Is abdominal muscle soreness normal?

Question

This is my 2nd pregnancy. My first was very easy and I had almost no discomfort whatsoever. THIS one has been miserable, and most of the complaints I've gone to my doctor about she has told me are perfectly normal pregnancy complaints, and that I just got really lucky the first time.

So, before I go to her with this one at my appointment later today, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced severe soreness in your lower abdominal muscles? My stomach almost constantly feels like I've been doing crunches after a long time of being out of shape. It isn't cramps or contractions, I know what those feel like, it is just soreness. It is especially bad when I've been sitting for a long time. When I first get out of my car after my commute to work or home (about a 40-45 minute ride) my stomach is so sore that I'm hunched over and limping like an old woman for the first few minutes after getting out of the car.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Answer 1

Your uterian walls are contracting and expanding thus causing discomfort.  It's very normal.  Its very simular to braxton hicks that some women can experience as early as 4-5 months.  I have been pregnant 4 times and can attest that every one of my pregnancies were very different.  How far along are you?  I also experienced a pain in my stomach but it was higher and to my right and apparently during pregnancy your gall blader can get agitated.  But i would definatly write down all the questions you have for your doctor and maybe even the time of day and what you were doing and even what you ate.  That's what your doc is there for so don't feel ashamed or feel that your question is stupid....any concerns you have are valid!  Hope this helps and congratulations! :)  Oh also you could be dialating....a friend of mine actually started to dialate at 6-7 months but there was no contractions.  Also take it easy and relax drink lots of water.  That helped with a lot of my pain.  Oh and lay down on your left side that will help to aleviate some pain too.

Yeah being close to 29- 30 weeks it gets to be a little uncomfortable.  I didn't remember the pain of contractions so even being pregnant 4 times contractions could feel different.  It sounds like your having braxton hicks but i don't know the amount of pain you are in.  If you feel like you have to breath through the pain you could be going in to early labor or even the start of dialation.  Call your doc definatly because if your in early labor they can give you meds to stop contractions.

also sitting for long periods of time can cause your cyatic nerve to send pain up and down your leg and back.  I had terrible problems with that my last pregnancy.  Try walking a little.  The cyatic nerve is the one in your upper buttocks and the baby can but pressure on it.  Also sitting for long periods of time can cause blood clots during pregnancy in your legs.  You want to relax but also move your legs around to keep the circulation.