Round ligament pain is a common discomfort in the last half of pregnancy. It is most often felt on one side of the lower abdomen. Some women will experience it as a dull aching sensation, others a sharp stabbing pain. It's caused by the hormones of pregnancy which soften and stretch ligaments, in conjunction with the mechanical force of the growing weight of the uterus. The round ligaments provide lateral stability to the uterus, to help the organ stay in good alignment.
The good news is that you don’t need to suffer through the pain. You can stop round ligament pain instantaneously by performing the "hip hiker" exercise.
Hip Hiker Exercise:
1. Stand next to a countertop, table or wall with your painful side facing outward with one hand on the countertop, table or wall for balance.
2. Lift your foot of the painful side off the floor a little bit.
3. Lift your hip bone on the painful side straight upward. Hold for 30 seconds. Keep the rest of your body erect, just move your pelvis.
4. Slowly release your pelvis and place your foot back down.
5. Stand equally on two feet for a moment or two.
If you're prone to round ligament pain, perform this simple exercise several times a day.
Round ligament pain is one of the many common discomforts of the last half of pregnancy. Fortunately it's also one of the easiest to manage.
Helene Byrne, founder of BeFit-Mom, is a nationally recognized prenatal and postpartum fitness expert, and author of the award winning DVD "Bounce Back Fast! Post Natal Core Conditioning" and the acclaimed book, "Exercise After Pregnancy: How to Look and Feel Your Best," now in its second edition.
BeFit-Mom, at www.befitmom.com, provides free, in depth, expert information on all aspects of prenatal and postpartum fitness and exercise to help women have healthier pregnancies and babies.
BeFit-Mom's mission is to support, motivate, and inspire women to lead their entire families to better health and wellness.