The past couple of weeks have been a little rough. Before we get started, last spring I had injured my groin. I was hiking, and did a tougher trail than what I was used to. As a result, I pulled the muscle in my groin. The injury healed over time, and I haven’t had any issues with it. Until now, that is.
Back around the start of my second trimester, I began having some pain in my groin again. It felt the same to me as when I injured my groin last spring, so I assumed that I had simply done something to cause re-injury. Nothing I do makes the pain less, and the pain is not constant. Some days I have no pain, and some days it is some of the worst pain I have ever felt in my life.
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to do some research. When I did, I found out that a lot of women suffer from what is called Round Ligament Pain. RLP is a common pregnancy complaint, and can affect between 10-30% of pregnant women. For me, the pain is worse when I get up or move too quickly. If I move too fast getting up, I get a shot of pain in my groin and lower abdomen. Although I would describe my pain as severe, I would mostly say that this symptom is more annoying than anything.
RLP is caused when ligaments that support the womb grow during pregnancy. The round ligament is the ligament that connects your womb to your groin area, right where your leg attaches to your pelvis. As your baby grows, the ligament stretches causing pain.
On Saturday, B and I were in Kansas City for a sort of honeymoon/babymoon. At home, I have been sleeping in the recliner as that seems to really help with the pain not being so bad. In Kansas City, I slept in the bed. I woke at 4 a.m. with severe pain in my groin, and that pain was constant throughout the day. By the time we got back to the hotel room for the night, I was definitely waddling.
RLP is quite painful, and inconvenient. But there are some reliefs that I have tried that do help with keeping the pain to a minimum.
1- Get up slowly. Sudden movements stretch the ligament and cause a sharp shooting pain. Getting up at a slower pace lets the ligament stretch slowly, and therefore doesn’t cause as much pain.
2- Heating Pad. I have found that using the heating pad does help with the pain management. Remember not to turn it up too high, and not to have the heating pad on your for too long as that is not good for baby. I limit my heating pad usage to 10-15 mins.
3- Exercising. I know, I know. This sounds counter effective. However, if I sit for long periods of time, the pain is worse. Even on Saturday when B and I were walking around the pain became more bearable the more we walked around. Getting up and getting started was the hard part. Once we got moving, although the pain was still there, it was easier to keep going. There are also some specific stretches and pelvic exercises that can be done to help with the pain, but I have not tried them personally.
There are more things that you can try to help with the pain, including taking a hot bath, massage, chiropractic, etc, I have not personally tried any of those options, and do not know how they would help.
Other than the RLP, the last two weeks have been smooth. It’s hard to believe that the baby will be here in 14 short weeks. I am ready to finish up this pregnancy and hold our sweet girl.
Tiffanie Talks 