Experienced new pain. Advice.

kp90 · January 2016

Hi ladies.
I'm 20 weeks and 4 days. Last night while walking in the kitchen I was doubled over in pain with a sharp stabbing pain in lower right stomach. My SO had to help me get on the couch and lay down. I was in tears. He helped me get up and go to the bathroom and when I peed my lower abdomen felt really tight and caused more pain. It lasted for a few hours. This morning I woke up and the pain has subsided and it didn't hurt to pee except when I first woke up. I called my on call OB Doctor and he didn't seem concerned. Told me Motrin and a warm bath. Said it was due to the uterus growing and stretching, etc. only told me to seek care in hospital if it does not go away. Have any of you experienced this? If so did you find out what was causing it? Is there a reason to be worried? Sorry I'm just paranoid and want this baby safe and healthy.

lionstigersbears · January 2016

I haven't experienced this exactly, but have had random cramps, pulls and twinges. Baby is getting bigger and it's going to get even more common. Be sure to stay hydrated and follow medical advice to seek care if it persists and/or you have any spotting not already cleared as normal by your doctor.

yogahh · January 2016

Sounds like rlp. Like pp said, stay hydrated and take it easy today!

TheThornBird · January 2016

Don't freak out but! I never had this while pregnant, but I did have appendicitis which is felt in your lower right abdomen. I had a fever after it ruptured, so keep an eye on your temperature.

kbrands7 · January 2016

I agree with PPs. It's most likely rlp or odd uterus twinges. However, if you run a fever or develop nausea along with it and it's a persistent pain even if well-hydrated, contact your doctor again. It's possible that it's not specifically pregnancy-related and could be from a pulled muscle, the appendix, or gall bladder.
Eta-- sometimes if the baby is lying transverse it can be somewhat painful too-- though harmless!

countrygrl5533 · January 2016

Agreeing with the others. Sounds like textbook round ligament pain. I'd only be concerned if it doesn't go away. With my DD, RLP knocked me flat for two days then I would be fine. Most people have it more like what you are describing.

JessicaB0627 · January 2016

Are you constipated at all? I think that can cause sharp pains sometimes. Like PPs said, this is prime time for RLP. Drink lots of water, prop your feet up and take it easy today!

dsmith211 · January 2016

I get this if I'm constipated or really have to go. Like debilitating pain in my abdomen area to the point where I literally feel like I'm being stabbed. I've never had this before being pregnant. I asked my midwife a little while back just to be sure and she said so long as it isn't accompanied by bleeding or consistent cramping/contractions then it's probably bc of constipation or RLP. She said with everything moving around you'll probably have lots of new pains for simple things you never though you'd have.

As PP's have said I would just take it a little easier today and make sure to drink lots of water.

LemmyRN · January 2016

TheThornBird said:
Don't freak out but! I never had this while pregnant, but I did have appendicitis which is felt in your lower right abdomen. I had a fever after it ruptured, so keep an eye on your temperature.

I agree with @TheThornBird to keep an eye on your temp. It sounds like your OB was distracted, and I am surprised your OB suggested Motrin, usually all NSAIDS are avoided.

obryana6219 · January 2016

@LemmyRN I agree. An OB should never suggest Motrin or any other NSAID. Tylenol or nothing while pregnant.

kp90 · January 2016

Thanks ladies. I did not take Motrin.. SO and I also found that odd. I haven't even taken Tylenol because today I haven't had the pain like last night so I'm praying it was just simple RLP. I just got concerned because how much it hurt and the pain it caused while peeing. I didn't do much today except made a run to lowes and dinner with SO but trying to keep hydrated. Thank you for all the input. If it comes back or persists I'll call the doctor once again. Just concerned for baby and get easily over worried.

doozer1345 · January 2016

Yep. RLP. It sucks. It gets worse the bigger I get. Try some yoga so when your body does stretch from growing it's not as big of a shock.

southerngirlgetsfit · January 2016

This happened to me the other night. I was woken up from a deep sleep to terrible cramping in my lower abdomen. I lay completely still till it stopped after about 45 minutes. Once it subsided, I went to the bathroom to make sure I had no bleeding, then went back to sleep. Called my dr. first thing in the AM and she said it's probably round ligament pain, but could also be Braxton Hicks (I'm 22 weeks pregnant). She said it's totally normal either way and as long as it stops and there's no bleeding, I should be fine.

kp90 · January 2016

southerngirlgetsfit said:

This happened to me the other night. I was woken up from a deep sleep to terrible cramping in my lower abdomen. I lay completely still till it stopped after about 45 minutes. Once it subsided, I went to the bathroom to make sure I had no bleeding, then went back to sleep. Called my dr. first thing in the AM and she said it's probably round ligament pain, but could also be Braxton Hicks (I'm 22 weeks pregnant). She said it's totally normal either way and as long as it stops and there's no bleeding, I should be fine.

