round ligament pain (?) « Back to Group Discussions

[JNajla]

For you experienced mamas-  when did your round ligament pain start?  Does it just abruptly start- light flipping on a light switch?  I started having right lower abdominal pain about 5 am this morning.  I got up to use the bathroom and it hurt so bad that I could hardly sit on/ get off of the toilet.  It started like a sharp stabbing pain.  It felt ok when I laid back down.  It's been hurting all day- feels ok when I'm sitting, but as soon as I reposition myself, go from standing to sitting or sitting to standing it hurts.  It is way more painful than menstrual cramps.  It hurts if I sneeze and even when walking sometimes.  I had to cut my workout short because I couldn't stand the pain.  Is this normal?  I called my ob and they told me not to worry, it's probably round ligament pain.  But what I didn't know, is that does round ligament pain turn on like a switch at 18 weeks and then not stop??  This sucks....  I hope it goes away.  I did take 500 mg of Tylenol and have a heating pad on my tummy now with minimal relief.  Any ideas/ advice?

[Tenk]

I've had bouts of random sharp pain that lasts for several hours some times.  It's probably growing and round ligament pain at the same time.  In my past experience RLP is sudden and sharp and then goes away and sometimes I have that now when repositioning, going from sitting to standing, coughing, sneezing etc but this pain that I have sometimes is in my sides and is sharp and really hurts.  The only possible thing I can think of is growing.  It definitely doesn't make me feel like something is wrong though.    If you feel like there's something wrong and your care provider isn't being as caring as you need then let them know.
 

[BabySmurf]

Originally Posted by Tenk 

I've had bouts of random sharp pain that lasts for several hours some times.  It's probably growing and round ligament pain at the same time.  In my past experience RLP is sudden and sharp and then goes away and sometimes I have that now when repositioning, going from sitting to standing, coughing, sneezing etc but this pain that I have sometimes is in my sides and is sharp and really hurts.  The only possible thing I can think of is growing.  It definitely doesn't make me feel like something is wrong though.    If you feel like there's something wrong and your care provider isn't being as caring as you need then let them know.
 

  I tend to get very sharp pains if I stand up too fast from sitting and sometimes from moving wrong. 

[veggieviola]

I've been feeling this too, since about 15 weeks (at 17 tomorrow).  Also, I've been having major SI joint pain.  Not fun!

[LittleBlackBug]

I had round ligament pain throughout my last pregnancy any time we would walk. I would have to just take things slow and easy and I managed to do alright.

[JNajla]

Ok, I feel better after doing some reading and from your responses. I just worry all of the time, wondering if little bean is ok, etc. I still can't feel movement/ kicking so I don't have that reassurance yet. I used a heating pad this morning and did some stretching and light yoga and that has helped a bit- pain isn't as intense as it was yesterday.

[BumkinsMum]

This is where I would recommend getting a pregnancy support belt of some sort. I've used one called Prenatal Cradle through all 5 pregnancies and I usually start wearing it around 16 weeks. (When the growth really starts picking up) It helps immensely with eliminating any kind of pulled muscles and round-ligament pain.  If I go a day without it I notice the next morning cause I'm so sore!    Some say they are only for mama's carrying multiples but hey every little bean grows and we have to accommodate, sometimes rather quickly from the looks of your picture JNajla. Awesome bump!
 

Oh and I have NEVER had RLP continuously from 18 wks on. That just seems absurd It's different for every mama and for me very little since I wear my handy-dandy mama suspenders

[Tenk]

I second the support belt.  One was recommended for me with pregnancy #4 because my SPD pain was SO bad.
 

[JNajla]

I'm not having pain like I was on Friday, although I feel it when I get in/out of my car or after walking a lot. I woke up this morning feeling better, BUT noticed brown spotting, and now I'm worrying like crazy wondering if the pain and spotting are connected? The spotting was faint, and I noticed it when wiping (no bleeding yesterday). It's obviously old blood, but not sure from when. I wish I had a doppler....

[Sweet Huck]

Hey JNajla, you might want to call your provider. Sex can cause spotting, but it could be placenta previa, a cervical change or something else that you'd want to know more about so you can know how to best take care of yourself. I know it's difficult to track someone on a Sunday afternoon, but at least speaking with a nurse on call might give you more information and make you feel more at ease.

I think it's a good sign that you're no longer experiencing the pain and that there is no frank bleeding.

Will be thinking about you. Keep us posted.

[BumkinsMum]

I'd check it out too, just to make sure everything is a-ok.  Hope you're feeling better soon.
 

