By Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M. September 10, 2014
So many changes occur in your body during pregnancy that it can be hard to keep up with all of them. Some changes are amazing, some are mildly irritating and others are downright painful. Round ligament pain can be one of those painful changes.
Women have a pair of ligaments in the pelvis — called round ligaments — that hold the uterus in place. As the uterus grows during pregnancy, these ligaments stretch to accommodate that growth. Before pregnancy, the uterus is about the size and shape of a pear and the round ligaments are thick and short. By delivery, it can feel like the uterus is as big as a beach ball and as heavy as a bowling ball. Like overstretched rubber bands, the round ligaments become long and taut.
Round ligaments can pull on nerve fibers and other structures in the pelvis. This causes sharp pain, which is short-lived and feels like a muscle spasm. (I remember almost going to my knees in a grocery store when a spasm hit.) Some women experience lingering soreness. The pain can occur on either side — though it's more common on the right side — and radiate into the groin. You might experience round ligament pain when you're turning over in bed, getting in and out of the car, exercising or simply getting up from a chair.
To continue reading please click here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-blog/round-ligament-pain/bgp-20111536
So many changes occur in your body during pregnancy that it can be hard to keep up with all of them. Some changes are amazing, some are mildly irritating and others are downright painful. Round ligament pain can be one of those painful changes.
Women have a pair of ligaments in the pelvis — called round ligaments — that hold the uterus in place. As the uterus grows during pregnancy, these ligaments stretch to accommodate that growth. Before pregnancy, the uterus is about the size and shape of a pear and the round ligaments are thick and short. By delivery, it can feel like the uterus is as big as a beach ball and as heavy as a bowling ball. Like overstretched rubber bands, the round ligaments become long and taut.
Round ligaments can pull on nerve fibers and other structures in the pelvis. This causes sharp pain, which is short-lived and feels like a muscle spasm. (I remember almost going to my knees in a grocery store when a spasm hit.) Some women experience lingering soreness. The pain can occur on either side — though it's more common on the right side — and radiate into the groin. You might experience round ligament pain when you're turning over in bed, getting in and out of the car, exercising or simply getting up from a chair.
To continue reading please click here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-blog/round-ligament-pain/bgp-20111536
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