Symptom guide · Women's Health
Severe Abdominal Pain in Pregnancy
What severe abdominal pain in pregnancy can point to, how urgent it is, and who assesses it in the UAE.
Also known as severe tummy pain in pregnancy
Contact your maternity unit now
Severe abdominal pain in pregnancy in pregnancy needs urgent assessment. Maternity units expect these calls at any hour and would rather see you and find nothing wrong.
Go now if any of these apply
- Bleeding from the vagina at any stage of pregnancy
- Severe or constant abdominal pain, or pain with shoulder-tip pain
- Reduced or absent fetal movements compared with your normal pattern
- A severe headache, visual disturbance, or sudden swelling of the face and hands
- Fever, or fluid leaking from the vagina before term
Call your maternity unit or obstetrician now and go in to be assessed. If you cannot reach them, call 998.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Also known as
- severe tummy pain in pregnancy
- Body region
- Abdomen
- Care area
- Women's Health
- Conditions linked
- 5
Possible causes
Conditions that can cause severe abdominal pain in pregnancy
Listed alphabetically. This list is not ranked by likelihood.
- Ectopic PregnancyCommon among people with ectopic pregnancy.
- HELLP SyndromeCommon among people with HELLP syndrome.
- Placental AbruptionCommon among people with placental abruption.
- Pre-eclampsiaCommon among people with pre-eclampsia.
- Preterm LabourCommon among people with preterm labour.
These figures describe how often each condition causes this symptom — not how likely it is that this symptom is caused by that condition. Most symptoms have a common, harmless explanation.
Treatment by cause
How the causes of severe abdominal pain in pregnancy are treated
Treatment follows the diagnosis, not the symptom. Each row is a linked condition and a treatment used for it.
| If the cause is | Treatment used | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Ectopic Pregnancy | Transvaginal Ultrasound | First line |
| Placental Abruption | Caesarean Section | First line |
| Preterm Labour | Antenatal Steroid Injection | First line |
| Pre-eclampsia | Antenatal Care Package | First line |
| HELLP Syndrome | Caesarean Section | First line |
| Ectopic Pregnancy | Salpingectomy | Second line |
| Preterm Labour | Cervical Cerclage | Second line |
| Pre-eclampsia | Induction of Labour | Second line |
| Pre-eclampsia | Caesarean Section | Second line |
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Radiology & Imaging in Dubai
Where severe abdominal pain in pregnancy is assessed depends on what is causing it. These are licensed radiology & imaging listed in Dubai.
First Gulf Real Estate Building, Amman Street, AL NAHDA FIRST, Dubai
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +28 more
LEADER, 3 Street 99, DUBAI INVESTMENT PARK FIRST, Dubai
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +29 more
villa, Al Wasl Road, JUMEIRAH FIRST, Dubai
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +16 more
Aletihad Diagnostic Center, Alwasl Road, AL SAFFA SECOND, Dubai
Accepts: AXA, Cigna, MetLife, Allianz Care +17 more
Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.
A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.
Related symptoms
Other abdomen symptoms
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Who assesses this in the UAE
These are the specialties that treat the conditions linked to this symptom. Every listed doctor holds a UAE licence.
Questions people ask
Can severe abdominal pain in pregnancy be a sign of ectopic pregnancy?
Yes. Severe abdominal pain in pregnancy: common among people with ectopic pregnancy. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can severe abdominal pain in pregnancy be a sign of placental abruption?
Yes. Severe abdominal pain in pregnancy: common among people with placental abruption. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can severe abdominal pain in pregnancy be a sign of preterm labour?
Yes. Severe abdominal pain in pregnancy: common among people with preterm labour. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can severe abdominal pain in pregnancy be a sign of pre-eclampsia?
Yes. Severe abdominal pain in pregnancy: common among people with pre-eclampsia. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Keep reading
More about severe abdominal pain in pregnancy
- Can severe abdominal pain in pregnancy be a sign of ectopic pregnancy?
- Can severe abdominal pain in pregnancy be a sign of placental abruption?
- Can severe abdominal pain in pregnancy be a sign of preterm labour?
- Can severe abdominal pain in pregnancy be a sign of pre-eclampsia?
- Can severe abdominal pain in pregnancy be a sign of HELLP syndrome?
Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.