Hey Momma! You’re expecting! Congratulations! You’ve had the blissful “O-M-G” moment and two pink lines and it feels surreal. You have a literal growing fetus within your uterus. An entire human being’s life is being created in the comfort of your womb, snuggled in their sac and swimming in amniotic fluid. Safe in mommy’s belly! While your little one is blissfully sucking a thumb or stretching their limbs, you of course think HOW CUTE! Except now, you’re feeling the absolutely undesirable parts of pregnancy that no one warned you about-how rude! Here you’ll learn of five pregnancy aches and pains (of many) that come with the discomfort of growing a human life.
Is pregnancy pain normal?
You may be wondering if some of the sudden, sharp, and downright miserable pregnancy aches and pains are normal. After all, pregnancy is beautiful! You should have skin glowing with radiance, happily feeling the flutters of your fetus. Or, the cute little rhythmic hiccups that you’ll soon get to hear from the outside. And, you will! But, what are those absolute terrible pains that you sometimes get and why did no one tell you sooner?
Prepare for 5 aches and pains that are oh-so annoying!
Now that you are an expectant mother (yay!) you deserve to be well prepared for what’s ahead. This doesn’t just include the baby essentials, most absorbing diapers, or best strollers. This includes the whole journey, from conception to birth, and beyond. You should be well prepared for the changes your body may make during pregnancy-the truth of what no one warns you about! Once you are knowledgeable about possible changes in the body during pregnancy, you will be more confident in your body and the life you are growing! You can then feel absolute empowerment knowing that the dull aches or sharp pains are part of the process, not necessarily of concern. Yes, some pains are normal and oh-so annoying! Here are five changes to the body that cause pregnancy aches and pains that will better prepare you for your pregnancy journey.
Common Discomforts of Pregnancy
1. Round Ligament Pain
If you do a simple search of the term, it can be described as an “uncomfortable sensation.” My personal opinion and experience say that “uncomfortable” is a gentle way of saying “extreme pain.” Granted, everyone’s experience is different.
What is it?
As its name suggests, round ligament pain is painful. There are two round ligaments within your pelvis. Think of these like a “rubber band” that stretches with your uterus as it grows. Sometimes, sudden movement, such as getting out of bed or a sneeze can begin the onset of this pain. It can start as a sudden and sharp pain, much like a spasm. Sometimes it begins as a dull ache that begins to tighten and then gets sharper. You may feel it on one or both sides of the abdomen.
Does round ligament pain last long?
Stretching these or changing positions can help alleviate their pain. They will last briefly and subside soon after. Without a doubt though, if you’re not aware of this sharp, stomach pain in pregnancy, you could easily mistake it for something severe. However, these are harmless pains that come with the territory of being pregnant. There is a good reason no one often warns of these ligament pains. Becoming pregnant can be scary as it is. If people are aware of this pregnancy pain beforehand, it may very well be a deterrent to getting pregnant! We also don’t want to scare new mommas! But now that you know what to expect when you’re pregnant, you can breathe through it without being alarmed.
2. Leg Cramps
We all know that pregnancy causes endless bathroom trips in the middle of the night due to the growing fetus on our bladder. We want and need to prepare for the best sleep before our newborn enters the world. So, throw in yet another pregnancy nuisance to your sleep struggles. Did you know that some women in the second and third trimester get leg cramps while sleeping? These muscle spasms are also called “charley horses”. You may find that as you finish your umpteenth trip to the toilet and reenter bed peacefully dozing into a sweet slumber, suddenly a wicked, tense cramp in the leg jolts you awake (that is if you can move from the cramp).
Why do we get leg cramp aches and pains during pregnancy?
It’s not known exactly what causes pregnant women to get leg cramps, but it could be from the extra weight on the muscles or a change in blood circulation. I remember a particularly intense cramp in my left leg that woke me in the middle of the night. It began in the calf. When I was able to finally move and stretch my leg in the slightest, it moved to my shin. This cycle of pain that flip-flopped to each side of my leg made it nearly impossible to move.
