Sharp, stabbing pain in stomach

[VillageFete]

Hi, i’m 18+4 and for the last 3 days have had these sharp, stabbing intermittent pains that are on my left hand side, across from belly button but slightly lower than the belly button. The pain stays in the one area.

They’ve kicked off again today and it now feels like a burny/stabby pain.

Spoke to my GP yesterday over the phone, she asked me to get checked at my local maternity unit. Called them, they said no need to be seen just rest and take pain relief.

GP asked me to come in today for a once over
to see exactly where the pain was. She wasn’t happy and asked me to contact the maternity unit again. I did, they didn’t want to see me. I insisted and I went.

Doctor was lovely but young and a bit unsure, she told me it could be a number of things such as ligament pain or a muscular skeletal issue. She was very honest that she wasn’t certain what it was. She asked would Midwives check baby’s heartbeat (Due to me feeling a bit anxious at this point as pain was very intense) This was declined as apparently at 18+4 there’s no guarantee you’ll find it….

Urine was dipped, I was prescribed Codeine (Absolutely won’t be taking this) And I was sent on my way. The pain is pretty intense at this point but does come and go, it’s not constant. It feels tender to touch right now but won’t again soon.

I’ve sought reassurance from the maternity unit and haven’t really been given it! So any of you wise MN’ers been through similar? I’m hoping it’s round ligament pain but looking at pictures online the ligament seems to be more to the side? Mine is ever so slightly lower than belly button and about 3 inches across from belly button on left side?

Is it anything like period pain? I had some pain throughout pregnancy, especially early on, felt like bad period pain, bit stabby, intermittent, kept me awake. Not sure what it was as didn’t see anyone about it as didn’t know I was pregnant at the time.

Eventually got told I had Braxton hicks - this was much later though, month 8 ish. Was also a bit like period pain.

I would have a warm hot water bottle, go to bed, read a book, have a cup of something and try to relax.

@Missingmyusername Thanks for replying. No, nothing like period pain, it’s like a stabbing/sharp sensation but can be very intense. It’s now starting to feel a bit like burning? It’s strange!

@VillageFete Ive had similar, a really tender spot on my belly, I didn’t have the stabbing pain from sitting still but did when I moved! It really hurt to touch too. I was checked and told it was ligament pain, it went away after a few days xx

Have you had your urine dipped recently OP? Could be a sign of a urine infection x

From googling I think it probably is round ligament pain. Stabbing and burning pains are said to be felt. If you’re in bad pain or feel something is wrong I’d ring 111. xx

Thank you, very thankful for the replies.

Regarding urine- i’ve had a UTI and finished my antibiotics. It’s all clear now. GP’s and Doctor at maternity unit didn’t feel this was related to a
UTI, not with the position the pain is in.

Hmm I had round ligament pain and it was like this.

@tobee It’s bloody awful pain but i’ll be so relieved if it’s this! Can I ask, how long did it go on for?

Gosh that's why I wrote the "hmm" because it was 28 years ago now 😬. I think a few days. I do remember being worried and then we went to A&E to get checked out!

Sorry not to be more help but I remember the discomfort and worry very well.

Hope it feels better soon.

Can you feel the baby moving? If all else fails go to maternity triage & tell them you can't feel any movement, you might at least get a scan.

My round ligament pain was very much like this, very intense. I had it intermittently throughout my pregnancy but I remember it was particularly bad in the second trimester. It is many trusts' policies that they don't attempt to listen to baby's heartbeat before 20 or 24 weeks due to the likelihood of them not finding it and causing unnecessary distress. Hopefully your 20 week scan is soon?
In terms of the codeine, it is safe to take but it depends whether you feel it would be of benefit. The caution around codeine applies with regular use and in the third trimester so that baby isn't born withdrawing from it. At 18 weeks this shouldn't be an issue.

If it started around your belly button and then moved to the right and got more constant, I’d be thinking appendicitis (for future thread readers because yours is on the left!)

does sound like ligament pain, it can last the rest of your pregnancy, but usually settles after a week or two when things have shifted. Very uncomfortable. Pregnancy, what a treat 🙄

Thank you all, I feel assured that it’s likely just ligament pain and nothing dangerous. Was just a bit uncertain as looking online it looks as though it’s more to the side than mine is, but it’s the most plausible explanation.

@Nat6999 Only just at the stage where i’m feeling light bubbles in my lower tummy. I look forward to the “proper” kicks because at least i’ll have some reassurance that she’s ok then.

round ligament pain can feel like this, sometimes I would find myself literally holding up my belly because it hurt to walk

however, your local maternity unit sucks for turning you away. If you need reassurance let them know your GP advised they check you up

I had stabbing / burning pain around my belly button at about 22 weeks. It turned out I had an umbilical hernia. Which was fixed when my dd was about a year old.

Whatever is wrong I hope you manage to find some relief.

Just to add too, I had co-dydramol for pain relief and my dd was fine. If you absolutely cannot cope without the pain relief, your health comes first and baby should be fine, they wouldn't have prescribed it otherwise. Small chance of being born addicted but that's a risk we sadly need to take if we have a lot of pain in pregnancy

Thanks again for the replies, it’s appreciated. It’s kicked off twice again today but thankfully it’s fairly short lived. It’s definitely a burning and stabbing type pain, both sensations at the same time and it doesn’t move from that exact area, same place every time.

@Imamumgetmeoutofhere The Dr at MAU and my own GP both felt my stomach, do you think a hernia would have been apparent?

Honestly had a shocking time at that hospital since booking In appointment. There’s been a catalogue of errors and it leaves me feeling uneasy.

Honestly, I don't know. They only suspected it at 22 weeks with me and confirmed it at about 24 due to it growing more.

I've had severe aches and pains around that area but they've usually been digestive/gas related pains. And they usually pass after a couple of days.

I'm surprised they didn't offer you a quick scan to reassure you everythings ok.

I hope it eases for you soon. I went when I was 12 weeks with awful cramps. They scanned me and thank fully all was okay.

I was lucky to hear the heartbeat at my 16 week check. I'm lucky I have an awesome midwife. X

Thanks again for replying- non of those stabby pains yesterday but I did have some period like pain and lower back ache. Hoping that’s just things stretching/pulling as my bump is really big considering gestation.

I know there’s so much pressure on our beloved NHS and maternity services must be struggling, but they were an absolute disgrace when I went with these pains on Friday. The Midwife acted like I was a major inconvenience when doing my BP and obs, 3 other Midwives sat in an office laughing and joking, refused point blank to check heartbeat after the (young) Dr asked them if they could. The poor Dr seemed a bit overwhelmed and wasn’t really sure what to say to me, but she was very kind - Unlike the Midwives.

It was a very poor experience and has left me not wanting to contact them again.

Do you have another local hospital you can transfer your care too? You are well within you rights to do so. Than experience sounds appalling x