Aches and pains are completely normal during pregnancy, but they can certainly be uncomfortable and alarming. Round ligament pain, a sharp pain in the abdomen or hips that most pregnant women experience during the second trimester, is one of those symptoms that can be felt more seriously than it actually is.

What is the reason of this?

Your round ligament supports your uterus as it connects the uterus to the groin – as the uterus grows during pregnancy, the round ligament must stretch to continue providing this support. Round ligament pain occurs when sudden movements such as standing or sitting, even laughing or coughing, cause these ligaments to stretch and contract faster than they are ready.

Tips

Unfortunately, round ligament pain is just one of the types of symptoms that usually comes with pregnancy – you can usually avoid it by resting and moving more slowly when you change positions, but sometimes movement is unavoidable. If you feel a sneeze, cough, or chuckle, flexing and bending your hips can also relieve tension in your ligaments while doing so.

Other ways to deal with round ligament pain include wearing a maternity belt or other abdomen backing device to support the growing weight of your uterus, spending time in the water for some rest, and doing some stretching exercises.