What should you know about right sided flank pain during pregnancy?

As pregnancy progresses, changes in posture, ligaments, joints, and muscle load can cause pain at the side or back. Urinary conditions remain possible: a Urinary Tract Infection may cause burning or frequent urination, while a Kidney Infection may present with flank pain, fever, chills, nausea, or feeling unwell. Kidney Stones can cause severe, cramping pain and urinary changes. Flank pain can also occur with abdominal or pelvic problems, so the exact site and associated symptoms matter.

Contact your maternity team, GP, or obstetric clinician for advice about new, ongoing, or moderate pain. Rest, change position carefully, avoid heavy lifting, and drink normally unless your maternity team has advised otherwise. Do not start antibiotics or take an over-the-counter pain medicine without checking that it is suitable in pregnancy. Record the pain pattern, temperature, urinary symptoms, bleeding, contractions, and fetal movement when relevant to your stage of pregnancy.

Seek urgent maternity or medical assessment for severe or worsening pain, fever or chills, repeated vomiting, painful urination with flank pain, blood in the urine, vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, regular contractions, fainting, or reduced fetal movement when you would normally feel movement. Do not wait for pain to become unbearable if you feel generally unwell.

Ask whether you need a urine test, examination, or imaging that is appropriate for pregnancy. Ask which pain-relief options are suitable, how to monitor symptoms at home, and which maternity warning signs require immediate contact.