How to Relieve Those Sharp, Shooting Pains in Pregnancy, Naturally!
It’s very common for women in their second trimester to nervously ask their midwife or OB about:
A sharp, stabbing pain on one side of the belly
Pulling, cramping, or stretching sensations across the lower abdomen
Shooting pain in the crotch or groin
The good news is that these sensations are usually a normal result of your body adjusting to your growing baby and uterus. They are most often caused by the round ligaments, which are rope-like bands of connective tissue in the front of the pelvis that help support your uterus.
As your belly expands, these ligaments stretch to accommodate your growth. Because round ligaments contract quickly but relax slowly, any sudden movement—like sneezing, laughing, coughing, rolling over in bed, or standing up too quickly—can make them spasm, creating that sharp or shooting abdominal pain so many moms describe. Some even feel a lightning-like jolt down the inner thigh or groin that takes their breath away for a moment.
While it can feel concerning, this kind of round ligament pain is both normal and temporary—most common between months four and seven. Thankfully, there are several natural ways to ease and prevent these sharp pregnancy pains.
6 Natural Ways to Relieve Round Ligament Pain
1. Gentle belly massage.
Try stroking up the sides of your belly with your fingertips, starting deep in the groin area. You don’t need firm pressure—just steady, encouraging movements that help the ligaments relax. This simple technique can reduce the intensity or frequency of spasms, especially when practiced preventatively.
2. Warm Epsom salt baths.
A warm bath is a wonderful way to relax muscles and round ligaments. The warmth soothes tension, while the magnesium in Epsom salts helps your body unwind even more. Many moms find that their bath becomes a calm, happy ritual of pregnancy self-care.
Although you may read online warnings about hot baths, studies show that most women get out long before their core temperature rises significantly. The main concern about prolonged high temperature relates to early pregnancy (weeks 3–7), long before round ligament sensations typically begin.
3. Use warmth directly.
Applying a heating pad or hot water bottle to the lower belly or groin area can ease spasms as they occur—or help relieve soreness afterward.
4. Consider chiropractic care.
The hormone Relaxin, which the ovaries and placenta produce during pregnancy, softens ligaments and joints—especially around the pelvis. A skilled prenatal chiropractor can help align and balance your pelvis, improving its relationship to your uterus and relieving the domino effect that sometimes triggers round ligament pain.
5. Support with magnesium.
Magnesium is often called the body’s relaxation mineral, and deficiencies are common. Supplementing can help calm reactivity in both muscles and ligaments. If you also experience calf cramps or constipation, consider magnesium citrate (which supports regularity). For overall wellness, magnesium threonate can be another good choice.
6. Try a belly band or maternity belt.
As your belly grows, a maternity support band can lift your abdomen and lower back ever so slightly, reducing strain and round ligament discomfort. It can make movement easier and prevent some of those sudden, shooting pains.
As an experienced midwife, I’ve found that many moms benefit from gentle coaching to help them reconnect with their expanding bellies.
Some women have strong abdominal tone—whether from fitness, body type, or simply habit—and aren’t used to letting their bellies fully soften.
We’ll sometimes laugh together about how, for the first time, their belly might rest on their lap, or how small-breasted women are surprised to feel their breasts touching their rising belly. Taking a few moments to normalize this natural softening and roundness often melts tension women didn’t even realize they were holding.
A few slow, deep breaths—allowing your belly to rise and expand—can gently anchor this awareness and release the tightening that sometimes makes round ligament pain worse.
When to Reach Out—Red Flag Symptoms
While round ligament pain is common and benign, it’s always wise to contact your midwife or OB if pain feels severe, does not ease up, or if your intuition tells you something isn’t right. We’d always rather be contacted for something that turns out to be minor than have you wait on something more serious.
Here are a few symptoms that should be checked promptly:
Early, one-sided pain (4–12 weeks): Especially if sharp or constant, possibly with vaginal bleeding, shoulder pain, dizziness, or fainting. This pattern could indicate an ectopic pregnancy, which needs urgent attention.
Pain with urination or fever: Dull abdominal or pelvic discomfort, lower back pain, burning when you pee, or feeling generally unwell can signal a urinary tract infection (UTI)—common in pregnancy and easily treated. P.S. There’s lots of good pregnancy-safe info on holistic treatment of UTI’s in Get Well Soon, The On-line Course for Moms which can help prevent UTI’s and compliment medical care.
Cramping before 20 weeks with bleeding: Pain resembling menstrual cramps (different from the quick “pinging” of round ligament pain), possibly with spotting or small clots, could suggest a threatened miscarriage. Many women with these signs still go on to have healthy full-term births, but it’s important to be assessed. If you are wondering about these symptoms, my blog on ‘What To Do When a Pregnant Mama is Spotting’ could be helpful.
Embracing the Wisdom of the Slowdown
Most of the time, round ligament pain in pregnancy is transient. It’s an invitation to move a little more slowly, listen to your body’s signals, and embrace yet another layer of adjustment as your pregnancy evolves.
“I know it can be uncomfortable to be making lots of adjustments and need accommodations that you haven’t needed before. But you are growing a baby! And although our modern culture often cheers on ‘life as usual’ during pregnancy, it truly is a precious ‘time out of time’ in your reproductive life. Give yourself grace and lean into easing up and taking the time you need for your well-being—and your baby’s.”
If late-night Googling has you questioning what’s normal in pregnancy, remember that having trusted, evidence-informed guidance can bring so much peace of mind. For a deeper dive with a seasoned midwife (that’s me!), you might love my course Navigating Birth—created for moms who want grounded, empowering education every step of the way.