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Yes. While you’re pregnant, it’s quite normal for your lower tummy to hurt. It's likely to be caused by ligaments straining as your baby grows (Aquilera 2018, Murray and Hassall 2014). Ligaments are tough tissues that connect your bones and tissues. Some ligaments support your organs so that they stay in the right place. The round ligaments hold your womb (uterus) in place. You have two round ligaments. They stretch from the top of your womb down the front of your belly, through to the inside of your pelvis.At the start of pregnancy, the round ligaments are short and thick. Pregnancy hormones make your ligaments more flexible as your baby grows (Aguilera 2018, Murray and Hassall 2014). When your round ligaments are under strain, they can stretch and tense, like an elastic band (Aguilera 2018, Murray and Hassall 2014).
If you suddenly change position, it may cause these ligaments to tense quickly, resulting in a jabbing sensation or a sharp, stabbing pain (Aguilera 2018, Murray and Hassall 2014). It can sometimes feel like painful cramps, but they are different from the cramping sensations of contractions.
Round ligament pain can start in the first trimester, even before your bump starts to show (Bastian and Brown 2018, Kilpatrick 2018). It may continue into your second and third trimesters, but is more likely to ease off as your pregnancy progresses (Aguilera 2018).
It's more common to feel round ligament pain on the right-hand side rather than the left (Bastian and Brown 2018, Kilpatrick 2018, Murray and Hassall 2014). This is because, as your womb expands and lifts up out of your pelvis, it rotates slightly to the right. As a result, the right-hand ligament comes under more strain (Aguilera 2018, Murray and Hassall 2014).
Sudden movements, such as getting up from a bed or chair, coughing, sneezing, or getting out of the bath may trigger the pain (Aguilera 2018, Bastian and Brown 2018). It may help to brace yourself first if you're about to move, or feel a cough or a sneeze coming on.If you roll over suddenly in your sleep, round ligament pain may wake you up (Aguilera 2018, Bastian and Brown 2018). You may also ache when you exercise (Aguilera 2018).
The kinds of aches caused by your round ligaments straining and stretching are normal (Bastian and Brown 2018, Kilpatrick 2018). Changing your position may help to ease the pain (Bastian and Brown 2018). However, if you have an aching belly as well as any of the following symptoms, call your doctor or midwife:- pain or burning when you wee
- spotting or bleeding
- fever and chills
- fluid leaking from your vagina
- vomiting
- a feeling of faintness (Aguilera 2018, Kilpatrick 2018)
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Round ligament pain is part of a normal change to your body, so there may not be a way to prevent it or to make it go away during pregnancy. You could try the following:- Moving slowly and smoothly from a sitting or lying position. Getting up slowly gives your muscles and ligaments time to adapt and support you before you change position (Aguilera 2014).
- Using a hot water bottle or wheat bag to warm the area that hurts (Aguilera 2018).
- Lying on the opposite side to the side that hurts (Aguilera 2018).
- Relaxing in a warm bath (Aguilera 2018).
Your midwife or a physiotherapist may have some other suggestions. For example, some women find standing up and tilting or tucking their pelvis back and forth brings relief. Aching in your lower belly can sometimes be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (NICE 2015). You may also have a fever and feel unwell, or find it painful to wee. See your doctor or midwife if you’re not sure. She will be able to test your urine for signs of infection.
If you feel pain on or around your pubic bone at the front, you may be suffering from symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) (Kilpatrick 2018). SPD is a condition to do with particular ligaments in your pelvis. If you think that this may be a problem, talk to your doctor or midwife, or ask to be referred to a physiotherapist.
There are other, more unusual causes of abdominal pain, which may be unrelated to your pregnancy, such as appendicitis (Aguilera 2018, Bastian and Brown 2018, Kilpatrick 2018).
Your doctor or midwife will check for other causes of abdominal pain before diagnosing round ligament pain (Bastian and Brown 2018). For more information, see our article on abdominal pain in pregnancy.
