Aches & Pains

Round Ligament Pain in Pregnancy

Sharp, brief pulls in your lower tummy or groin as supporting ligaments stretch — very common and normal in the second trimester.

⏱️ 4 min read🗓️ Updated 6 July 2026🤰 2nd trimester✅ 5 sources🩺 Medical review pending

Written and fact-checked by the ParentVibes editorial team against WHO, NHS, ACOG and peer-reviewed guidance. Not yet reviewed by a named clinician.

Quick facts

Typical timing: Second trimester, often weeks 14–20
Feels like: A sharp, brief pull or ache, usually one-sided
Common triggers: Sudden movement, standing up, coughing, sneezing
How long it lasts: Seconds to a few minutes at a time
See a doctor if: Pain is constant, severe, or comes with fever or bleeding

As your uterus grows through the second trimester, you may notice sudden, sharp twinges or pulling sensations in your lower tummy or groin — often when you stand up quickly, roll over in bed, cough or sneeze. This is round ligament pain, one of the most common and normal aches of pregnancy.

It can feel alarming the first time it happens, especially if it's sharp, but it's simply the stretching of the ligaments that support your growing uterus and is not a sign of harm to your baby. This guide explains why it happens, how to tell it apart from something more serious, and simple ways to ease it.

What is round ligament pain?

The round ligaments are two cord-like bands of tissue that run from the top of your uterus down to your groin on each side, helping to hold your uterus in position. As your uterus grows rapidly through the second trimester, these ligaments stretch and thicken to keep up, and sudden movements can cause them to pull or spasm quickly, felt as a sharp, brief pain.

Round ligament pain is usually felt low in your tummy or groin, often more on one side (commonly the right), and typically lasts just a few seconds to a couple of minutes. It's triggered by quick movements — standing up, rolling over, coughing, sneezing or laughing — rather than happening constantly, which helps tell it apart from other causes of abdominal pain.

A completely normal stretching pain

Round ligament pain is one of the most common pregnancy symptoms and does not mean anything is wrong with you or your baby — it's simply your body adapting to accommodate your growing uterus.

What causes round ligament pain?

Round ligament pain happens as a direct result of your uterus growing and your body adapting.

Rapid uterine growth

Your uterus grows significantly during the second trimester, stretching the round ligaments that anchor it to keep pace.

Sudden movements

Quick changes in position — standing up fast, rolling over, or twisting — can cause the stretched ligament to pull or spasm sharply.

Coughing, sneezing or laughing

These sudden movements tense your abdominal area and can trigger a quick pull on the ligament.

Increased activity

A particularly active day, including exercise, can sometimes bring on more twinges than usual.

More noticeable if…

This is a first pregnancy (ligaments haven't stretched before)
You're carrying twins or more
You've been more physically active than usual that day

When round ligament pain is normal

Round ligament pain is expected for most people in the second trimester. These features are reassuring:

A sharp, brief pull or ache lasting seconds to a couple of minutes, then settling completely.
Pain triggered by a specific movement — standing, rolling over, coughing or sneezing.
Discomfort felt low in your tummy or groin, often more on one side.
No fever, bleeding, or other symptoms alongside it, and you feel well between episodes.

	Usually round ligament pain	Needs medical attention
Duration	Seconds to a couple of minutes, then gone	Constant, or lasting many minutes to hours
Trigger	Linked to a sudden movement	Happens with no clear trigger, or worsening
Other symptoms	None — you feel well otherwise	Fever, bleeding, or regular tightening

Moving more slowly can help

Changing position a little more gradually — rolling over in stages, standing up slowly — often reduces how often round ligament pain catches you off guard.

Warning signs — get medical help now

Round ligament pain itself is harmless, but contact your doctor or midwife urgently, or go to your nearest emergency department, if your pain:

Seek urgent medical care if you have

Is constant or severe rather than brief and triggered by movement.
Comes with a fever, chills or feeling generally unwell.
Is accompanied by vaginal bleeding or unusual discharge.
Comes with regular tightening or cramping, especially before 37 weeks.
Is on one side and severe, especially with dizziness or shoulder-tip pain.
Doesn't ease with rest or gets steadily worse over hours.

