Round ligament pain and sent home from Work

[Armygirl]

So I’m 28 weeks pregnant (measuring 30 weeks) and have been getting a very sharp ache under my bump on the left side for quite a few weeks. It feels positional and usually eases when I stand and stretch. Today in work (I’m a nurse) I was in so much pain they sent me home. I know it’s not labour or anything like that but I’m just worried that I’m going to have to finish work earlier than i expected. Does anyone have experience of round ligament pain and any tips on easing it please?

Hi @Armygirl. When I was pregnant with my son I suffered with round ligament pain from about 16 weeks and spd later on in pregnancy. I worked as a HCA on a haem ward so I'm totally sympathetic to you. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the one and only thing that helped me long term was rest. I had to start my maternity leave early at 29 weeks in the end but luckily I had saved some holiday as well. Ask to be referred to a physiotherapist through occy health at work they may be able to supply you with a support belt. I also had a pregnancy pillow which helped me sleep but not so helpful with my partner as it took up a lot of room in the bed. Warm bath always eased it too short term. Whilst you are working and standing for long periods of time it's probably not going to go away or improve any time soon. Have you thought about asking the ward matron if it's a possibility for you to do reduced hours at all?

Thank you for your reply Beth. I work in community clinics as a sexual health nurse so although I am active I think it’s the sitting at the desk that is making the pain worse. It helps to stand up and stretch it out. But tonight I just could’nt bare the pain any longer.
I’m going to look at getting a support belt. I really think that could help so thank you for that suggestion. I’ve already reduced my hours which started this week 😕 but I may have to limit my duties. I think possibly if I stop fitting coils and doing smears it may help as I’m also having trouble reaching the couch without stretching.
I really hope I don’t have to finish early ☹️

@Armygirl your welcome, it's totally awful isn't it. Ahh, that makes sense it's a lot of strain on your body isn't it. Bending and stretching definately won't help bless you x

Hey @Armygirl

I have similar (but only 24 weeks) - are you sure it's not PGP? - for me this has been so much pelvic pain I was scanned to check no ovarian cystsz I'm also medical and had to call in sick last week the pain is so bad. Rest def helps - and physio. I've gone private but been referred on nhs but the wait is ages - can your work get you physio sooner?

I've also used my annual leave to drop down a day a week and I'm going off at 36 weeks now as I can't bear the pain combined with the nhs days in January!!!

Hi Hoping, I did wonder if it was pgp but I’m not getting any hip or pelvic pain as such it’s just right on the crease of my bump. It’s like a very sharp pain and is agony. I drove home and had to keep stopping. I haven’t mentioned it at any of my mw appointments but I think I’ll have to.
I’ve used my last remaining annual leave to drop a clinic on a Thursday as I was working from 9am until 8pm and it was just too much.
I’ll ring occ health tomorrow and see if I can get an appointment for physio. Thank you. I hope the physio is working for you