Chest Pain During Pregnancy

Pain during pregnancy is a common complaint that women present with all through the course of nine months. Of all the types of pain that women complain of during pregnancy, back pain and chest pain are some of the most common ones. There can be many causes of chest pain in pregnancy. Sometimes, it could be an infection of the lungs, whereas at other times, it could be muscle pain.

Causes and Treatment

The first question in every expectant woman's mind is "Is it normal to have chest pain during pregnancy?" To a certain extant, it is normal to have chest pain during the course of pregnancy. This is especially true in the initial stages of pregnancy. This is because, during the first and second trimester, the baby keeps growing in size, and so this may put pressure on the stomach and the diaphragm, which could lead to shortness of breath and chest pain. However, this kind of chest pain is not very serious and does not lead to a lot of discomfort.

Indigestion
At times, there can be gas that can get trapped under the ribs. This can lead to, albeit transient, but sharp chest pain during pregnancy. This kind of indigestion can also lead to upper abdominal bloating, which may be relatively difficult to diagnose. However, this is a transient condition and normally resolves on its own in a couple of hours and is rarely a persistent problem to deal with. However, the best option for dealing with such a condition is to prevent the occurrence of gas by avoiding foods that cause gas.

Anemia
Anemia is one of the most common causes of chest pain during the course of pregnancy, especially amongst women who are very weak and pregnant women in developing countries. Of all the types of anemia, iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia seen in pregnant women. This leads to shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue, weakness, etc. This condition can easily be diagnosed with the help of checking the hemoglobin levels of the woman and by checking visible symptoms like pallor in the fingernails and the lower eyelid. In the end, it is best to consume vegetables high in iron and if need be, iron supplements, as prescribed by the doctor.

Calcium Deficiency
Pregnancy is a time when there is high demand on the body for nutritional requirements. This is the reason that there is increased requirement of calcium in the body. However, if there is any kind of calcium deficiency, then it could lead to not only abnormal development of the fetus, as the bones will be very weak, but even the mother is adversely affected. One of the symptoms of calcium deficiency is muscle cramping, which could occur with the pectoralis, that is the chest muscle, leading to breast pain. This could lead to chest pain. To prevent the occurrence of this condition, it is best to have calcium enriched foods or calcium supplements, depending on what is prescribed by the doctor.

Other Causes
Other causes of chest pain during the course of pregnancy include asthma, stress, radiating stomach pain, lung infections, etc. In such cases, it is best to consult a doctor immediately, so that the appropriate course of treatment can be planned accordingly.

Although chest pain is rarely very severe during pregnancy, it is best to get it shown to a doctor, as it could be a warning symptom of a serious disease or disorder.