Round ligament pain - is it really this painful?

[oysterpots]

I've been having really bad stitch-like pains on the left side of my tummy about 10 cm left of my navel. Yesterday the pains got so bad when I was walking home from work that I couldn't walk any further and had to sit down, call DH and get him to come and collect me in the car. All evening the pain was nagging away although having a bath helped while I was in the bath, but worsened when I got out. I took a couple of paracetamol which helped a little.

Even lying in bed was painful and the only thing that really seemed to do anything was putting a hot water bottle over the pain. I've woken up this morning with just a ghost of where the pain was but have taken the day off work to rest anyway.

So what I want to know is does this sound like round ligament pain or could it be more serious? I'm seeing my midwife on Tuesday so would like to hang on until then but should I call her? (Last time I had a similar but much less severe pain she said it was RLP and I should just rest.) And is it ok putting a hot water bottle on my tummy (the baby is lying on the other side)?

Hi Oysterpots
I think I've been getting this for a couple of weeks now (made worse as the baby was laying across and deep in my pelvis)and its mostly a constant ache. It can get really painful. I mentioned it to my MW who said it is absolutely normal- if it gets too bad take paracetamol and if it becomes period pains call the delivery suite for their advice.
I guess from this its pretty common to get really bad pain. You could always give your MW a quick call for reassurance.
As for the water bottle I was told not to apply one to my stomach anywhere but I think other people may have been told dif. call your MW and ask her- thats whats shes there for.
Hope it calms down soon.