17 weeks - stomach ache

[purplepeaches12]

The past couple nights at bedtime or right before i've been getting a dull ache in my stomach. Its not limited to a certain area, just my whole stomach pretty much. No sharp pains, just a presistant dull ache. The other night I had to put a heating pad (on low) on it because it was fairly uncomfortable and I wasn't able to sleep without it. Im just wondering if this is normal or what it would be? Or if anyone has any suggestions on how to get rid of it? It makes me a little nervous to have a heating pad on my belly. Oh and I was 17 weeks on Tuesday, if that makes a difference.

[mom2ariana]

i'm not sure what exactly it would be other than pregnancy aches and pains...your gonna get a lot of weird ones. as long as you dont have any of the warning signs you know like severe cramping, bleeding, fever, etc.. then its okay. i agree with nickie, i think its just your uterus stretching out. maybe its got something to do with the position your laying it. but the heating pad is probably okay, but if it were me i wouldn't use it again. i only just now even started letting myself take warm baths..ive been very careful not to let my body get hot. so just be careful. :)

[purplepeaches12]

Yeah I wasn't too comfortable having it on my belly but I was told if it was on low and for short intervals (my heating pad only stays on for 15 minutes and then shuts off) then it was alright. But I had a feeling it some stretching or something going on in there haha (at least I was hoping it was something normal like that). Do you have any idea why it would only happen at night time, right around when I go to bed? And do you know anything better I can do to help it so I am able to fall asleep better?

[nickieb85]

You shouldn't put a heating pad on your belly at any time during pregnancy, but if it was on low and was only for a short period of time you should be ok. The ache that you are referring to is probably you uterus stretching. Your baby is big enough to move their little legs and stretch out and it can definitely cause your uterus to have that sore feeling. It will happen for a while until your little one gets big enough to not move around as much =0 Hope you feel better!