What is round ligament pain?

For some women, the second and third trimesters can herald in a new and uncomfortable pregnancy symptom, known as round ligament pain.

This feels like a short, sharp stabbing sensation, or ache, deep inside your lower groin and abdominal area. The reason for it is that your uterus is supported by a group of muscles known as round ligaments, which are stretched as your uterus grows.

The pain occurs with movement. It can happen when you are walking, if you cough, or change your body’s position (perhaps as you get out of a car). It is not really something you can prevent from happening and it will stop after your baby has been born.

The pain should only last for a few seconds, so if you are experiencing a more continuous type of pain, such as a fever, vomiting, painful abdominal cramps, bleeding or backache, you MUST get in touch with your doctor or midwife immediately.

In any case, it is probably a good idea to get a diagnosis from your GP to confirm that the discomfort you are feeling is in fact round ligament pain. To try and alleviate the pain of this condition, you can soak in a hot bath, put a warm heat pad on your groin, and sit down until it passes.

If you have any unanswered questions, use the Guide to Pregnancy area of the answers page to gain wisdom from other mums or our resident experts for all those pregnancy niggles.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

All Third Trimester articles are relevant to the UK medical health system and may differ from the experience of having a baby in other countries.

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Last Modified: 09/12/2008

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