Prego and on the Run: Round Ligament Pain: Guest Post
If you used to run regularly before there was a little bundle of joy growing inside you, doctors think it’s safe to continue with your running routine while pregnant. You should def get the OK from your OB though, and once you do, you may find it helps with some common pregnancy symptoms such as constipation, leg cramps, lower back pain, and fatigue. Yeah, being with child is fun!
Running with a bun in the oven is much harder than running solo. You get winded more easily, your muscles tire more quickly, and since your body is changing so much, you may experience some aches and pains. In the beginning of my pregnancy, I would get subtle cramps way up in my uterus when running; every time I felt them, I’d just stop and walk. Now in my fifth month with a “popped” belly, I’ve discovered a new sensation in my lower ab muscles. It’s a longer-lasting, dull ache, that feels like the muscles are overstretching.
At my last checkup, I learned this pain is round ligament pain and it’s really common for pregos in their second trimester. To find out if it’s harmful to your baby or if it means you should give up running, read more.
My doc assured me that round ligament pain is not serious and won’t cause harm to my growing babe. This pain can be felt as a long-lasting dull ache like I’ve experienced when I’m running, but it can also cause sharp, intense pangs if you suddenly change position, like when you sit up quickly, roll over in bed, or cough.
The round ligaments surround your uterus inside your pelvis, and as your belly grows, those ligaments stretch out to support the weight, like rubber bands. The pain you feel is a result of the tugging on nerve fibers. It usually begins in the groin, and moves upward and outward toward your hips, but normally only lasts a few seconds. Many women may feel the pain more on their right side because the uterus tends to turn toward the right. If you feel the pain lasting longer, and it’s accompanied by contractions lasting over an hour, call your OB pronto. Also call your doc if the pain is severe and coupled with low back pain, pressure in the pelvis, fever, chills, bleeding, or changes in vaginal discharge.
If the pain really bothers you on your runs, it’s probably best to take it easy. Decrease the intensity of your workouts by running slower, sticking to flat surfaces, wogging, or walking instead. If your round ligament pain is just slightly uncomfortable, here’s a suggestion my doctor made that has really helped me. I told her that when I hold my hands under my belly as I run, the pain goes away, so she recommended I try wearing a compression support band on my lower belly. If you have a Bella Band, that might work for you, but it didn’t hold my belly tight enough. The Amom Maternity Support Band offers more support and is specifically designed for use during exercise. Wearing that and slowing down my pace has solved my problem.
Tell me, have any of you experienced round ligament pain?
-Guest Post by Jenny Sugar at FitSugar.com