Abdominal pain when walking for exercise?

agent79@me.com

So every time I get the energy to go for a nice, long walk, I get this sharp pain in my abdomen. It is hard to explain, but kind of feels like a cross between a stitch in your side, and a pulling or tugging sensation on my uterus.

 

It makes exercising very difficult, because I have to stop walking and take deep breaths.

 

Has anyone else had this when trying to exercise?

 

TIA! 

thebigmare

Could this be Braxton Hicks?

agent79@me.com

I don't know....It's only when I've been walking for about 10-15 minutes, and I start walking sort of fast. I don't know if I've felt BH yet, because this is my first pregnancy.

Gerts

Sounds like what you're feeling is ligament pain. It's common. 

BeetleLinz1125

Maybe you are overdoing it. Try making it a leisurly walk and make sure you stay hydrated.

agent79@me.com

It makes exercising a nightmare! That sucks. 

Xles10

I had this EXACT type of pain. It turned out I was having contractions (real ones, not BH). I recommend doing whatever you need to do to avoid this pain and if you can't talk to your doc about it.

Edit: By the way, I went to the doctor after having it repeatedly, it kept up even after I was done exercising and turns out I'm 1.5 cm dilated (I had a fun time in triage hooked up to the NST machine). I guess the tie breaker is that you don't want it to be time-able. Mine was. But it was much more frequent while walking on the treadmill. 

DunedinChick

I know this pain, i have it too, my MW told me its just ligament pains, and if you keep up the exercise then your body will get use to it.
But then it could be what PP said and could be contractions, if it is then i might be a tad worried too.

mmks

I get this EXACTLY!  I don't think it's braxton hicks b/c my tummy doesn't get all hard.  ??? I dunno though.  Not sure what it is, but it annoys my husband when we're walking together b/c I have to walk so much more slowly!

heylee

Kinda feels like a gas pocket? I get those cramps any time I walk somewhere and I don't know what it is.

FutureMrsCaesar

I agree w/ the others that it's ligament pain.  I walk on my treadmill and about 10-15 minutes in I start getting it.  It sucks but I just usually slow down or reduce the incline and keep going.  Your belly and baby are getting heavy and stretching out those muscles and making them move in weird ways.  I do notice that when I get the occasional contraction while walking it intensifies the ligament pain, but it has never become an issue. 

mrambo3

Gerts:

Sounds like what you're feeling is ligament pain. It's common. 

This. I talked to my doctor about this bc I was having really bad "stitches" in my side and she said it's due to the ligaments stretching.

kabarbanel

Agree with pp-ligament pain. I get it too. Hurts!

ilovejud

i get a band of pain that stretches across my entire lower belly...  same thing happened when I was pregnant with DD... and my dr. was never worried about it... it seriously hurts... but days I can work through it, i just do... and days it hurts too bad I just stop....

mcwhittaker

I get this. Like a "runner's cramp" in my side and my entire stomach gets hard. I get it just from walking around for more than 30 minutes.

I don't know if this is BH or Round Ligament Pain but I have an appointment with my OB tomorrow and I plan on asking him.

It makes things as small as a trip to the grocery store very difficult because I have to sit down and rest frequently. 

Luma88

I get this too.  It passes way quicker than stitches, but I have to significantly slow down when I walk or it gets really painful.

schoolsoutbride

Gerts:

Sounds like what you're feeling is ligament pain. It's common. 

Ditto.  You can try massaging along the ligament (they kind of follow the curve of your belly.  You can google uterine ligaments to see exactly where.)

ncbelle

I'd vote round ligament pain.  A maternity support belt would likely help.  And of course stay well hydrated as dehydration is a major cause of random pains!

mcwhittaker

At my OB appointment today my doctor took a look felt around a bit and told me that what I'm experiencing is actually Braxton Hicks. 

He told me to monitor it, if it happens frequently call them, and when it happens, sit down and rest. 

tokenhoser

Of everything I do, walking is actually the least comfortable. I find the elliptical, the stationary bike, swimming, and yoga to all be much more pleasant than walking.

The flaw, of course, being that you don't need a gym membership to go for a walk.