3 Common Pregnancy Pains

March 17, 2022 3:41 pm Published by

pregnant woman with pain.

Pregnancy pains can be a normal part of the process your body goes through while growing your baby. Severe pain accompanied by fever or bleeding can be a cause for concern, but in general, some aches and pains are common.

If you are experiencing moderate aches and pains during your pregnancy, you may be experiencing one of three very common conditions.

1. Round Ligament Pain

The round ligaments are ropelike ligaments that support the uterus. During pregnancy, they slowly stretch and contract to accommodate the growing fetus. Round ligament pain can occur during the first trimester but is most often reported during the second trimester.

In general, round ligament pain feels like a short, sharp or stabbing pain and shouldn’t last longer than a few seconds. This kind of pregnancy pain is caused by a sudden change in position, like rolling over in bed or getting out of the bathtub, or from coughing or laughing.

Fortunately, there are some ways to reduce and relieve round ligament pain, including:

  • Avoid heavy lifting or standing for long periods of time.
  • Avoid sudden movements.
  • Bend or flex your hips if you know you need to cough, laugh or sneeze.
  • Change positions slowly to let the round ligaments stretch slowly.
  • Do daily stretches that help your hip joints.

If your pain lasts longer than a few minutes, you may need to call your women’s health care provider.

2. Gas and Constipation

Gas and constipation are pregnancy pains attributed to the hormone progesterone. When you’re pregnant, your body releases progesterone to help your uterus grow and prevent contractions that could lead to miscarriage. However, progesterone also helps your intestinal muscles relax, which can cause your digestive system to slow down. When you have slower digestion, it can cause constipation and allow for more time for gas to build up.

To help relieve gas and constipation during pregnancy, you can:

  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Eat a diet high in fiber.
  • Get enough exercise, which can help stimulate your intestines.
  • Try safe over-the-counter medications.

Before trying any medications to ease your pregnancy pains, talk with your healthcare provider to find out what is safe for you.

3. Braxton Hicks Contractions

Braxton Hicks contractions are also known as “false labor” pains and can feel like cramps. They are a normal part of pregnancy and not dangerous to the mother or baby. In general, you can tell Braxton Hicks apart from true contractions because Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular and infrequent.

Some other symptoms include contractions that:

  • Are random and non-rhythmic
  • Eventually become lighter and disappear altogether
  • Feel more uncomfortable than painful

To help ease Braxton Hicks contractions, try changing positions or going for a walk if you’ve been sitting for a long time. You can also take a warm bath or drink water.

Your healthcare provider may order an ultrasound to make sure the contractions aren’t causing any changes in your cervix.

 

If you feel like your pregnancy pains are out of the norm, visit Magnolia Express Care.

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This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center