[JNajla]

I wish I had gotten a doppler- if I knew that little bean was ok, I would stop worrying (I still haven't felt any kind of movement yet, unfortunately).  I called the clinic and am going in the morning for a check.  There isn't anything else I can do today, but just take it easy and try not to obsess about it!  I hope this isn't 'too much info', but might help to explain symptoms, but DH and I 'did the deed' Saturday and I didn't have bleeding after that (it wasn't anything out of the ordinary or lengthy, etc).   We 'did the deed' again this morning (again, nothing different, nothing 'rough' or lengthy) and that is when I noticed the brown discharge.  I haven't seen any pink or red blood and I haven't noticed it since.  All the reading that I've done says that bleeding after intercourse can be normal in the first trimester, but not in the second trimester.  I haven't had any bleeding of any kind for over 10 weeks or more, so that is why it was so concerning.  I'm probably going to worry myself sick by tomorrow..... 

[Tenk]

I'm glad you got the appointment and I'm sure you'll hear good news, mama!!  And it's not too late to get a doppler.  $50 on ebay, there's a shipper in Chicago, it came in 2 days.  I think previa can cause the pain too and if you have previa sex would be a no no because of it.

Also, if you have a subchorionic hematoma and there's old blood behind the placenta it can come out at random times too and be brown.  I would also say that spotting can be common at any stage of pregnancy, mama.

Just keep us posted with what they tell ya
 

[JNajla]

The triage nurse called me back this morning and said that bleeding after intercourse is normal and I'm likely having round ligament pain/ uterine stretching- and to take Tylenol and an appt isn't necessary. I really feel like I was blown off. The triage nurse last night felt like an appt today would be appropriate. So, I guess I have to just sit here and wait/ wonder. My gender ultrasound is next Monday. I don't have enough $ to order a doppler right now, so
that's not an option.

[Tenk]

Originally Posted by JNajla 

The triage nurse called me back this morning and said that bleeding after intercourse is normal and I'm likely having round ligament pain/ uterine stretching- and to take Tylenol and an appt isn't necessary. I really feel like I was blown off. The triage nurse last night felt like an appt today would be appropriate. So, I guess I have to just sit here and wait/ wonder. My gender ultrasound is next Monday. I don't have enough $ to order a doppler right now, so
that's not an option.

And are you happy with your clinic??  I would personally call back and TELL them you want an appointment to make sure baby is ok ... YOU are paying them for your care and if YOU don't advocate for yourself no one else will mama.  If you feel you need to go in, you have to tell them you *WANT* an appt to confirm things are ok with sweet baby.  Good luck mama!!

[FarmerMomma]

Oh bummer. That's not nice hearing worry no don't worry from different nurses.

[JNajla]

I just sent a MyChart message to my OB and NP (although the triage nurses read it first).  I'll see how they respond.  I haven't had any bleeding since yesterday morning, and the pain has subsided some.  I'm guessing that my 'bedrest' yesterday and drinking tons of fluid has helped.  I'm still feeling a cramping/ achey/ sore feeling in my uterus area, and then the same pain on the right side when I get up/ off of the toilet.  Thankfully I have the day off of work today so I'm able to monitor how things are going (or obsess)....  I'll let you know what OB/ NP says.  Thanks for your thoughts/ advice, I really appreciate it. 

[womenswisdom]

Assuming you are dealing with round ligament pain, chiropractic and/or massage therapy can many times completely eliminate the issue. You might want to try one or both of those.

[Tenk]

Originally Posted by JNajla 

I just sent a MyChart message to my OB and NP (although the triage nurses read it first).  I'll see how they respond.  I haven't had any bleeding since yesterday morning, and the pain has subsided some.  I'm guessing that my 'bedrest' yesterday and drinking tons of fluid has helped.  I'm still feeling a cramping/ achey/ sore feeling in my uterus area, and then the same pain on the right side when I get up/ off of the toilet.  Thankfully I have the day off of work today so I'm able to monitor how things are going (or obsess)....  I'll let you know what OB/ NP says.  Thanks for your thoughts/ advice, I really appreciate it. 

Did you hear back from them yesterday??  If not then I think this warrants another call and/or showing up at their office and tell them to check the baby ... then *I* would consider moving to another provider ... but this is just me, take it with a grain of salt if you'd like.

I hope you're well, JNajla!!!

[JNajla]

I logged back into MyChart this morning and no replies.  I don't see where I sent a message in the first place, so I'm not sure if it is a technical issue or if I didn't do something correctly??  So, I'm going to send another one.  I talked to my husband about it yesterday and asked if he would buy me a doppler and he isn't comfortable with it, thinks that it will hurt the baby.  Now I'm starting to wonder if I'm being that over-reactive crazy mama.  But then I have to think that I've had zero concerns or worries during my pregnancy, and then I had reason to worry this weekend when I start getting sharp pains and cramps out of nowhere.  I haven't had the sharp pains on the right side since yesterday, but I still continue to have this sore/ achey/ full pain feeling over my uterus area and I can't find much information about whether that is normal.  I think that it is strange that I would have sharp stabbing round ligament pain for 2 days and then have it abruptly disappear.  My concern was appendix or pre-term labor, but.....  I guess that I'm supposed to just take Tylenol and not worry!  lol