Pelvic girdle pain affects the joint connecting the two bones at the front of your pelvis, called the symphysis pubis. This joint becomes loosened during pregnancy, often as early as 14 weeks into pregnancy. The pain can be severe and is usually felt over the symphysis pubis, but can spread to the RLQ.

Find out more in the separate leaflet called Common problems in pregnancy.

In later pregnancy, RLQ pain can be caused by a placental abruption or by going into labour. Placental abruption happens when there is bleeding between the afterbirth (placenta) and the lining of the womb. Labour is too soon (premature labour) if it happens before 37 weeks.

Consulte los folletos separados llamados Parto prematuro y Dolor pélvico en mujeres para más información.