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Many women will experience a type of pain referred to as “round ligament pain”
during their pregnancy. This is associated with abdominal pain or discomfort.
Since any type of abdominal pain during pregnancy can be disconcerting, it is
important to talk about round ligament pain to relieve any anxiety or fears you
may have regarding the symptoms you are feeling. Round ligament pain is due to
normal changes that take place in the body during pregnancy. It is caused by
stretching of the round ligaments attached to the uterus. More commonly it
occurs on the right side of the pelvis.
Round Ligament: An Overview
Typically in the non-pregnant state the uterus is about the size of an apple or
pear. There are thick ligaments which hold the uterus in place in the abdomen,
referred to as round ligaments.
During pregnancy, your uterus will expand in size and weight, and the ligaments
supporting it will have to stretch, becoming longer and thinner. As these
ligaments pull and tug they may irritate nearby nerve fibers, which causes pain.
The severity of the pain in some cases can seem extreme.
Some common symptoms of round ligament pain include:
Ligament spasms or contractions/cramps that trigger a sharp pain
typically on the right side of the abdomen.
Pain upon waking or suddenly rolling over in your sleep.
Pain in the abdomen that is sharp brought on by exercise or other
vigorous activity.
Similar Problems Round ligament pain is often mistaken for other medical conditions because the
symptoms are similar. Acute abdominal pain during pregnancy may also be a sign
of other conditions including:
Appendicitis - when the appendix become inflamed you may have
appendicitis. This condition is most often characterized by nausea,
vomiting, fever and worsening pain. You may also have little appetite.
Typically this pain is felt higher in the abdomen then the pain associated
with the round ligament.
Ovarian Cysts - The ovaries sometimes contain cysts that may be painful.
At other times an ovary may twist, causing severe abdominal pain.
Abdominal cramps - Some abdominal pain is simply caused by change in
bowel habits associated with pregnancy.
You should always seek out medical care if your pain is accompanied by fever,
chills, pain upon urination or if you have difficulty walking. Further exams and
tests will be conducted to ensure that you do not have a more serious condition.
It is not uncommon for women with lower abdominal pain to have a urinary tract
infection, thus you may also be asked for a urine sample.
Treatment
If all other conditions are ruled out you can treat your round ligament pain
relatively easily. You may be advised to take some acetaminophen (Tylenol) to
reduce the severity of any persistent pain and asked to reduce your activity
level. You can apply a heating pad to the area of pain or take a warm
bath. Lying on the opposite side of the pain may help as well.
Most women will find relief from round ligament pain simply by altering their
daily routines slightly. The good news is round ligament pain will disappear
completely once you have given birth to your child!
