Most pregnant women, the first time they experience a lightning crotch early pregnancy, wonder if it is normal. What causes this pain? Can it repeat again? Do you have to worry? And so on.
Pregnancy is a time when you are likely to experience many new and unfamiliar pains. One of the pains that most mothers experience is a sharp shooting pain in the vaginal area during pregnancy, also called “lightning crotch.”
What is Vaginal Lightning Crotch?
Shooting pain of the vaginal area or lightning crotch pregnancy in areas such as the lower abdomen, vagina, pelvis, or rectum is a sharp pain similar to burning, electric shock, or severe vibration. Abdominal cramps last only a few hours during pregnancy. But if you feel pain longer than this, you should see a gynecologist.
Regarding the symptoms of the lightning crotch, it should be said that vaginal shooting during pregnancy is a rapid and sharp pain that can sometimes extend to the legs. As a pregnancy symptom, this pain increases as the time of delivery approaches. Pain similar to tingling or sharp pain in the clot, vagina, and uterus is generally called lightning crotch.
During pregnancy, women feel different pains in their lower body. however, these pains are different and should not be confused with the pain of shooting in the lower abdomen. Therefore, if you couldn’t diagnose this pain after reading this article, be sure to see a doctor or consult a specialist.
When does Lightning Crotch Occur?
Vaginal shooting pain can occur at any time during pregnancy, from early pregnancy until the last weeks. But most of all, it can happen in the third trimester of pregnancy, when the fetus grows larger and you are closer to the time of delivery.
This pain ends with the birth of your baby. Understandably, this pain can be unpleasant, but it is unavoidable and one of the complications of the disease. So, you have to keep calm in different ways and deal with this pain until your beloved child is born.
What is the Cause of Lightning Crotch in pregnancy?
The reason for this pain is not clear, but there are theories as to why this pain occurs:
Enlargement of the fetus in the womb
As your little one grows and gets bigger every day, it takes up more uterine space. The baby can reach the nerve fibers that pressure the cervix or around it. Also, as labor approaches, the baby's head pressure surges, putting pressure on the pelvis and cervix. This causes pain in the vaginal area of the uterus.
Fetal movement
The fetus assumes a state of transformation as it moves in the uterus and changes position and descends into the birth canal. He may be stretched or kicked, each of which can put pressure on the wall of the uterus. This pressure increases when the fetus is in the pelvic area in the last weeks of pregnancy or during childbirth.
Existence of varicose veins
We are all aware of the unpleasant pain that varicose veins cause. During pregnancy, there is also the possibility of varicose veins in the vaginal area, which can cause pelvic pain. This is due to blood clotting in the lower extremities, and the pain is similar to shooting.
Minerals such as magnesium
Unfortunately, many pregnant women have magnesium in their bodies. One of the major benefits of magnesium is that it improves the function of the body's nerves. If a person does not have enough magnesium, it can cause nerve pain during pregnancy or cramping and sciatica.
Pain in the round ligament of the uterus
During pregnancy, the protective ligaments of the pelvis and uterus become adapted to the increasing growth of the fetus. Some women produce more relaxin and progesterone hormones than others. These cause these ligaments to loosen and enlarge. When these ligaments become enlarged, they can very quickly cause the lower abdomen to bulge during pregnancy.
Does Lightning Crotch in the Last Month of Pregnancy mean Delivery?
Researchers say that lightning crotch the vagina could be a sign of delivery pain. It was mentioned that the fetus put pressure on the nerves of the uterus by the moving down and applying pressure to the pelvic area. This pain can be a sign of labor time when other symptoms of childbirth accompany it.
Treatment of Lightning Crotch Pregnancy
You may be looking for a home remedy for lightning crotch during pregnancy. Here are some dos and don’ts that can help relieve uterine contractions.
Switching
Some mothers find this pain worse in certain postures, such as sitting. If the same is true for you, it is better to be in a position where your body is more relaxed. Changing the position can help the baby move and reduce the pressure on the nerves.
Hot water bath
A hot bath can reduce many of the discomforts of pregnancy, such as stress or physical pain. It also reduces ligament pain. Of course, ensure the water is not too hot to not raise your body temperature.
Use a tummy tuck
There are unique clothes for pregnant women that are sold in many stores. By losing weight from the pelvis, they can reduce the pressure on the nerves. Therefore, genital bone pain during pregnancy is reduced. You can wear these belts under or on your clothes.
Perform prenatal massage
It is true that prenatal massage cannot prevent shooting pain, but it can relax the muscles and relieve pregnancy pain.
Take magnesium supplements
As mentioned, a lack of magnesium in the body can cause muscle cramps and increase pelvic pain during pregnancy. Therefore, it is better to consume this mineral in case of magnesium deficiency in the body. However, it must be taken with the diagnosis of a specialist to maintain the health of yourself and your child and reduce all kinds of pain.
It's up to you to decide if your body is deficient in magnesium. You should take various supplements during pregnancy. Remember to take them under the supervision of a specialist doctor so as not to endanger your health and the baby. Your doctor may order several tests to diagnose magnesium deficiency and prescribe magnesium supplements for you.
Exercise and stay active
Exercising during pregnancy has many benefits. Of course, these exercises should be done in consultation with specialists. Exercising during this period reduces pregnancy stress, puts the baby in the best position, and reduces lightning crotch in the lower abdomen.
Reduce the amount of work
Research has shown that long working hours can cause pelvic pain. If you work long hours, reduce this amount so that you do not suffer from various pains in pregnancy. Heavy or prolonged activity during this period can cause vaginal bone pain.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent lightning crotch pain during pregnancy. Abdominal shooting pain is unavoidable, but the good news is that whatever the cause of lightning crotch in pregnancy, it should not interfere with your daily life and activities. In case the pain is accompanied by other symptoms such as abnormal discharge or bleeding, in which case you must see a doctor as soon as possible.