Ligaments are like elastic bands that support the womb and hold the pelvis together. When they’re forced to stretch, you feel the pain. A hormone called relaxin helps them to do this – but relaxin also affects other support structures of the pelvis (namely the hip joints, spine and the pubic cartilage) making these temporarily ‘unstable’. By your third trimester the baby is well and truly in your abdomen (stretching all your clothes and directing you to the Preggie department) and you will feel more comfortable (well … sort of!)
What can you do about this?
• Slowly manoeuvre yourself when getting out of the bed in the mornings
• Do the same when getting out of the car
• And standing up after you have been sitting
• Heat is the best pain reliever – take a long warm bath when you can or use a hot water bottle or heated pad during the day
• Look for Carriwell Maternity support bands or Maternity flexi belts at stores like Baby City, Babies ‘R’Us, Baby boom or selected Clicks or Dis-Chem pharmacies
• Sleep with a pillow between your knees
• Go to ante-natal exercise classes, swim in a heated pool or if you’re very uncomfortable, go for physio and learn about which exercises you can do
• Make ginger tea (shave fresh roots, add boiling water and honey for taste) – it’s great for inflammation and very refreshing!
• Relief from pain killers is short-lived – don’t use them without speaking to your doctor/midwife.
When should you worry?
• If the pain gets worse to the point of being unbearable it could be something unrelated to pregnancy – for example an appendix, bladder infection or ovarian cyst.
• If you have the following, please speak to your doctor/midwife today.
• Abnormal discharge
• Vaginal bleeding
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal cramping.
