Why The Very Painful Tummy Cramps at 29 weeks?

[MotherPanda]

This is my first post, but I've been a mumsnet lurker since I found out I was pregnant with my first (its a girl!). I'm now 29+3 weeks pregnant, due July 20th.

Last night, around 9/10ish I was lying around watching a film in bed with my DH when suddenly got this shocking pain through my tummy - I get lots of night time cramps in my legs and the pain was more similar to that than period pain type cramps.

The pain felt a bit like a thick cross across my tummy - with one line going from my privates, through my belly button and up to my ribs, and the other going horizontally from my sides through my belly button. I felt much more like someone was pulling a rope around my stomach (in this cross formation) - than the 'stretching out' pain i've gotten so used to. The worst pain was all below my belly button and I felt a lot of pressure.

My tummy really hardened up, and I was groaning and whimpering a lot and trying to move around - got up onto all fours, then to the side of the bed, tried to stand up, leaning against the wall, went to the floor on all fours grabbing my DH's legs - I was all over the place- nothing seemed to make it better. I had a feeling that if i could get up gravity would help, then if i managed to get vertical (with DH's help), I felt to weak to support myself and wanted to get back down.

It was AGONISING, My DH had said 'you're not in labour, are you' I know I can't have been as contractions stop and start, don't they?, wheras this pain was absolutely continuous. It went on for a very long time - I can't be exact as I wasn't watching the clock (was a bit busy!) but I estimate around half an hour (as my laptop had gone to sleep).

It eventually wore down so that i could speak clear sentances - rather than just saying 'don't!' or 'it's not..' but my tummy felt really bruised, like someone had been punching me. I got up to use the loo a few times in the night and my tummy was still hard at 5am this morning. It's softened up again now - but still sore!

Braxton Hics aren't like this are they? I thought they where more short and sweet and not painful? Has anyone else had this, was everything ok?

I know the baby's ok, as she's been kicking me this morning - but should I have gone to hospital? Should I call the midwife? (we don't have a car, and a bit scared of using the phone - so only like to do it when i really need to).

Sorry for the super long post! Does anyone have any ideas????

i Havent had BH but i guess it could be that, or constipation? Sometimes i am in that much agony and my belly goes rock hard. Call yr midwife you should put yr mind at rest, its what they there for :) x x

Thank you :), might hang around to see if anyone else has had this - oh what fun this pregnancy lark is!

its truly shocking isnt it. If they told you all this as a teenager you would never have sex. I am gonna offer my services to schools to talk of puking, piles, incontinance, back pain, constipation, trapped wind, freaky nipples.....

I had something like this about 4 weeks ago, when I was 19 weeks. Obviously earlier than you, but reading your post it sounds very similiar. It started as light cramping mid way throught the evening and quickly progressed to severe cramps where I could barely move. In the end I went to bed because I simply couldn't bear the pain of moving, it was excruciating. My doctor said it was probably a combination of a couple of things. Firstly I had curry for dinner that evening, so he thinks it was partly a digestion thing (not doing that again!), but more than likely had something to do with the fact that I had been squatting earlier in the evening for about 3 hours! Silly SILLY thing to do and I have definitely learnt my lesson! It was scary though, and boy was I sore the following morning. Felt like I had done about a million sit ups!

Do you think your stomach muscles can cramp up like the legs? I had a lazy day, so cant say it was because of squatting etc, unless of course my lying down pulled something. I feel much calmer about it now, but it was scary! Poor DH - he didn't know what to think!

I have a feeling I got a preview of what I will sound like in labour though... not very lady like.

Motherpanda why dont you go and get checked at your local unit, that is what they are there for.

Completely agree, I am sure it will put your mind at rest if you have it checked out.

I would have it checked out, at least speak to a midwife. Abdominal pain can means lots of things, most are nothing to worry about, but I think I would check with a professional to be on the safe side

Thanks guys :)

Hope you're ok, I'd get checked out just incase as others have said it's what they are there for :)

p.s I am very nearly 30 weeks so we must be due about the same time :)

My poor DD has had awful pains and we were worried. She got checked out, the baby's fine, just lying in a way that she gets sharp shooting pains. She's also had labour-type pains like the ones you describe. Again - everything's fine. It seems so unfair - all I got was heartburn and my god I complained about it!

Get checked out by all means - I just wanted to reassure you