How do I get rid of them?
If you have a spouse or partner to help massage it out, try not to kick them in the process. Seriously, oh boy! To help prevent late-night leg spasms, make sure to keep hydrated. Water helps your muscles to contract and relax smoothly. When you’re pregnant, you’ll want to make sure you don’t become dehydrated! It can also help to wear a pregnancy belly band to help lift the excess weight that you’re now carrying around. You’ll want to make sure you take the proper measures to try to prevent these late-night leg pains!
3. Lightning Crotch
What does lightning crotch feel like?
Another discomfort in a pregnant woman’s body is something referred to as “lightning crotch.” These pains can feel like sudden, sharp jolts of twinges in the vagina. They can be described as a sting. They are quick pains. You may be quick to reach “down there” in a what-in-the-world-is-that-pain motion. Quite literally, you can imagine it just like a lightning bolt. It comes on quick and strikes like a tiny bit of fire to your lady bits. While they are uncomfortable and intense, they are quick to pass.
Does this mean labor is approaching?
You may be wondering if lightning crotch is a sign of labor. Since this pain is often felt toward the end of the third trimester, you may think it is. However, it’s not actually a sign of labor. The American Pregnancy Association describes that as your baby is getting bigger and pushing lower toward your cervix, it may be pushing on nerves that are within your lower uterus. While lightning crotch is often felt toward the end of gestation, I can personally confirm I have felt lightning crotch within the first trimester of pregnancy. Now that I have had two full-term pregnancies, I can confidently say it can happen sooner than later. Most often though, it is felt as your baby begins to engage toward the pelvis and has grown bigger. Yet again, this is not something we often hear about when we mention pregnancy!
4. Carpal Tunnel
Pregnancy causes a lot of pain when nerves are involved. One symptom that we don’t often think about in pregnancy is carpal tunnel syndrome. There are many physiological changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy.
What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel in pregnancy?
You may find that one day it’s much more difficult to bend your wrist and do everyday tasks that weren’t an issue before pregnancy. You might struggle to open the lid on your water bottle or find that holding your toothbrush is more difficult. In a 2015 study, 34% of pregnant women reported carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. You may experience or notice numbness, swelling, or tingling in the hand, wrist, or fingers.
Why is pregnancy suddenly causing wrist problems and numbness?
Within your wrist, there is a “carpal tunnel” in which the median nerve runs through it. The excess fluid from pregnancy causes swelling, thus compressing the median nerve and causing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. You can reduce the numbness by wearing a wrist splint, especially at night. Rest assured, these symptoms should disappear after your baby is born.
5. Constipation & Hemorrhoids
Perhaps one of the most unpleasant things in pregnancy is constipation which can cause hemorrhoids.
Why am I getting constipated?
Constipation is hard, dry stool that can result in infrequent bowel movements. It can also cause discomfort in the process of trying to make a bowel movement. Hormones in pregnancy can cause constipation because it relaxes the muscles that help with bowel movements. There is also extra water absorption, so it can create a hard, dry stool. Since constipation and the growing fetus can cause extra pressure down below, it creates swollen veins. Therefore, we get hemorrhoids.
What is a hemorrhoid?
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that then become painful and itchy. They also may bleed. You might be surprised if you see blood when wiping or in the toilet or stool. You may not be able to escape this incredibly unpleasant pregnancy pain and discomfort.
How to help prevent constipation and hemorrhoids
Be sure to drink plenty of water to help avoid constipation and eat your fruits and vegetables to get plenty of fiber intake. Not only will this help you feel better, but it’s also important for the healthy growth of your fetus.
Without a doubt, these are not symptoms amongst popular pregnancy conversation when announcing your bundle of joy. Some women prefer not to know what to expect in pregnancy, including the aches and pains. But, for those who need a heads up to ease anxiety and prepare for what to expect in the coming months-you’ve been warned. As always, you’ve got this momma and you rock!