Right subcostal pain in pregnancy

Quite often pregnant women complain of pain in the area under the right rib. Such symptoms intensify as the gestation period increases. Usually, pain in the right hypochondrium during pregnancy is a sign of the development of biliary dyskinesia.

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Causes right subcostal pain in pregnancy

Pregnant women most often experience hypomotor dyskinesia (when the motor activity of the biliary tract decreases). Such a disorder occurs due to a change in hormonal levels. In the second half of the term, the pregnant woman's body begins to produce progesterone in large quantities - it is necessary to relax the uterus and thereby eliminate the possibility of premature birth or miscarriage. But at the same time as the uterus, other organs with smooth muscles also relax (including the gallbladder). Hypomotor dysfunction occurs due to poor emptying of this organ, as a result of which it stretches, causing pain.

Dyskinesia can also develop due to mechanical reasons: under the pressure of the growing uterus, the gallbladder begins to contract, which is why the process of normal bile secretion is disrupted.

Also, the following diseases and conditions can be the causes of pain in the right hypochondrium during pregnancy:

• acute or chronic cholecystitis,
• cholelithiasis,
• biliary or hepatic colic,
• cholangitis,
• hepatitis of various etiologies,
• dietary errors.

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Epidemiology

Bile duct dysfunction develops in 3% of pregnant women.

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Symptoms

In case of hypomotor dysfunction, the main symptom is a dull pain in the right hypochondrium. Pregnant women often note the appearance of belching, a bitter taste in the mouth, flatulence, nausea, and, in addition, a deterioration in appetite.

Stabbing pain in the right hypochondrium during pregnancy

The appearance of stabbing pain in the area under the right rib may indicate the development of cholecystitis (an inflammatory process in the gallbladder).

Diagnostics right subcostal pain in pregnancy

To make a diagnosis in this case, you need to see a gynecologist and gastroenterologist. The disease is preliminarily diagnosed based on the patient's complaints.

You may need to submit urine and blood for laboratory tests.

When conducting diagnostics, an ultrasound of the gallbladder is performed. The procedure is carried out by measuring the size of this organ before taking a choleretic breakfast (for this, you need to eat raw yolks of 2 eggs), and then after it. On this basis, the doctor diagnoses the type of dysfunction of the gallbladder, and also determines the nature of the disorder of motor activity.

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Differential diagnosis

During the diagnostic process, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of developing gallstone disease, as well as exacerbation of the chronic form of cholecystitis.

Treatment right subcostal pain in pregnancy

The most important thing when developing biliary dyskinesia during pregnancy is to relieve the patient of pain and eliminate the symptoms of the disease. In most cases, a full treatment process is possible only after childbirth, since most drugs are prohibited during pregnancy.

It is necessary to create a proper diet - it is necessary to eat food in small portions, at least 5-6 times a day. It should include food that helps the gallbladder to contract - these are fish or weak meat broths, sour cream and cream, as well as soft-boiled eggs, various soups, oil (sunflower and butter), and in addition to this, rosehip broth. It will also be useful to eat protein omelette, cod and cottage cheese (because they contain many substances that help prevent the risk of fatty liver), as well as food containing a lot of plant fiber and magnesium salts (these are products such as buckwheat, cabbage, bran, as well as apples and cabbage).

Medicines

In some cases, Hofitol can be prescribed in a dose of 2 tablets three times a day before meals for 1.5-2 months.

But it is not always possible to drink it during pregnancy - among the contraindications to taking the medicine during this period are: blockage of the bile ducts, liver failure, and intolerance to the elements of the drug. With prolonged use of Hofitol, side effects such as diarrhea and allergies may develop.

In the second half of the term, you should also carefully monitor the amount of liquid consumed. If swelling occurs, you need to drink flamin (immortelle flowers in dry concentration) in a dosage of 1-2 tablets three times a day half an hour before meals. Instead of this remedy, you can also use holosas (this is a syrup made from rose hips) in a dosage of 1 teaspoon 2-3 times a day.

Folk remedies

To remove bile stagnation, you can use the tubage method (you must first consult with a doctor). To make this medicine, you need to use one of the following ingredients:

• sunflower (olive or corn) oil (30-40 ml);
• Carlsbad salt (1 teaspoon of salt per 1 glass of water);
• xylitol or sorbitol (1 tablespoon of the substance per 1 glass of water);
• if there is no swelling – warm mineral water (volume 500 ml).

The tubage procedure is performed as follows: in the morning, you need to drink any of the above remedies on an empty stomach, then lie down on your right side in bed for 1.5-2 hours. You don’t need to put a heating pad. The medicine may have a laxative effect – this is normal.

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Herbal treatment

Choleretic drugs made from medicinal herbs are usually prescribed in the form of herbal teas or choleretic infusions.

The choleretic collection mainly consists of grass/leaves of cut grass (2-3 parts), flowers of sandy immortelle (4 parts), and also fruits of coriander (2 parts). The medicine is prepared as follows - take 1 tablespoon of the collection and pour 2 cups of boiling water. After this, leave for 20-30 minutes, and then strain. Take 0.5 cups three times a day half an hour before meals.

Choleretic tea contains rose hips, corn silk, and common tansy. You should drink 0.5 cups of the substance 2-3 times a day between meals.

Complications and consequences

Dysfunction of the bile ducts in the early stages of pregnancy can provoke severe and prolonged toxicosis. As a result of this pathology, the pregnant woman's appetite sharply worsens, which can lead to severe weight loss. This period can last throughout the first trimester, reaching 16+ weeks. Often in such cases, hospital treatment is required in inpatient settings.

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Forecast

Pain in the right hypochondrium during pregnancy usually has a favorable prognosis, since dysfunction of the bile ducts does not interfere with the course of pregnancy and does not have a negative effect on the child. The disease does not interfere with natural childbirth, and after them, the motor activity of the bile ducts is usually restored after 1 month. If after this period the manifestations of the disease have not disappeared, you need to consult a doctor.

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