If your baby's movements feel reduced or different, contact your maternity unit the same day.

When in doubt, get checked

It can be hard to tell round ligament pain apart from other causes of tummy pain. If anything feels different, more severe, or doesn't fit the usual brief pattern, contact your midwife — it's always worth checking.

Self-care & home remedies

Simple changes to how you move can reduce how often round ligament pain strikes.

Move gradually

Change position slowly — roll onto your side before sitting up, and stand up in stages rather than suddenly.
Support your bump with your hand when you cough, sneeze or laugh.
Avoid sudden twisting movements.

Comfort measures

A warm bath or warm compress on the sore area can ease lingering ache after a sharp twinge.
Rest and change position if you feel a pull coming on.
Gentle stretching, guided by your midwife or a prenatal class, can ease tension.

Stay active sensibly

Continue gentle, pregnancy-safe activity like walking, which keeps you flexible without straining your ligaments.
Pace more strenuous activity rather than doing it all at once.

A support garment can help

Some people find a light maternity support band eases the pulling sensation during activity — ask your midwife if this might help you.

When to consult a doctor

Book a non-urgent chat with your doctor or midwife if:

You're unsure whether your pain is round ligament pain or something else.
The pain is becoming more frequent, more severe, or lasting longer than usual.
You're worried, even if you can't put your finger on why.
Pain is affecting your ability to move around or sleep comfortably.
You have any other new symptoms alongside the pain.

Not sure if it's normal? Track it

Logging when twinges happen and how long they last can help you and your midwife tell round ligament pain apart from anything that needs a closer look.

Open the Pregnancy Tracker

Frequently asked questions

What does round ligament pain feel like?

It's usually a sharp, brief pulling or stabbing sensation in your lower tummy or groin, often on one side, lasting a few seconds to a couple of minutes before easing completely.

When does round ligament pain start and stop?

It most commonly starts in the second trimester, often around weeks 14–20, as your uterus grows quickly. It can continue on and off into the third trimester for some people.

Is round ligament pain a sign of something wrong with my baby?

No. It's a normal result of the ligaments supporting your uterus stretching as your baby grows, and does not affect your baby's health.

Why is round ligament pain worse on one side?

Many people feel it more on the right side, though the reason isn't fully understood. It's still considered a normal variation and not a cause for concern on its own.

How can I stop round ligament pain from happening?

You can't prevent it entirely, but moving more slowly, supporting your bump when you cough or sneeze, and avoiding sudden twisting movements can reduce how often it catches you.

When should round ligament pain worry me?

See a doctor if the pain becomes constant, severe, or comes with fever, bleeding, dizziness or regular tightening — these suggest it may not be simple round ligament pain.

Your next steps

Track your pregnancy

Log symptoms week by week, get personalised tips, and see how your pregnancy is progressing.

Open Pregnancy Tracker

Pregnancy week-by-week

Follow your baby's growth and your body's changes from week 1 to 40 in plain language.

Explore the guide

Find a gynaecologist

Have a personal concern? Book with a trusted obstetrician or gynaecologist near you.

Find a doctor

Related pregnancy symptoms

Pelvic Pain Back Pain Abdominal Cramps Braxton Hicks Contractions Hip Pain

→ See all pregnancy symptoms A–Z

Helpful resources

Sources

Next review due: 6 January 2027.

Medical disclaimer

This page is general information about a common pregnancy symptom and does not replace personal medical advice. Every pregnancy is different. If you have severe pain, heavy bleeding, a bad headache with vision changes, reduced or absent baby movements, breathing difficulty, fever, or you feel something is seriously wrong, contact your doctor or midwife or go to your nearest emergency department straight away. When in doubt, always get checked — it is never a waste of anyone's time.

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