Aa
pain on the left side of abdomen
im almost 17 weeks pregnant and have my next appt. with my OB on thursday i am suddenly feeling a heavy sharp pain on my left side that raidiates into my back...im havting to lay very still becuz moving aggrivates it very much. i have felt little sharp pains here and there so at first i didnt worry but its becoming quite painful and im a little freaked out? anyone have experience with this....im not jumping to call the doc only becuz this is my first pregnancy and i want to make sure that it isnt just something simple like stretching first....can stretching hurt this much and be one sided? id say its about a 7 on the pain scale when i move around and about a 5/6 if i lay very still.
thank you so much for the info, i really appreciate it. it seems that rest has helped tremendously as the pain is almost totally gone. i had one other bout of a pain kind of like this in my first trimester...i think it might just be from my uterus stretching. i havent really grown much thus far in my pregnancy so im thinking it might just be that time to start really popping out now...but it friggin hurt and scared me!! so if i feel it again i will deffinitly call but for now i will just rest and bring it up to my doc on thursday. not sure if it was round ligament pain or not since it lasted about 45 minutes....but thanks again that really helped!
Im glad that its getting better for you...
I found this article on round ligament pain for you if it helps at all, it includes what it is, when you should call your Dr. and what you might be able to do to make yourself more comfortable. In my experience round ligament pain although it can take your breath away is pretty brief, so please, if you don't feel better soon and your still concerned call. And like I said, don't ever feel bad about calling, you wouldn't believe how often most of us call our docs! (((HUGS)))
What is round ligament pain?
Round ligament pain generally refers to a brief, sharp, stabbing pain or a longer-lasting dull ache that pregnant women commonly feel in the lower abdomen or groin, starting in the second trimester.
You may feel round ligament pain as a short jabbing sensation if you suddenly change position, such as when you're getting out of bed or out of a chair or when you cough, roll over in bed, or get out of the bathtub. You may feel it as a dull ache after a particularly active day — when you've been walking a lot or doing some other physical activity.
The round ligaments surround your uterus in your pelvis. As your uterus grows during pregnancy, the ligaments stretch and thicken to accommodate and support it. These changes can occasionally cause pain on one or both sides of your abdomen.
You may feel the pain starting from deep inside your groin, moving upward and outward on either side to the top of your hips. The pain is internal, but if you were to trace it on your skin, it would follow the bikini line on a very high-cut bathing suit.
When should I call my doctor or midwife?
The sharp, jabbing type of round ligament pain shouldn't last longer than the few seconds in which you're changing position or getting up. Don't hesitate to call your caregiver any time abdominal aches or pains continue after a short rest or are accompanied by:
• Severe pain or cramping, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt)
• Low back pain, especially if you didn't previously have back pain, or an increase in pressure in the pelvic area (a feeling that your baby is pushing down)
• Bleeding, spotting, or a change in the type or amount of vaginal discharge
• Fever, chills, faintness, or nausea and vomiting
• Pain or burning when you urinate
What can I do to relieve the discomfort?
If you've been reassured by your practitioner that what you're feeling is round ligament pain, sit down and try to relax when the pain strikes. Resting comfortably should alleviate your symptoms.
You can also try flexing your knees toward your abdomen to get some relief or lying on your side with a pillow under your belly for support and another one between your legs. A warm bath may help, too.
If you find that you're more prone to round ligament pain when you're particularly active, cut back to see if that helps. Then, if you feel fine, you can gradually increase your activity until you find the level of exertion that's comfortable for you.
I found this article on round ligament pain for you if it helps at all, it includes what it is, when you should call your Dr. and what you might be able to do to make yourself more comfortable. In my experience round ligament pain although it can take your breath away is pretty brief, so please, if you don't feel better soon and your still concerned call. And like I said, don't ever feel bad about calling, you wouldn't believe how often most of us call our docs! (((HUGS)))
What is round ligament pain?
Round ligament pain generally refers to a brief, sharp, stabbing pain or a longer-lasting dull ache that pregnant women commonly feel in the lower abdomen or groin, starting in the second trimester.
You may feel round ligament pain as a short jabbing sensation if you suddenly change position, such as when you're getting out of bed or out of a chair or when you cough, roll over in bed, or get out of the bathtub. You may feel it as a dull ache after a particularly active day — when you've been walking a lot or doing some other physical activity.
The round ligaments surround your uterus in your pelvis. As your uterus grows during pregnancy, the ligaments stretch and thicken to accommodate and support it. These changes can occasionally cause pain on one or both sides of your abdomen.
You may feel the pain starting from deep inside your groin, moving upward and outward on either side to the top of your hips. The pain is internal, but if you were to trace it on your skin, it would follow the bikini line on a very high-cut bathing suit.
When should I call my doctor or midwife?
The sharp, jabbing type of round ligament pain shouldn't last longer than the few seconds in which you're changing position or getting up. Don't hesitate to call your caregiver any time abdominal aches or pains continue after a short rest or are accompanied by:
• Severe pain or cramping, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt)
• Low back pain, especially if you didn't previously have back pain, or an increase in pressure in the pelvic area (a feeling that your baby is pushing down)
• Bleeding, spotting, or a change in the type or amount of vaginal discharge
• Fever, chills, faintness, or nausea and vomiting
• Pain or burning when you urinate
What can I do to relieve the discomfort?
If you've been reassured by your practitioner that what you're feeling is round ligament pain, sit down and try to relax when the pain strikes. Resting comfortably should alleviate your symptoms.
You can also try flexing your knees toward your abdomen to get some relief or lying on your side with a pillow under your belly for support and another one between your legs. A warm bath may help, too.
If you find that you're more prone to round ligament pain when you're particularly active, cut back to see if that helps. Then, if you feel fine, you can gradually increase your activity until you find the level of exertion that's comfortable for you.
thanks, its been about an hour but it seems like the stiller i lay the better it gets...im hoping it will just go away but if it doesnt i will put in a call!
This could be SO many things... ligament pain (stretching) kidney stones, etc... I would definitely put a call into the Dr. if I were you, especially if the pain is that bad and pretty constant. That is after all what they are there for and what they get paid big bucks for. Worst case scenerio they have you go in to get checked out, best case they can reassure you that its not a big deal over the phone. Besides, you would feel a lot worse if you should have called and didn't. Please keep us updated! and I hope you feel better soon!
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