Aguilera P. 2018. Pregnancy, round ligament pain. www.emedicinehealth.com [Accessed August 2019]
Bastian AB, Brown HL. 2018. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy. UpToDate 17 Dec
Kilpatrick CC. 2018. Approach to acute abdominal pain in pregnant and postpartum women. UpToDate 26 Jan
Murray I, Hassall J. 2014. Change and adaptation in pregnancy. In: Marshall JE, Raynor MD. eds. Myles Textbook for Midwives. 16th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 143-77
NICE. 2015. Urinary tract infection (lower) – women. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Clinical knowledge summaries. cks.nice.org.uk [Accessed August 2019]
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Most people describe round ligament pain as sharp, triggered by movement, and located deep within one or both sides of the lower abdomen or groin.
Round ligament pain is a common pregnancy symptom, affecting between 10 and 30 percent of pregnant women. It can be uncomfortable but is harmless. Many women begin to experience it in the second trimester.
In this article, learn more about what round ligament pain feels like and how to get relief.
Share on PinterestRound ligament pain occurs mostly in pregnant women.
Round ligament pain is one of the most common pregnancy discomforts.
The round ligaments are two ropelike cords of connective tissues that support the uterus on each side.
These ligaments connect the uterus to the groin and pubic region. As the uterus grows during pregnancy, the round ligaments can stretch.
When a pregnant woman moves, it can cause the round ligaments to spasm painfully.
Round ligament pain is considered rare in women who are not pregnant, but may occur in those with endometriosis.
Round ligament pain feels like a deep, sharp, stabbing or stretching sensation that begins or worsens with movement. Some triggering movements may include rolling over in bed or taking a step.
The pain may travel upward or downward, from the hips into the groin.
Pregnant women usually experience round ligament pain on the right side of the lower abdomen or pelvis. However, some experience it on their left side or both sides.
When a person is not pregnant, the round ligaments that support the uterus are shorter and firm but flexible.
During pregnancy, these ligaments lengthen, thicken, and stretch, much like a rubber band.
In people who are not pregnant, the ligaments stretch and contract slowly. During pregnancy, they are under so much tension that they may stretch and contract rapidly, causing a ligament to spasm or pull on nerve endings.
Certain movements commonly trigger round ligament pain in pregnant women, such as:
- walking
- rolling over in bed
- standing up quickly
- coughing
- sneezing
- laughing
- other sudden movements
Most of the time, round ligament pain goes away on its own. However, people can take some steps to prevent it.
To avoid triggering round ligament pain, try:
- resting on one side, with the knees bent and pillows between the legs and under the belly
- changing positions slowly
- soaking in a warm (not hot) bath
- applying a heating pad
- wearing a maternity support belt
- taking acetaminophen
- practicing prenatal yoga
Some people find that changing their daily routine to include more rest and fewer sudden movements helps alleviate round ligament pain.
If a person experiences this pain frequently, they can speak to a doctor, who may recommend stretches and gentle exercises to help relieve discomfort.
Round ligament pain should resolve completely after childbirth.
Share on PinterestAnyone experiencing severe or long-lasting abdominal pain should speak to a doctor.
Most of the time, a person will not need to see a doctor for round ligament pain.
However, sometimes pain in the lower abdomen and groin during pregnancy requires a doctor’s attention.
Pregnant women should speak to a doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms:
- sharp lower abdominal pain that lasts for more than a few seconds or does not go away after changing positions
- premature uterine contractions
- pain or burning during urination
- pain accompanied by cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- bleeding or spotting
- an increase or any other change in vaginal discharge
- fever or chills
- nausea and vomiting with abdominal pain
- an increase in pelvic pressure
- difficulty walking
These symptoms can indicate that the pelvic pain is unrelated to the round ligaments.
Other issues that can cause pain in the area include:
During pregnancy, round ligament pain is a common complaint that often begins in the second trimester.
Most of the time, the pain is sharp, short-lived, and located in the side of the lower abdomen or groin. Round ligament pain generally resolves on its own or after resting.
A person can take steps to reduce round ligament pain, including moving slowly, resting, and wearing a support band.
If severe pain in the lower abdomen does not resolve on its own or with rest, it is best to speak to a doctor.