Round Ligament Pain: A Common Complaint During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a joyous time. Unfortunately, this joyous time is often marked by complications and side effects. Some women have relatively easy pregnancies marked by few or little complaints. However, some women experience many "joys" of pregnancy. These can include everything from morning sickness to breast tenderness. Round ligament pain is another common complaint during pregnancy. A large percentage of pregnant women experience round ligament at some point during their pregnancy. The pain varies from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy. So what exactly is round ligament pain?

Round ligament pain is a type of abdominal pain caused by the normal stretching of round ligaments during pregnancy. The round ligament is a thick ligament that surrounds the uterus. Its main function is to hold the uterus in place. Before pregnancy, the uterus is normally about the size of a pear. During pregnancy, however, the uterus becomes significantly larger. As the uterus increases in size during pregnancy, the round ligament must also grow. This causes it to become long and thin. It also causes the ligament to become quite tense. Because of this, the round ligament often pulls on nearby nerves, thus causing pain. Basically any movement, especially a quick movement, that stretches the round ligament can cause pain. Imagine a rubber band sitting on a table. Now, imagine picking it up and stretching it as tight as possible. The rubber band becomes quite tense compared to its resting state. This is similar to the changes that happen with the round ligament during pregnancy. All of the changes contribute to abdominal pain.

Round ligament pain varies in severity from woman to woman and it also varies with each pregnancy. It usually begins in the second trimester. The pain is usually felt in the lower abdomen or pelvic area. There are basically two types of round ligament pain: brief, sharp pain and a dull ache that lasts longer. The brief, sharp pain most often occurs following sudden movement. Most commonly, it is felt when you roll over in bed. Other times you may feel this type of round ligament pain is when you cough, change positions, sneeze, or laugh. This type of pain should subside within seconds or minutes. The dull ache most often occurs following physical activity. For example, you may feel the pain after you went shopping or after you went for a walk. The dull ache can not only be felt in the abdominal area, but it is often felt in the lower back as well. This type of round ligament pain can last significantly longer than the brief, sharp pain. However, it should subside within a few hours.

Anytime you are experiencing abdominal pain during pregnancy you should discuss it with your health care provider to rule out any serious conditions or complications. If your doctor believes you are experiencing round ligament pain, don't worry. Round ligament pain is not harmful in any way. There are several steps you can take to help alleviate the pain and/or prevent it. These include:

- Rest when you notice the pain. More specifically, lay on your left side and put a pillow between your legs.

-Take a warm bath.

- Figure out what activities bring on the pain and try to avoid them.

- If you are experiencing lower back pain, try a heating pad. However, do not place the heating pad on the abdomen. This can harm the fetus.

- Take some acetaminophen (Tylenol).

- If you feel that you are getting ready to sneeze, cough, etc., slightly bend forward at the hips. This helps to reduce the tension put on the round ligament.

- Daily stretching may help. Ask you health care provider for more information.

If you experience pain that does not subside, continues to get worse, a change in pain, or any time you are worried, don't hesitate to call your doctor.

Sources

BabyCenter

eMedicineHealth