If you’re unable to prevent or ease pain, the pain may stop completely on its own as you move into your third trimester. Talk to your doctor about your concerns.
What Does Round Ligament Pain Feel Like: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
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Round ligament pain is common during the second trimester of pregnancy. It may feel like a strong spasm around the abdomen or hips. Exercises, home remedies, and over-the-counter medications can help reduce discomfort.
Round ligament pain might catch you off guard, but it’s considered a normal occurrence. There’s no reason for alarm.
Round ligaments are a pair of ligaments in your pelvis that hold your uterus in place. Some women don’t have problems with their round ligaments until they become pregnant. As the belly size increases during pregnancy, round ligaments stretch in response to the growth.
Nonpregnant women have thick and short round ligaments. But pregnancy can cause these ligaments to become long and taut. Round ligaments normally contract and loosen slowly. Pregnancy puts extra pressure and strain on your ligaments, so they can become tense, like an overextended rubber band.
Sudden, rapid movements can cause your ligaments to tighten too quickly and pull on nerve fibers. This action triggers sharp pain and discomfort.
If it’s your first pregnancy, you may fear that this pain is due to a bigger problem. Your concerns are understandable, but recognizing the symptoms of round ligament pain can ease your worries.
The most recognizable symptom of round ligament pain is an intense, sudden spasm in your abdomen or hip area. The pain usually occurs on the right side. Some pregnant women experience round ligament pain on both sides.
The good news is that round ligament pain is temporary. It usually stops after a few seconds or minutes, but the pain can be intermittent and return. Certain activities and movements can cause pain.
While your doctor may recommend light exercise during pregnancy, it’s important to note that some forms of physical activity can trigger or worsen your pain. Other triggers for round ligament pain include:
- coughing or sneezing
- laughing
- turning over in your bed
- standing up too fast
- other sudden movements
You’re more likely to experience discomfort during physical activity because movement causes stretching of the ligaments. But you can make adjustments to ease your discomfort once you identify activities that cause you pain. For example, if you’re prone to round ligament pain while rolling over in bed, turning over at a slower pace may alleviate or reduce pain.
There are no specific tests to diagnose round ligament pain. If this is your first pregnancy and you’re unfamiliar with this type of pain, make a doctor’s appointment to discuss your symptoms if you’re concerned.
In most cases, your doctor can diagnose round ligament pain based on a description of your symptoms. They may conduct a physical examination to ensure the pain isn’t caused by another problem.
Even if you know what round ligament pain feels like, it’s important to notify your doctor if your round ligament pain doesn’t resolve itself after a couple of minutes, or if you have severe pain accompanied by other symptoms. These include:
- fever
- chills
- pain with bleeding
- pain with urination
- difficulty walking
Round ligament pain occurs in the lower abdomen, so you may think that any pain you feel in this region is due to stretching ligaments. But this isn’t always the case. You could have a more serious condition requiring a doctor’s attention.
Severe stomach pain during pregnancy might occur for a number of reasons, including placental abruption. Other illnesses that can cause lower stomach pain include appendicitis, a hernia, and problems with your liver or kidneys.
In the case of severe pain, your doctor may need to rule out preterm labor. Preterm labor can feel like round ligament pain. But unlike round ligament pain which stops after a couple of minutes, preterm labor pain continues.
Round ligament pain is common during pregnancy, but there’s plenty you can do to reduce discomfort. Making adjustments to avoid sudden movements is one way to reduce pain.
Your doctor may recommend other treatments, including:
- stretching exercises
- prenatal yoga
- over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen
- resting
- bending and flexing your hips while sneezing, coughing, or laughing
- a heating pad
- a warm bath
Wearing a maternity belt may also remedy round ligament pain. These abdominal support garments are worn underneath your clothes. The belts help support your bump and can relieve the pain and pressure that results from a growing stomach.
Not only can a maternity belt provide relief for round ligament pain, it also helps relieve:
- lower back pain
- sciatica pain
- hip pain
A maternity belt can provide extra support if you’re pregnant with multiples.
Round ligament pain is a common symptom and there’s little you can do to prevent it from occurring. But once you start experiencing pain, you can take steps to ease discomfort. It’s important to understand your individual triggers.
