My Belly Needs a Bra!!

There is a belly support you can get at pregnancy stores.
http://www.pregnancybelly.com/
http://www.prenatalcradles.com/site/1003900/page/45029

This is just 2 links I got when I searched, and they both look good.
Good luck
B.

Hi S.,

I'm sorry. I realize you're serious, but when I saw the subject, I chuckled a little lol.

Otherwise, I don't have any helpful suggestions. I had *some* round ligament pain, but only when I turned or bent a certain way, or laid a certain way.

It doesn't seem like 5 weeks is far enough to have round ligament pain, like you mentioned. What does your doc say?

If it were me, I'd check with the doc and after making sure everything is good to go, asking what suggestions they have. Maybe pregnancy excercises to strengthen your abdominal muscles, and your back muscles, so they are stronger and able to handle the expanding belly better. There are pregnancy excercise DVDs available everywhere. Check with the doc to see if you're OKed for excercise.

I also liked the suggestion for massage, and the maternity belts(although I had no CLUE there was such an animal--I should come out of the cave more haha!).

I also send my congrats and hope that you are able to find some relief! :o)

K. W

Hi S.,

I know your pain! I had a huge amount of round ligament pain with both my pregnancies. Fortunately early on in my second pregnancy I began seeing a chiropractor, which helped me more than I can express to you. I learned that there are pregnancy specific adjustments that include ones to relieve round ligament pain, which is incredibly common in pregnancy. I'm not sure where you are exactly, but I know of a great chiro who treats a lot of pregnant women and has been in practice for over 20 years who is in the Olympia area. Most chiros who treat pregnant women can also recommend a good belly support for you and order it for you as well. Massage can also be wonderful, there are several in the Oly area that specialize in pregnancy. I hope that helps you! Feel free to drop me a message if you have any other questions.

Warmly,
L. E.

Hi S.! I just have to tell you I too am pregnant with my 3rd and the ligament pain is much much worse with this one than the last two. My pain started about 6-8 weeks or so, it has since subsided a little but if I move the wrong way or sneeze in the wrong position OH THE PAIN. It's awful. Yes you can have ligament pain this early. Your body is moving things around much sooner than it did the first two times. I had to go and get maternity clothes at 8 weeks because I couldnt' fit into anything. I look like i'm about 6 months and i'm only 11 weeks. I have been looking for one of these as well Amazon.com seems to be the best place to find them with the biggest variety to choose from. I wish I could tell you it will quit and go away! Best wishes and congratulations,
W.

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. I have been like this with my second and had no idea it is suppose to hurt this much. I asked my doctor about it and he told me to wear a belt and that it was just part of having subsequent pregnancies. Well he is the doctor right so I believed him at first but as the pain got worse and worse I knew this had to be something. So one day I just typed on the internet in a search about being pregnant and hurting and my world was changed to know there were others out there that felt like me and that there was a real problem. After reading about it I called my doctor and talked to them and well now he finally agrees there is an actual reason for feeling and hurting so bad. Here is one of the sites that I read that was like I was feeling. http://www.myebaby.co.uk/2007/07/28/is-it-supposed-to-hur...

I've been diagnosed with SPD (synthesis pubis dysfunction I think) which is when the relaxin hormone that prepares your body for birth over reacts with the pubic bone and it gets out of alignment causing burning pain in the front of the crotch - especially on turning over in bed, or getting up to go to the loo. The dr cheerfully told me it is likely to get worse before the birth and there isn't much you can do other than not make the movements that make it worse :-\ I know it sounds scarry but it's where your hormones soften the pelvic bones to accommodate the baby but they separate too much, causing real aches and pains in the pelvic area and groin. some women end up on cruches or even wheelchairs.

I hope this helps and good luck to you!

Hi Stacy. I just saw this on a website:
http://www.thegentlenest.com/products8.html

They have a few support options designed for people having multiples, so this might really work for you.

S.,

Are you in Bellingham or Whatcom County? If you are, there is a great place in south Bellingham that fits people for a wonderful "corset-like" brace. It is a pain in the neck to get on or off, but my round ligament pain was so bad I couldn't get out of a chair or hardly move at all. This brace didn't solve it in all situations, but it did help sooooo much. I can't remember the name of the place that fitted them, but I was referred to them by a therapist that works at "Performance Physical Therapy". If you can get ahold of her (sorry my youngest is 2 1/2 and I don't remember her name but she specialized in women's issues), she can get you in touch with the brace people.

Also, my doctor wouldn't send me to physical therapy for my pain. With my younger daughter, I switched doctors at 20 weeks and he sent me to PT. They said that if I had gotten in for therapy even a few weeks earlier, they could have also helped me through exercises that would have relieved the pain.. so if you haven't made it to PT yet, look into it.

