Seeing a lot of pregnant patients, we often work with women who have round ligament pain. The round ligaments of the uterus are unique for two reasons. Since they are attached to the uterus, only women have them, and they are one of the very few ligaments that contain muscle fibers.
Round ligaments in the uterus are very specialized structures, designed to stabilize the uterus during pregnancy. In a non-pregnant woman they are only about 4 inches long. They attach the top right and left of the uterus to the pelvis, by running down to the midline of the left and right pubic bones, and then run through the inguinal canal, ultimately attaching to the inside of the outer labia on each side.
As pregnancy progresses, the round ligaments thicken and lengthen to support the uterus as it grows to accommodate the growth of the fetus. In some women, the round ligaments will become tight and can actually create painful trigger points because of the tightness of the muscle fibers in them. This is usually perceived as either cramping, sharp or dull pain in the front of the abdomen, or a pulling or other painful sensation in the pelvis or vagina on either side. Round ligament symptoms usually appear in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy.
Thankfully round ligament pain usually does not indicate damage or injury, but rather is a symptom of tightness in the uterus or pelvis.
We can often also release the trigger points in the round ligaments in just a couple of minutes, and show you easy techniques to do at home to alleviate round ligament pain.
At Timpview Chiropractic, Dr. Erickson is Webster certified in pregnancy adjusting to create optimal function in the pelvis and lower back, including assessing and treating your round ligament pain. If you have any questions, please contact us today.