See the whole Braxton hicks thing scares me. I'm a FTM. How do you know when that's what you're feeling? Do they have a certain pain/feeling associated with them? Also, how can you tell the difference later on when its real contractions vs Braxton hicks? I've known people to have babies very very premature during their 23-26th week of pregnancy and its like how was this caught by the mother, doctor or whoever? I just try to prepare myself and know what I'm feeling and when to deem it necessary to be seen at the hospital. Pregnancy is so amazing, yet so terrifying to me all at the same time.

countrygrl5533 · January 2016

kp90 said:

See the whole Braxton hicks thing scares me. I'm a FTM. How do you know when that's what you're feeling? Do they have a certain pain/feeling associated with them? Also, how can you tell the difference later on when its real contractions vs Braxton hicks? I've known people to have babies very very premature during their 23-26th week of pregnancy and its like how was this caught by the mother, doctor or whoever? I just try to prepare myself and know what I'm feeling and when to deem it necessary to be seen at the hospital. Pregnancy is so amazing, yet so terrifying to me all at the same time.

It's frustrating to hear but you'll just know. There's something to be set for natural instinct. There are some things you'll just know. Labor is one of them. It just feels...different.

Just like regular contractions, BH are different feeling for everyone. BH for me are like a tightening of my whole abdomen then it goes away a little while later. Contractions were more like the worst period cramps ever for me.

southerngirlgetsfit · January 2016

I googled the difference between Braxton Hicks and regular contractions and they seem easy to tell apart based on timing, etc. also all of the books I have explain the difference and I've found them to be really informative.

doozer1345 · January 2016

kp90 said:

southerngirlgetsfit said:

This happened to me the other night. I was woken up from a deep sleep to terrible cramping in my lower abdomen. I lay completely still till it stopped after about 45 minutes. Once it subsided, I went to the bathroom to make sure I had no bleeding, then went back to sleep. Called my dr. first thing in the AM and she said it's probably round ligament pain, but could also be Braxton Hicks (I'm 22 weeks pregnant). She said it's totally normal either way and as long as it stops and there's no bleeding, I should be fine.

See the whole Braxton hicks thing scares me. I'm a FTM. How do you know when that's what you're feeling? Do they have a certain pain/feeling associated with them? Also, how can you tell the difference later on when its real contractions vs Braxton hicks? I've known people to have babies very very premature during their 23-26th week of pregnancy and its like how was this caught by the mother, doctor or whoever? I just try to prepare myself and know what I'm feeling and when to deem it necessary to be seen at the hospital. Pregnancy is so amazing, yet so terrifying to me all at the same time.

BH are erratic. Contractions coming pretty regularly timed.

kbrands7 · January 2016

@kp90 I had BH that were even time-able at the end of my pregnancy (false labor). The difference was, they were uncomfortable, but lacked the same force that true contractions had, they slowed down if I relaxed and drank water, and real contractions for me wrapped around my body in waves going from the back and around to the front, then down. My water also broke, which made labor obvious, and then contractions got more intense--like, needing to catch my breath intense.

kp90 · January 2016

countrygrl5533 said:

kp90 said:

See the whole Braxton hicks thing scares me. I'm a FTM. How do you know when that's what you're feeling? Do they have a certain pain/feeling associated with them? Also, how can you tell the difference later on when its real contractions vs Braxton hicks? I've known people to have babies very very premature during their 23-26th week of pregnancy and its like how was this caught by the mother, doctor or whoever? I just try to prepare myself and know what I'm feeling and when to deem it necessary to be seen at the hospital. Pregnancy is so amazing, yet so terrifying to me all at the same time.

It's frustrating to hear but you'll just know. There's something to be set for natural instinct. There are some things you'll just know. Labor is one of them. It just feels...different.

Just like regular contractions, BH are different feeling for everyone. BH for me are like a tightening of my whole abdomen then it goes away a little while later. Contractions were more like the worst period cramps ever for me.

