Round Ligament Pain Relief

Today we are going to talk about one of the major irritants and complaints of pregnancy . . . . round ligament pain. Round ligament pain can range from uncomfortable to down-right painful. Generally, the pain is referred to as a brief, sharp, stabbing pain or a long lasting dull pain centered in the abdomen. Usually, this condition starts in the second trimester of your pregnancy


Many pregnant women experience round ligament pain initially when suddenly getting up from the bed, from the chair, when rolling over in your bed, whenever you cough, or when you get out of the bath tub. Most times you will experience a short, stabbing feeling (most commonly on the right side) that will quickly resolve, however some woman experience chronic pain.


Why do women get round ligament pain?


The round ligaments attach the front section of the uterus to the groin, and like muscles they can contract and release. However, unlike muscles they function slowly. During pregnancy these ligaments stretch well beyond their "norm". They then become apt to seize up or contract.


If you make any movements like changing the position quickly, coughing or laughing, then the ligaments become stretched, making them to contract very quickly. This can cause you to experience the pain, but the pain only exists for a few seconds. Some women have chronically tight ligaments and will have continual aching and dull pain in the abdomen.

Reducing round ligament pain

Anything that stretches these ligaments slowly and gradually will help alleviate pain. Therefore:

• Daily stretching exercises help a great deal. The most often prescribed exercise is performed by keeping your hands and knees on the floor, lowering the head to the floor and by placing the bottom in the air.

• Apply heat to the area to relieve from the pain. A warm bath will also give you some relief.

• If you know that you are going to sneeze, cough or laugh, slowly bend and flex your hips. This can greatly reduce the pull on these ligaments.

• Lie on the opposite side to alleviate the pain. Lie on your left side with a pillow under your belly for proper support and place another one in between the legs.

• If you are suffering from chronic round ligament pain or are having a them often, visit a chiropractor who can use a variety of ligament release techniques to get you out of pain.

The good news is that as your pregnancy progresses into the 3rd trimester, the pain usually decreases.

*Please note that if the pain exists more than few minutes, or is accompanied by any bleeding, chills, or nausea please t contact your doctor immediately.

For more information about chiropractic visit www.abetterbrain.com