Shoulder pain early pregnancy

[BabyC21]

Hi ladies,
I’m 4 weeks pregnant and have had shoulder pain the past few day’s. It’s mild and comes & goes and alternates from one shoulder to the other but I’ve read it can mean ectopic so I’m terrified. Had anybody had shoulder pain in early pregnancy and it has not been ectopic? Thanks in advance :)

Hi @BabyC21

I had exactly the same as you, it started at 6 weeks and it would happen more if I was lying on my front or driving strangely. It wasn't really painful, exactly the same as you, it just came and went and I wasn't worried about it at all at first and put it down to the ligament pains but it was only until I read about ectopic pregnancy symptoms that I stated to worry.

I called my EPU and they booked me in for an early ultrasound and everything was absolutely fine. They even said the shoulder pain they look out for is actually around your shoulder blades and 99% of the time you would experience bleeding before the shoulder pain.

I always say to be safe rather than sorry and that there is no harm getting checked over but I really wouldn't worry yourself x

Thanks so much for replying that helps xx
I wouldn’t have worried only because I read that - oh sometimes life would be simpler without google 🙈🙈 I haven’t had any bleeding at all, and because I’m only 4 weeks it’s too early for a scan to see the sac. I have my 2nd beta test tomorrow to see if my HCG has doubled. I got pregnant through fertility treatment so my sense of something going wrong is even more heightened... this will (hopefully) be a long 8 more months. Hope your pregnancy is going well xx

I kept having a pain in my shoulder in early pregnancy as well. Came and went and definitely wasn't what I'd call excruciating very mild. Everything was absolutely fine. I'm not sure if i just noticed it more because i was so concerned about ectopic if that makes sense. If you're concerned though call your EPU. You're so early on though they may not see anything yet. X

Thanks @Whilstwewait I’m with my fertility clinic tomorrow so I will mention it to them and see what they say, but good to hear others have had it with no issues xx

I had shoulder pain with an ectopic, but it was one shoulder only. Also one sided breast pain, though I never see that anywhere, so perhaps it was just me

Sorry to hear you had an ectopic. Yes mine is alternating between both sides and Brest pain also both sides. Hope you are ok x

Hope you are ok OP

I really think pain on both sides is very likely to be normal ligament pain as your body adjusts to pregnancy.
Having had an ectopic I can confirm my pain was very much limited to one side, try not to worry.

Thank you @joystir59.
Thanks @feliciabirthgiver I hope so 🤞

Hope you are all having happy healthy pregnancies x

I had two ectopics both ruptured - shoulder pain is always mentioned as an ectopic symptom but it's actually pretty rare compared to other symptoms which come first?
The pain is caused by internal bleeding reaching the diaphragm and is usually the last symptom before collapsing.

Honestly rupture pain is unlike anything I've ever felt (and I had several miscarriages) and happened around 6 weeks so 4 weeks is likely too early to diagnose an ectopic at this point x

Thanks a mill for your response and so sorry to hear everything you have been through. You’re right I was thinking it would be way to early to know too. Thank you x

I had a ruptured ectopic and had NO pain prior. I’d even had my belly prodded by doctor and been fine a couple of days previously.

Had sudden onset nausea and fainted.

If I hadn’t been in the hospital at the time and a clever doctor had figured it out I would’ve died. Luckily they got me to theatre quickly.

Did you have a positive outcome? X

I am the OP - yes I did. That baby is almost 3