Pain After Bending Over While Pregnant – Reasons & Treatments

Why Do I Feel Pain After Bending Over While Pregnant?

Many women feel abdominal pain when bending over while pregnant. As pregnancy progresses ligaments supporting the uterus stretch to compensate for your baby’s growth. Bending over is not considered dangerous for your unborn baby but it can become considerably uncomfortable and can deliver shooting pains for the future mother. This condition is called Round Ligament Pain.

Pain and Pregnancy

The wonders of pregnancy are spectacular. Yet as your body expands the little things like picking up something from the floor, and getting your shoes on can become troublesome. Not only are you learning how to maneuver your new curves but you can suffer from pain.

Pain in the stomach when bending over while pregnant can feel abnormal especially when you feel like the only person responsible for your baby whilst he/she is in the womb. It signals anxiety over what you should and shouldn’t be feeling. Stick with us and we will give you an explanation of what the pain is and ways you can help yourself at home.

Why Does it Hurt To Bend Over When Pregnant?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Round ligament pain is extremely common in most pregnancies. It causes significant pain in your abdomen, hips, and back meaning you can be set for a bumpy pregnancy ride. 

Think of your round ligaments like ties of a rope bridge. You have one either side of the uterus supporting it making sure it stays in place. Yet under pressure instead of them snapping, like you’d expect a rope to do, they stretch and act like elastic. Good job too because as your belly expands they are responsible for keeping your uterus in place! 

Prevention

Prevention is always better than treatment. Seeing as round ligament pain is so common we have found many ways you can help your body adapt to its newfound shape. 

• Avoid heavy lifting
• Use gentle stretches every day to loosen your pelvis
• Avoid standing for long periods
• Slow down, don’t rush around, sudden movements can trigger sharp pains
• Bend with your knees not your back
• Maintain good posture
• Try to support your bump if you cough, laugh or sneeze.

Of course, there is no definite prevention for this pregnancy symptom but doing the above methods can help reduce the strain on those hard working ligaments. 

Posture is a big deal in pregnancy, as you enter the second trimester you will undeniably feel your pants getting tighter as the weeks go by. With your weight shifting to your front carrying your baby and the extra weight and fluid can drag your spine forward. Try to keep your shoulders back and spine straight this way your muscles can support the round ligaments and reduce the stress.

As this article is all about bending I am not about to say that you need to avoid it. But believe me, I have shed many tears over dropping things in the kitchen feeling it is physically impossible to pick them up and while it would be wonderful to just walk away the reality is sometimes you can’t! 

This is why you should learn the correct way to bend over, these points will help you in life not just whilst you are pregnant. 

• Get close to the object
• Bend your knees but try to keep them together
• Use a wall or something near for support if you need to
• Keep your back straight 

Ultimately the best way to bend is with your knees rather than your hips. We are all guilty of using the incorrect posture now and again but doing so whilst pregnant puts extra pressure on your belly. 

Symptoms 

If you are undecided whether you are actually suffering from round ligament pain then we have collated the symptoms of what to look out for.

• Cramps
• Sharp, stabbing pain in hips, back, crotch or belly
• Aches 

Sharp pain when bending over while pregnant can come and go which may not have you concerned in the slightest but when it lingers it can stress you out leaving you feeling irritated and concerned for your baby.

Unfortunately, these symptoms can appear at any time in your pregnancy but they are most common as you hit the second and they can become more intense as your body progresses further.

My second pregnancy was an absolute shock to my system. Never experienced round ligament pain previously I was quick to learn the term lightening crotch. Whether these two are linked I’m unsure but I was unfortunate enough to get it double barrel! The symptoms I experienced were exactly light pangs of lightning radiating through my groin, hips, and back. Needless to say even if I wanted to move quickly I couldn’t! Even turning to get out of the car was an effort. With following guidelines from my doctors it did lessen the throbbing but now and again turning in bed would catch me. 

Treatment 

There is little treatment in the way of medication to help but there are things you can do to help make your home life a little less painful.

• Maternity band. – I swear by mine. At first, I was skeptical but trust me the support this band can give is immense.

• Rest – not easy when you have a manual job or another little one at home but take things at your own pace. Regular breaks are important.

• Take a bath – allow your back, muscles, and hips to enjoy the weightless feeling whilst you take some you time.

• Pain killers – when you have exhausted the latter taking painkillers in pregnancy is thought to be safe but always check with your doctor and follow the recommended dosage.

Can It Hurt My Baby?

The impracticalities of bending over whilst pregnant don’t just lie in the physical pain you may feel now and again but the anxiety of whether you can actually harm your baby. 

To discover how much your baby can feel we have to take it trimester by trimester.

First Trimester

During this trimester you don’t really have the physical limitations you will have in other stages of gestation however making an early start on lifting and bending using the correct techniques will help strengthen your muscles. 

Your baby at this point is safely nestled in your abdomen, tucked behind your pubic bone, surrounded by amniotic fluid so the good news is bending during your first trimester can’t hurt your baby however it is usually in these early days where you may prefer to keep your little bean a secret or maybe you are yet to get your BFP which leads you open to lifting heavy objects or completing tasks that wouldn’t be suited to a pregnant woman. 

Second Trimester

As your pregnancy progresses your bump will begin to show. Your baby is still safe and sound in the barriers of your abdomen so bending over in general won’t hurt your baby but you may now begin to feel a little uncomfortable so ensure to bend with your knees and don’t over do it.

Third Trimester

Now you are in full bloom and just when you think you can’t grow any more you seem to pop weekly. Your baby is now nearly term and whilst he/she is happy bouncing and kicking the thought of bending over is practically impossible. 

The good news is that your baby is still protected but your hips and ligaments are stretched to capacity now so if you do manage to bend take things slow not to injure yourself.

Now is the time when you should be relishing in the last few weeks before your baby arrives so remember to listen to your body if you feel in pain stop and rest. If in doubt consult your doctor.

Doctors’ Advice

Throughout this article we have highlighted that pain after bending over while pregnant usually signifies round ligament pain but there are times when abdominal pain can be more serious conditions. If you ever feel any of the following symptoms you must seek medical attention immediately.

• Bleeding
• Severe cramping
• Contractions
• Fever
• Chills
• Dizzy or feeling faint
• Sickness not related to typical pregnancy 
• Pain whilst walking

It is important that you follow your gut instinct and even if you get the diagnosis of round ligament pain it’s best to receive it from a professional rather than a self diagnosis.

Wrapping Up

Pain after bending over while pregnant can simply be a non-serious case of round ligament pain.

Pregnancy is a natural process but it also puts our bodies under extreme pressure and at times you will feel as if your body is working against you. As someone who has felt the painful effects of stretching ligaments take some peace that the pain is a result of your body doing exactly what it should in order to make the best home for your developing bub.

More to Read

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• Can You Crack Your Back While Pregnant – Is It Safe?
• Pregnant and Scared of Life Changing – Guide to Overcome