Eeek. That scares me. I've had terrible terrible periods and cramps since I was very young so the thought of something being worse than some of the cramps I've felt is even more terrifying, lol. But all for a good cause so I'll manage. I hope the instinct thing is true also. Thank you ladies for the advice and knowledge.

doozer1345 · January 2016

@kp90 I too had wicked period cramps growing up. Contractions are 100x worse than those. Maybe close to the ones that debilitate you but still a little bit worse. BH have never gotten that bad for me.

countrygrl5533 · January 2016

doozer1345 said:
@kp90 I too had wicked period cramps growing up. Contractions are 100x worse than those. Maybe close to the ones that debilitate you but still a little bit worse. BH have never gotten that bad for me.

This. I was on prescription painkillers for awhile for my cramps. Contractions for me were similar at the beginning and middle of labor than soooo much worse later. The good news is, unlike period cramps, they aren't steady. The period of time between contractions isn't bad at all.

BH are nothing like that and like someone else said, generally go away with things like rest and water.

kp90 · January 2016

doozer1345 said:

@kp90 I too had wicked period cramps growing up. Contractions are 100x worse than those. Maybe close to the ones that debilitate you but still a little bit worse. BH have never gotten that bad for me.

Ahhhh... Just the thought of experiencing something that much worse than cramps makes my uterus hurt. Women are truly tough as hell when you think about all the pains we go through.. especially childbirth!

sosweet487 · January 2016

I had something extremely similar but it was while I was sleeping. It woke me up from sleeping and I was gasping. I was up for about an hour trying to find a comfortable position. The next day I had on and off pains. I took some GasX hoping it was just some gas pains. The next day I felt fine (and I've felt fine ever since)... so who knows what was going on!

doozer1345 · January 2016

kp90 said:

doozer1345 said:

@kp90 I too had wicked period cramps growing up. Contractions are 100x worse than those. Maybe close to the ones that debilitate you but still a little bit worse. BH have never gotten that bad for me.

Ahhhh... Just the thought of experiencing something that much worse than cramps makes my uterus hurt. Women are truly tough as hell when you think about all the pains we go through.. especially childbirth!

Really I promise it's not so bad. I'm the worst with pain tolerance. It's not a constant where you don't get a break which makes it sooo much easier to handle.

JessicaB0627 · January 2016

countrygrl5533 said:

doozer1345 said:
@kp90 I too had wicked period cramps growing up. Contractions are 100x worse than those. Maybe close to the ones that debilitate you but still a little bit worse. BH have never gotten that bad for me.
This. I was on prescription painkillers for awhile for my cramps. Contractions for me were similar at the beginning and middle of labor than soooo much worse later. The good news is, unlike period cramps, they aren't steady. The period of time between contractions isn't bad at all.

BH are nothing like that and like someone else said, generally go away with things like rest and water.

My doctor advises to call him if I'm feeling contractions 5 minutes apart or if they're becoming more regular and getting closer together. So if you can time them then you need to call.

I've never experienced labor without pitocin though, so I don't really know what that feels like. Pitocin contractions are straight from hell.

mchugh86 · January 2016

Im 20w4d today and feel like im having something similar. I woke up with what felt like a gas bubble in my right lower abdomen and it seems to feel much worse when my bladder is full or just after its emptied. Its been about 7 hours so far, I have a dr appt tonight and am hoping its nothing serious. A sneeze even made me want to cry earlier.. I hope it goes away soon!

Bltbear82 · January 2016

Similar to PP, Braxton Hicks for me are tightening of my abdomen and go away with water and rest. Actual labor contractions continuously got stronger until my water broke and then got much worse. For perspective, the pain of a real contraction post-water breaking meant I personally wasn't able to easily get in and out of the tub (short legs and high tub plus pain) or sit comfortably in the car ride to the hospital. Once you feel your first few real contractions you'll know quickly how different they feel, but it's really scary to imagine as a FTM! Although I don't know what's worse - knowing what's going to happen or my imagination and the unknown last time?

jholkema · January 2016

Hey I've been having similar experiences. I thought they were just Braxton hicks but i decided to talk to my midwife about it and she said that it's my body reacting to all the stress I've been putting it through. My body is telling me to slow down. I work Monday - Friday 9-5 and i also take care of all the house chores and other obligations while my husband is at work. I'm not sure if you're a busy body like me but her advice was that i ask for less hours at work and start relaxing. I hope this helps!

Good luck!

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