If you’re unable to prevent or ease pain, the pain may stop completely on its own as you move into your third trimester. Talk to your doctor about your concerns.
Last medically reviewed on September 22, 2016
Round Ligament Pain
Round ligament pain is a common, normal pregnancy symptom. These pregnancy cramps usually occur in the second trimester, as the uterus and surrounding ligaments stretch. Rest and yoga exercises may help, and you may want to avoid sudden movements. Seek medical attention right away if you have abdominal pain plus other symptoms.
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Overview
What is round ligament pain?
Round ligament pain is an uncomfortable sensation in the abdomen, near the hips or into the groin area. It’s a “growing pain” that’s common and normal during pregnancy.
What are the round ligaments?
The round ligaments are like two cords or ropes on each side of the uterus (womb). Each one is about 10 to 12 centimeters long.
The ligaments connect the uterus to the pelvis and hold the uterus in place.
What does round ligament pain feel like?
Round ligament pain usually occurs during the second trimester of pregnancy (weeks 14 through 27). But it can appear earlier or later in pregnancy.
Women often describe round ligament pain as:
- Aches.
- Cramps.
- Sharp, stabbing or pulling sensation.
The pain may occur on one side of the body or both sides. It usually lasts only a few seconds, but it can last hours. It often happens repeatedly during the second trimester.
Round ligament pain may worsen when you move suddenly (for example, standing or sitting quickly, sneezing, coughing or laughing).
Possible Causes
What causes round ligament pain?
A woman’s body makes hormones during pregnancy to make ligaments loose and stretchy. This helps the body adjust to the growing baby. As a baby grows in the womb, it stretches the uterus and the round ligaments. This stretching can cause spasms in the round ligaments, leading to the pain.
Round ligament pain occurs almost exclusively in pregnancy. But rarely, round ligament pain may occur in women who are not pregnant. This could be a sign of endometriosis, when the uterine lining grows outside the uterus.
Care and Treatment
How can I treat round ligament pain?
If you experience frequent round ligament pain, try:
- Elastic belly band to support your baby bump.
- Rest.
- Acetaminophen (which is generally safe during pregnancy, but ask your healthcare provider to be sure).
How can I prevent round ligament pain?
It’s not always possible to prevent round ligament pain. But you may be able to reduce the sudden movements that sometimes cause the pain:
- Avoid lifting heavy things and standing for long periods of time during pregnancy. This will help lessen the stress on the uterus and round ligaments.
- If you think you’re about to laugh, sneeze or cough, try leaning forward first. Try placing your hands under your baby bump for support.
- Stretch your hips gently every day. Ask your doctor if yoga for pregnant women is right for you.
- Take your time changing positions. Try to avoid standing, sitting or rolling over suddenly.
- Try bending and flexing the hips throughout the day. Or try this floor stretch daily: Put your hands and knees on the floor. Lower your head toward the floor. Keep your butt in the air.
Talk to your healthcare provider about exercise during pregnancy.
Does round ligament pain affect my baby?
Round ligament pain is not dangerous for you or your baby. It’s not a sign of a problem or a symptom of a disease or complication.
Do these pregnancy cramps go away?
After pregnancy, hormone levels drop, and the uterus and surrounding ligaments return to pre-pregnancy size. So round ligament pain goes away after pregnancy.
When to Call the Doctor
When should I call my doctor for round ligament pain?
Abdominal pain can be a symptom of other conditions, whether you’re pregnant or not. Seek medical attention right away if you have abdominal pain and other symptoms, such as:
- Bleeding.
- Contractions, which could mean the baby is coming.
- Chills.
- Fever.
- Lightheadedness.
- Nausea or vomiting not related to morning sickness.
- Pain or pressure in the lower back, another sign of labor.
- Severe pain that doesn’t go away.
- Trouble walking.
- Vaginal discharge (any substance leaking from the vagina).
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Round ligament pain is common and normal during pregnancy. As the uterus and surrounding ligaments stretch to make room for baby, it can cause short, painful spasms. Rest and other home remedies may help. But call your healthcare provider if you have pain that won’t go away or pain and other symptoms.
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