Pulled muscle in bump?

[Halloumi22]

Has anyone pulled a muscle in their bump or had muscle separation and what did it feel like?

Context - DH is a police officer so, whilst thankfully off the awful blue light response shifts now, he still does some shifts which are most of the day and end at 10pm. It means I’ve been doing most of the heavy lifting of toddler DS and all that running round after him entails like the moment of dread when I hear a toy box completely emptying!

He’s very attached to me but doesn’t obviously understand the change now I’m only a couple of weeks away, so demands I still sit on the floor with him so he can play. He refuses to sit and play with me in the same room, just sat on my ball or right next to him on the sofa - I have to be on the floor or else major tantrum! He’s also decided of late he doesn’t want his nap anymore

Sorry for rambling anyway - it started with awful pelvis and hip pain which is made worse after sitting on the floor. I then started developing a pain in my bump, just off centre, above my belly button which has progressed to more painful. It hurts awfully just to touch it and I get a sharp pain if I cough, move or lean too far forward. It’s been there a good few days now and no sign of going.
I don’t get much chance to rest at all and I’m now worried I’ve pulled a muscle or worse and won’t have chance to get it to rest so will end up causing more damage.

Feel like my body is just broken and sick of being in so much pain 😭

Has anyone had anything similar sounding and anything you could do?

Op, I don't wish to worry you but is there an option for you to get this checked out?

Localised pain like that can be a symptom of a placental abruption.

I am not medically qualified at all and am fully aware it's more like to be, as you say, from toddler wrangling/the toll of being pregnant but I would still advocate giving your midwife or maternity unit a call if possible?

Thank you for your reply. I’ve never really looked into that before!

I’ve been having growth scans because of a previous small baby for gestation and my last one was Wednesday just gone. They didn’t pick anything up there but it does worry me as I have an anterior placenta and the pain is at the front / when touched.

Go and get checked out.

Could be placental abruption.

Is baby moving ok?

Get checked out for sure but I also wonder if it could be a hernia? I know they can happen near belly button

Thank you - have felt baby today.

I’ve just rang the maternity assessment unit - basically they told me it’s just probably general aches at my gestation (37 weeks) because if I think of what my body is doing, general aches are to be expected. Basically feel very fobbed off!

It feels bruised to touch my stomach on the outside and it constantly niggles away when I’m walking or sitting.

Didn’t have chance to argue or press further as toddler then decided to run in bellowing WHO IS IT and then running round my legs so could barely hear her.
I’m by myself until 10pm as DH is on one of his delightful shifts.

And to put a warm compress type thing on it but I can’t do that as no chance to rest*

I had a placental abruption with my second pregnancy. It felt like I had a bruise the size of a 50p just to the left of my belly button which was very sore to touch. The abruption showed up on subsequent scans but wasn't identified as such by the sonographer and was only identified when reviewed by the consultant. This is obviously colouring my advice to you.

I understand what you're saying op and like I said, I'd hate to worry anyone unnecessarily. I do know that no health care professional would ever tell you off for asking if you're unsure.

Sorry op, cross post. I think if you're worried then don't back and speak to someone else. Don't be fobbed off. And call your husband home, I've got a police officer DH and the job can wait

*phone back!

Please insist on a check up - especially if the pain gets worse, moves to the right or you start to feel nauseous. Again, not to worry you but I had a similar sounding pain which was the start of appendicitis.

To add : I was 30 weeks and put it down to pregnancy and a demanding toddler.

@Kerzehmet Thank you for sharing your experience, can imagine it was a worrying time! If you were to go above my belly button and to the right, that’s about where it is. I’ve got a cough at the moment so coughing really hurts it as well as most movement. Have lower backache too

It’s whether he would come home as another issue (!) - I’ve been keeping him updated with how I’ve been today and he just keeps saying how it doesn’t sound good. Apparently the other PC on his side’s son has been taken to hospital today too and he’d previously asked for today as leave as it’s my birthday 🙈

@Angharad78 Thank you for sharing. I haven’t felt nauseous but have felt quite crampy in the stomach from time to time.

Hmm it's difficult isn't it with them being short staffed and already having leave denied.

Is there anyone else who could watch your toddler/drive you to hospital if you can't drive yourself?

Only you know how you feel, any advice you get here will be influenced by pp's own experiences. I think it's best to say, if you don't feel 'right', then push to get it checked out. What's the worst that can happen? You spend NYE sat in hospital getting zero sleep but ultimately get sent home with your mind at rest 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Halloumi22 Did you ever find out what this was?! I have the exact same.

I tore an abdo muscle spontaneously in the night at 8 months. At the time, my midwife didn't believe me, but I saw the women's physio post-birth and told her and she confirmed it. It still hurts sometimes now and ds1 is 15!! I'm hypermobile and I think that's relevant as I tear muscles easily.