Gallbladder pain is common in pregnancy. Since women are more prone to gallbladder problems than men, it stands to reason the condition may occur during pregnancy. In addition, the increased hormone levels of pregnancy put women at greater risk of developing gallstones.
In fact, problems with the gallbladder are second only to appendicitis for surgery during pregnancy. Surgery is generally only done if the pain is so severe the woman can’t cope in her daily life. In other cases, the surgery is scheduled for after the baby has been born.
Gallbladder attacks are painful. The pain is generally located in the upper abdomen and can last for several hours at a time. Pain may also be felt between the shoulder blades and under the shoulders. Other symptoms include indigestion, bloating, nausea and vomiting.
Many women find the foods they eat can bring on an attack. Fatty foods are often the culprit. In general, attacks are more common at night. The intensity of the attacks tends to increase over time since the gall bladder becomes inflamed from the gallstones.
If you have the symptoms of gall stones, talk to your health care provider. The gallstones are easily detected with ultrasound. Some women are actually diagnosed with gallstones during their routine ultrasounds. Many of these women have had no symptoms and had no idea they had gallstones.
Once the problem is diagnosed, your doctor will discuss treatment options. The severity of the symptoms will determine the treatment. Surgery is the only treatment for severe gallbladder pain. This is generally done after the birth. Some women find the pain eases or even disappears after the baby is born.