Round Ligament Pain During Pregnancy

During your pregnancy period, everyone gets scared of a growing waistline as great changes occur to women’s bodies due to their pregnancy. However, many women are a bit taken aback by the other physical changes that occur. Pregnancy brings you stretch marks, weight gain, heartburn, and other discomforts. It is always great to find out what you can do to improve your mood and make it positive and happy. It is common for you to have aches and pains in your body. You may start to experience them all over your body, like your back, abdomen, groin area, and thigh- as your uterus swells. Due to the pressure of the baby’s head, it is increasing weight, and loosened joints, many women have backaches and soreness near the pelvic bone.

During your second trimester, round ligament pain/ discomfort is a frequent pregnancy symptom. It happens to almost everybody and quite recently too. Although some of those discomforts may catch you off by surprise, it is a common occurrence. At most times there is no need to be too much concerned.

The round ligaments in your pelvis are a pair of ligaments that keep your uterus in place. Some women’s round ligaments are fine until they become pregnant. As the size of their belly grows larger during their pregnancy, round ligaments tend to flex in order to accommodate the expansion.

Usually, non-pregnant women’s round ligaments are thick and short. However, during pregnancy, these ligaments might become lengthy and taut. Normally, round ligaments contract and loosen in a gentle manner. Pregnancy tends to put additional strain and pressure on your ligaments, causing them to stiffen up like an overextended rubber band.

Your ligaments may tighten too quickly and also strain your nerves if you make sudden, rapid motions. This action causes too much pain and discomfort. Round ligament discomfort and its sharp ache or jabbing sensation usually occur on one or both sides of the lower belly or groin area. As it is one of the most frequent pregnancy concerns and as it occurs to mostly all expecting women, it is considered a normal part of the process.

You may want to know more about this pain that occurs during your pregnancy. Here is all you need to know about round ligament discomfort, including a few helpful tips.

What Causes Round Ligament Pain?

You may be wondering what exactly causes you this pain. As your womb (uterus) expands during pregnancy, several thick ligaments start to encircle and support it. The round ligament is one of these.

The round ligament connects the entrance of your womb to your groin, which is where your legs are connected to your pelvis. Normally, the round ligament contracts and releases slowly. The round ligament stretches as your baby and womb Keep growing. It is more prone to become strained because of this. Sudden motions, such as snapping a rubber band, might cause the ligament to tighten quickly. This results in a sharp jabbing sensation.

Here are a few symptoms of round ligament pain:

The severity of this pain varies from person to person. It is different for everybody. If this is your first pregnancy, you may be concerned that the discomfort is due to something more serious. It is okay for you to be concerned as it is quite natural. But you have to keep in mind that understanding the signs and symptoms of round ligament pain might only help to alleviate them.

A severe or abrupt spasm in your belly or hip area is the most identifiable symptom of round ligament discomfort. This discomfort is commonly felt on the right side of the body. Some pregnant women suffer pain on both sides of their round ligaments.

Now the good news is that round ligament pain will only usually last a short time. The discomfort normally goes away within a few seconds or minutes, but it might come back at any time. Pain might also be caused by certain activities and movements.

While your doctors may advise mild exercise during pregnancy, it is crucial to remember that certain types of physical activity might cause or increase the pain.

Round ligament pain can also be caused by:

Coughing or sneezing, laughing, turning over in bed, or standing up too quickly. These are all examples of a few abrupt movements. As movement causes your ligaments to stretch, you are more likely to feel pain while doing physical exercise. However, after you have identified the activities that are giving you pain, you can make changes to alleviate your discomfort. If you are prone to round ligament pain while rolling over in your bed, for example, turning over at a slower rate may help to ease or reduce the pain.

How can you find out if you have round ligament pain?

There are not any precise tests that can be used to determine whether or not you have round ligament pain. If you are worried about your symptoms and this is your first pregnancy, make sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor to address them.

A description of your symptoms is usually enough for your doctor to diagnose round ligament discomfort. They might also perform a physical exam to be sure that the discomfort is not caused by anything else.

Even if you know how round ligament discomfort feels, it is crucial to call your doctor if the pain does not go away after a few minutes or if you have severe pain that is accompanied by other symptoms. These are some of them: Fever, chills, pain with urination, and difficulty to walkabout. As round ligament discomfort occurs in the lower abdomen, you may believe that any pain you get in this area is due to ligament straining. This is not always the case, though. You could be suffering from a more serious ailment that necessitates medical treatment.

Several factors might cause severe stomach pain during pregnancy, including placental abruption. Appendicitis, a hernia, and liver or kidney disorders are among the conditions that can cause lower stomach pain.

Your doctor may need to rule out preterm labor if you are in a lot of pain. Round ligament pain might be a symptom of preterm labor. Preterm labor pain, on the other hand, does not go away after a few minutes, unlike round ligament pain.

How to treat Round Ligament Pain:

Here are a few tips that may help reduce your discomfort:

• Taking pain relief medication can be of great help- Take over-the-counter acetaminophen for pain, if necessary. Before taking any pain relief ask your doctor.

• Exercising can only be of help here- Get plenty of exercise to keep your stomach (core) muscles strong. Doing stretching exercises or prenatal yoga can be helpful. Ask your doctor which exercises are safe for you and your baby. A helpful exercise involves putting your hands and knees on the floor, lowering your head, and pushing your backside into the air.

• Try to avoid making any unexpected or abrupt movements- To avoid sudden movements that can cause discomfort and soreness, change positions slowly (such as standing up or sitting down).

• Make sure your hips are getting flexed- To avoid tugging on the ligaments, bend and flex your hips before coughing, sneezing, or laughing.

• Warm up the area where there is pain- It may be beneficial to use a heating pad or take a warm bath. Check with your doctor to see if this is safe. Extreme heat might be hazardous to a baby’s health

You should strive to reduce your daily activity level and stay away from positions that can aggravate your disease.

Want to know what steps you need to take next?

Round ligament pain is a common symptom, and it is not much you can do to avoid it. However, if you begin to feel some kind of pain, you can take efforts to reduce it. It is critical to be aware of your own personal triggers. If you are unable to avoid or relieve the pain you are experiencing, it may go away completely once you enter your third trimester. Discuss all of your concerns with your doctor.

When you should call or visit your doctor:

Any form of pain you have all throughout pregnancy should always be reported to your doctor. The discomfort in the round ligaments is brief and it does not stay that long.

If you have any of the following symptoms, make sure to call your doctor right away:

• Extreme discomfort
• A throbbing discomfort that lasts longer than a few minute
• Fever
• Chills
• Urinary discomfort
• Walking difficulties

Belly pain during pregnancy can be caused by a variety of factors. So instead of thinking it’s simple. It is critical that your doctor rule out any more dangerous disorders, such as pregnancy difficulties like placenta abruption or non-pregnancy illnesses including a hernia in the inguinal canal, appendicitis, problems with the stomach, liver, and kidneys, etc. Round ligament pain can occasionally be confused for preterm labor pain.