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Round Ligament Pains

This is a brief, sharp, stabbing pain or a dull ache that you feel in your lower abdomen or groin. (around where a high cut bikini line would be)

This pain usually starts in the second trimester and most women won't experience it until around 20 weeks if at all. Some women get it earlier 15-18 weeks, and some later.

The round ligaments support your uterus in your pelvis, and as your uterus grows and moves up and out of the pelvis, the ligaments start stretching.

The type of pain felt can vary. You can get a jabbing, severe pain when you suddenly change positions when getting out of bed or off a chair, or you can get a dull ache in your belly when doing a lot of walking or physical activity.

If you are getting sharp stabbing pains and have just got out of bed in the morning, try going to the toilet and relaxing until you can empty your bladder. This usually eases up on the severity of the pains and the spasm attack will stop eventually.

Rest also helps after you've been experiencing those pains.

If pains are accompanied by bleeding, fever, chills, cramping or any other strange symptoms, you may want to consider getting it checked out.

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Round Ligament Stretching Exercise 1

Place your hands and knees on the floor, lower your head to the floor, and stick your bum in the air. Rotate your pelvis gently in circles anticlockwise, clockwise and in figures of eight.

Round Ligament Stretching Exercise 2

DO NOT DO THIS EXERCISE AFTER 34 WEEKS. If the baby is breech or in a posterior position it will hold the baby in this less than favourable positions and it is less likely to turn. Otherwise it's quite safe to do, unless of course you feel dizzy or nauseous. Take care in getting into this position so you don't pull any muscles.

You need a boulster or perhaps some blankets rolled into a sausage, as it's better to have something firm to lie back over. You lie the boulster or roll the blankets lengthways behind you, with your bottom touching the end of the boulster.

The boulster has a pillow across the other end. Then you lie back, preferably with legs crossed, or soles of feet touching...and relax! It should feel like a mini back-bend, thus stretching the soas muscles and also the round ligaments that are being stretched by the uterus coming out of the pelvis.

You can stay in this position for as long as you want - read a book, watch tv, do some positive visualisations/affirmations or listen to some relaxing music.

Other Resources

Pelvic tilt exercise useful for pains
Exercise photos here


 

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