Jenn

I had round ligament pain with my third (2 months old now) worse than with the other two. My chiropractor always massaged my round ligament after my adjustments. You can think of it in this way: Your uterus is like a balloon sitting in your pelvis. It can get twisted by the ligaments and discs that are out of alignment, thus causing pain. If you can get adjusted and then massage the uterus back to it's straight position you'll feel a lot of relief. Unfortunately you'll always have some pain with certain motions. But a chiropractor will give you a lot of relief!

A Belly Sock might help: http://www.bellysock.com/
These are supposed to be so you can wear your regular clothes longer so I'm sure they provide quite a bit of support. I'm not sure who sells it right now, but I know it will soon be available at www.coolerchoices.com. I had ligament pain too with my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. I just learned to get up slower from a sitting position, and yes I did wear the maternity belt for awhile.

I'm not sure of your size but I know there are different issues with larger mamas and round ligaments AND pelvic pain. It was almost unbearable for me, but I just dealt with it when I should have seen a chiropractor! I did go to physical therapy with my 2nd pregnancy because of the pain I was having in my back/pelvic bones. I would suggest checking out that website for the chiropractors listed below, it IS worth the money. Also, if you want to contact me I have a belly support that is fantastic that I used for 2 of my pregnancies and loved it so much I bought another for my last one, but then hardly used it. If you would like to check it out, you can contact me to see if it will fit you. It was first recommended by my physical therapist that I had 12 years ago with my 2nd pregnancy and now they are available "over the counter". (but I have one in great shape)

S. You need to find a massage thearpist that works with the pressure release points. I'm sorry I can't think right now what it's called. You don't want someone who just does muscle rubs but someone who can release that round ligament for you because it's hung up somewhere at all times and just becomes noticable when you are with child,.

Good hunting
C.

I do not think massage, exercise, etc. is going to help. Like you said, these are not muscles. I think you need to be referred to a doctor that can help you. If your doctor does not have any suggestions for you, ask to be referred to a doctor that can help you. I had to be referred to a specialty doctor with my second pregnancy. Once I was referred, I got all my questions answered.
Good luck!

Perhaps after talking with your doctor he would refer you for physical therapy. A physical therapist may be able to help you by improving your posture and strengthening your own muscle girdle.

Speaking of girdles. I seem to remember my mother wearing a maternity girdle. It covered her entire lower body and laced up. I've not seen one since growing up.

Have you tired the maternity belts they sell at mother hood? thats the only thingi can think of. i would talk to your ob about maybe going to see a massage therapist. hang in ther!! and congrats!!

About the massage, I am a massage therapist, and I don't think that there are a lot of quality, pregnancy massage-trained therapists who are going to work on that pain while you are pregnant. Anything other than light surface work on the belly is not allowed on a pregnant woman.

Do you have any history of cysts or endometriosis or fibroids? I had surgery for endo. and my round ligament pain is only on that side, possibly because of scarring.

If you find a physical therapist, go with one who is very experienced in working with pregnancy. If it hurts, don't do it. Your OB may have good suggestions for a PT or for exercises to help.

I am a big advocate of continuing abdominal exercises during pregnancy. Too many women drop it all together. You can do a modified plank (resting on elbows and knees, straight spine) and also practice pully your belly-button toward your spine when you are walking or even watching tv. Any tone that you can retain will help.

Good luck.

no matter whata dr might tell you that kind of pain while pregnant is NOT normal. also laying back will only make things worse. go to www.icpa4kids.org and locate a chiropracter that is trained to deal with women, there are over a hundred in CA so i am sure you wil find one near you, and i promise the $ will be worth it. and you will feel much better, i had simialar issues and after a few adjustments i felt SOO much better.
http://www.icpa4kids.org/locator/results_list.php?showonl...=

I'm also pregnant with my third, and have also had round ligament pain since just as early as you. It started earlier with each pregnancy, but I had a lot by midway with my first as well. I'm interested to read the replies you got, because I may also need to do something about it if it gets worse. So far it mostly comes if I get really tired or wear pants with too tight a waistband, those both aggravate it. Resting and wearing loose enough pants seems to help it be better and not flare up as often. I'm sorry you're experincing it in such a severe and debilitating way. I know when I get a bad pain, it is horrible, I can't imagine if that pain was constant.

Let us know if you find something that helps, ok?

I saw this called a "shower hug" online the other day, which seems like it might be more supportive than the other belly bands out there:

http://www.littlepiddles.com/showerhug.html