Pulling the maternal ligaments without pregnancy

Outside a pregnancy, the mother’s ligaments normally do not cause any discomfort, since no great traction forces are exerted on them, as is the case in a pregnancy, for example. The complaints, which are interpreted by the woman concerned as a pulling in the maternal ligaments, usually have other causes. The most common cause is discomfort due to the female cycle.

Some women feel a pulling in the abdomen during ovulation (so-called Mittelschmerz), other women have abdominal pain before the onset of menstruation or during it. If none of these circumstances apply, other causes for the pain can be considered. For example, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, appendicitis, diverticulitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the colon), cystitis, inguinal hernia or inflammation of the genitals.

Even simple tensions in the pelvic floor area or lower back can cause pain in the abdomen, which can be confused with a pulling of the mother’s ligaments. In case of doubt, if the symptoms persist, a medical clarification should be made. This is especially true if other symptoms are added to the abdominal pain or if the intensity of the pain increases.

Pulling the maternal ligaments during pregnancy

During pregnancy, pulling the maternal ligaments occurs relatively frequently and is caused by the increasing growth of the child as the uterus expands. These changes cause increasing traction forces to be exerted on the ligamentous apparatus, which fixes the uterus in position. This can lead to bilateral pulling or stabbing pain, which can radiate into the groin and pubic region.

Pain in the lower back can also occur. The complaints often occur in connection with specific strains, for example when coughing or sneezing, as well as changes in position, for example when standing up or sitting down. In these situations, the pressure in the abdomen increases and additional tension is exerted on the mother ligaments, which can then hurt.

Usually, however, the pain goes as fast as it comes. Prolonged traction can usually be relieved by a comfortable supine position and local application of heat using a hot water bottle. A pulling of the uterine ligaments during pregnancy is most often noticeable from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards, as the uterus is stretched very much during this period and the child increasingly takes up space in the female body.

However, from about the 5th week of pregnancy onwards, complaints can already occur due to pulling on the maternal ligaments. This is different for each woman individually and depends, among other things, on the respective anatomy. At the beginning of a pregnancy it is rather unlikely that any complaints are caused by the ligaments, since at this point in time there are no great tensile forces acting on the ligamentous apparatus.

However, local changes such as the implantation of the egg and the hormonal change may cause abdominal discomfort there, but this has other causes. Between the 17th and 24th week of pregnancy, the strongest complaints due to tensile forces on the ligaments are generally to be expected.At later stages of pregnancy, the symptoms are again observed less frequently, as the uterus and its ligaments are then sufficiently stretched and even loosen up towards the end of the pregnancy to initiate the birth of the child and make it easier for it to leave the pelvis. At the beginning of a pregnancy, it is rather unlikely that any discomfort is caused by the ligaments, since at this point in time there is not yet much traction on the ligamentous apparatus.

However, local changes, such as the implantation of the egg and the hormonal change, can cause abdominal discomfort there, but this has other causes. Between the 17th and 24th week of pregnancy, the strongest complaints due to tensile forces on the ligaments are generally to be expected. At later points in the pregnancy, the complaints are again observed less frequently, since the uterus and its ligaments are then sufficiently stretched and even loosen up more towards the end of the pregnancy to initiate the birth of the child and make it easier for it to leave the pelvis.

How long a pulling in the maternal ligaments can last varies greatly from one individual to another and depends mainly on the cause of the symptoms. During pregnancy, pulling in the mother’s ligaments occurs most frequently and is usually short and occurs at varying long intervals. Basically, the pain occurs above all in the period in which the uterus is stretched the most and thus also in the period in which increased tensile forces are exerted on the ligament structures.

Affected pregnant women often complain about such complaints until the beginning or middle of the last trimester of pregnancy. In the last part of the pregnancy the complaints are finally less frequent as the uterus has reached its maximum size and the ligamentous structures tend to loosen in order to prepare for the approaching birth and to make it easier for the child to pass through the female pelvis. When pulling occurs in the maternal ligaments, it is usually described as a sharp, short pain that pulls into the groin region on both sides. However, due to a comfortable body position and, for example, local application of heat, the pain usually does not last long.