Lower abdomen pain/pulling

[DaisyMae08]

I'm just over 30 weeks now and for the last couple of days have been having this pain in my lower abdomen when I walk. It feels like a pulling/pressure sort of pain. It isn't excruciating, but it does make me walk funny. It's not so bad standing still and it's non-existent when I'm sitting. Anybody know what this is? Is it something I should be worried about?

[StrongBeliever]

First baby? I'd say baby may have "dropped" and your lower tummy muscles and ligaments are feeling it. If this is #more I'd say that it's probably just fatigue. I'm on baby #3 and I feel LOTS of lower belly twinges, pulls, and pains. I am carrying this one super low in comparison to my other pregnancies, and I think that is why.

[Simonsez2u]

I had the something similar happen to me oh about a two months ago. I thought it was from my c-section scar. It was a pulling/ache low, low and I only felt it when I stood up. It made me walk funny too. My doc told me it was just ligament stretching as I grow, he pressed around my groin and sure enough it hurt. Not saying that it is the same thing in your case but the symptoms sound similar.

[DaisyMae08]

Strongbeliever, it is my first baby. So, of course, everything feels new and weird. Maybe he has dropped. Is it too early for that?

I don't see my doctor for another two weeks, so was trying to figure out if this is something I should call about or not.

[StrongBeliever]

I don't think it's too early, it happens differently with everyone. It can be hard to judge with that first baby, too... With my first, DS, I carried him pretty high anyway. I felt like he had dropped around 6 weeks before he was born, but you couldn't really tell by looking at me. I didn't really believe it, but the women in my family assured me that's why it felt so different. I think your muscles and ligaments are tighter with the first and even when they do engage, you're holding them 'in' more firmly, so it doesn't show much.

I am scared to see what the baby dropping looks/feels like this time around, as he is already hung so low!

Congrats on your first baby and all those first pregnancy confusing/weird/new feelings!

[EllisH]

For me pain in the lower abdomen, esp. with walking, was a (symptomatic) UTI. Do you need to pee much more frequently and then small amounts?

[DaisyMae08]

Actually, I have been peeing more frequently. That's a good thought. Thank you.

[CherryBomb]

Have you ever had any abdominal surgery? I had similar pain in my last 2 pregnancies from adhesions/scar tissue.

[DaisyMae08]

No abdominal surgery and this is my first baby too, so first resident in my uterus.

It got so bad yesterday that when I got home from work and the grocery store all I could do was lay down and cry. It's a bit better than that today, but I'm being much more careful about what I do.

[myk]

i've had that when a ligament stretches. it was worse in 2nd trimester but it's certainly happening now too. definitely watch for signs of a UTI, and see a doctor if it continues. it's probably nothing, or stretching of muscles/ligaments/etc but if it is something, you want it taken care of asap

[EllisH]

Originally Posted by DaisyMae08

Actually, I have been peeing more frequently. That's a good thought. Thank you.

DaisyMae, I do recommend you have your urine checked out as soon as possible. A UTI is much more serious during pregnancy, as it can cause a kidney infection and / or early labour if left untreated; treatment consists of antibiotics that have been proven to be safe. I am having the second one treated in a month The symptoms can indeed be very unsettling and immobilizing. (But don't worry: if you get it treated in time, there's no harm to the baby / pregnancy!)

[DaisyMae08]

Thanks ladies. I'll call first thing Monday morning. I've had UTIs before, but I've always had terrible burning when I urinate and sometimes blood in the urine too. I don't have that now, so I hadn't even thought about a UTI. I'm going much more frequently and sometimes in very small amounts. Sometimes I think I'm done and then I have to go back in to the bathroom 30 seconds later, so it sounds like it's definitely worth it to get checked out.

[EllisH]

Good to hear you're getting it checked out! I got tricked by the absence of burning when urinating as well (had that in the past, but not now). The 30-seconds phenomenon (enough to drive anyone crazy) strongly suggests it is indeed a UTI. In the meantime, keep drinking a lot of water + some glasses of pure cranberry juice a day and take it easy (I had a lot of BHs as well and found that rest made me feel much better than standing up / walking which causes a lot of pressure on the bladder).

Take care!

[emily11megan]

When you're peeing, lift your belly and lean right, then left. Sometimes that can empty out that little bit that sends you right back in there.
StrongBeliever: After your 1st baby, the following ones often don't "drop" until labor kicks in, so don't worry too much about sagging to the floor for weeks

[StrongBeliever]

Originally Posted by emily11megan

StrongBeliever: After your 1st baby, the following ones often don't "drop" until labor kicks in, so don't worry too much about sagging to the floor for weeks

*haha* I would hope not! I think for the last two weeks or so of my second pregnancy I was hung quite low, though I don't think it was dropping, per se. This one has been low slung all along, so yeah... I'm really hoping it doesn't get any lower!

[DaisyMae08]

Just wanted to report back that I did have a UTI and feel MUCH better after a course of antibiotics.  Thanks ladies!

[myk]

glad you're feeling better!

[EllisH]

Very good to hear you're feeling better! And keep up the drinking liquids (2-3 liters / day, my doctor said) to prevent a recurrence (as happened to me).

[thebigfam]

well now you ladies make me think that maybe I have a UTI.  I have never had one ever but I am feeling some pain when I walk.  although I do sometimes feel it when I am sitting too.  I don't want to go to the doctor! 

[SumnerRain]

I am wondering if I do too, I am now taking cranberry along with my, femdophilus, and grapefruit seed extract and really trying to increase my liquids.  I notice some days are better than others which make me think it is the pregnancy, not a UTI because when I picked up my daughter fast today, the pain has been a LOT worse than normal.  UGH, I so do not want to go to the doctor before the 30th, it is so far away now.  :(