Round Ligament Pain
It was a year ago this week that I had my first bout of round ligament pain. Yes, I said first round as I would learn later that this was going to happen again later in my pregnancy.
What round ligament pain is -
Round ligament pain is a common discomfort experienced by many pregnant individuals, caused by the stretching and strain of the ligaments that support the uterus as it grows. This sharp or stabbing pain typically occurs on one or both sides of the lower abdomen and can be triggered by sudden movements, changes in position, or physical activity. Understanding this kind of pain can help expectant mothers manage it better and distinguish it from other potential concerns.
This definition makes it sound like it’s a common well known thing. Perhaps my circumstances were differnt than those around me. But NONE of the women I know who have had babies have expereienced this. That list is well over a dozen women. It felt like no one knew what I was going through and how bad the pain was. I do remember one doctor I had the pleasure of meeting during my 20 week anatomy scan who said his wife had the same thing. He’s the one who also informed me that it was likely to come back at week 35. So let’s get into it. How it started and what I did to cope.
Round Ligaments Diagram
Diagram of round ligaments, how the attach from the pubic bone to the Uterus. They naturally stretch as the baby grows.
How it started -
This all began when I contracted COVID-19 for the first time during my pregnancy. I'm told that it was pretty bad strain of the virus. It began with a cough that gradually developed into sinus drainage, leaving my nose completely congested. I ended up having chills and headaches. This was especially challenging during pregnancy because the options for safe medications were very limited.
I was just beginning to recover when a sudden series of coughs triggered sharp, stabbing pains in my abdomen. I felt a pop and I was worried something bad had happened to the baby. My mind spiraled in every direction. That should be an article all of it’s own (the obtrusive thoughts you have while pregnant). Thankfully I had my husband to help calm me.
The sensations seemed to get worse. It was as if the muscles that were supporting the baby down low in my belly were contracting and tightening to the extreme. This is my first baby so I didn't know what contractions would feel like. I was extremely scared that I was in labor. I was only at 20 weeks. At this point the pain would stop and then if I breathed or moved wrong it would immediately come back and it felt like my entire abdomen would seize up.
I ended up going to the ER because I had no idea what was happening. I was scared the baby was in trouble. They immediately hooked me up to monitors and determine that the baby was fine and they had no idea what was wrong with me. This was over night. So by about 2:00 a.m. My husband and I were tired and nobody had any answers for us so we went home. At this point was feeling a little bit better. It was calming to know that the baby was alright. But the next morning I woke up and the pain was back. At this point in my life, this was the worst pain I'd ever experienced the kind of pain or you can't stand up. If you can imagine your entire abdomen seizing up. Looking back on it now having given birth, its similar to labor but nobody seemed to understand or believe the pain that I was in.
Until finally, a Google search revealed what it might be. Round ligament pain.
The Solution-
So my amazing husband took the time to do lots of thorough research and discovered several stretches and sleeping positions that might actually help alleviate the discomfort. Within the span of just one week, I was finally beginning to feel significantly better. This was when I learned that by week 35, the chances of the pain returning were significantly high. Knowing this helpful information, I continued to do the stretches regularly. For more guidance and a clear demonstration, be sure to check out this video by Lauren Fitter. I practiced them at least once a day, often more frequently. Having that foundation, along with some breathing techniques, was truly the key to getting through the second round. That said, I was still essentially bedridden and needed to take time off from work to recover.
I will briefly discuss the breathing technique here and explore it in greater detail in a future article. My approach involved a counted breath method—inhale for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 6—combined with visualization to calm my body and consciously relax my muscles. This technique required consistent practice, but it provided valuable preparation for labor.
I hope this message reaches someone facing the same struggle I did. You are not alone. The pain you’re feeling is real, but please remember—it does fade, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.
