PREGNANCY
Lightning Crotch: An Unexpected Pregnancy Pain
Just when you thought you knew all the pregnancy ouches, here comes a shocking surprise: lightning crotch!
Écrit par
Dr. Harvey Karp
PARTAGER CET ARTICLE
CHOIX DES PARENTS
Meilleures ventes
PREGNANCY
Écrit par
Dr. Harvey Karp
PARTAGER CET ARTICLE
Meilleures ventes
Just when you thought you knew all the pregnancy aches and ouches, here comes a shocking surprise: lightning crotch!
With a name that sounds a little like a playground insult, lightning crotch may not seem like an official diagnosis, but it is the common term for a sudden sharp or shooting pain in the vagina, rectum, or pelvis, mostly commonly during the third trimester. While not dangerous, it can be very surprising and uncomfortable. Some women have compared the feeling to an electric shock! For others, it is more of a tingle that radiates down the legs. Luckily, the jolt usually subsides as lightning quick as it arrived.
We think lightning crotch is caused by pressure from the baby on your cervix or on nerve endings in the pelvis. It typically occurs late in pregnancy and may intensify when the baby 'drops' their head down into the lower part of your pelvis. You will notice lightning crotch seems to occur when you are making a sudden movement, like getting up quickly or sneezing! Your baby’s movements…kicking, stretching…can also spark lightning crotch.
Lightning crotch on its own is not a sign of labour. For some women, those irksome zaps can come and go for weeks leading up to delivery. However, if you are experiencing it in combination with other early signs of labour…say, bloody mucus, regular contractions, back aches…then yes, it may be related to your cervix dilating (opening).
This quick sting does not last more than a few seconds and is not accompanied by fever, bleeding, or strong contractions. Any of those would be a good reason to ring up your healthcare provider or midwife.
There is a Nobel Prize out there for the person who figures out how to prevent lightning crotch, but there are a few things that some mums swear by as worth trying to ease the jolt when it happens:
Lightning crotch is not fun, but it is no cause for alarm. Call your healthcare provider if the pain does not go away or if other concerns pop up, such as fever or bleeding. Otherwise, take it easy and before you know it your baby will arrive…and that is the real cure for this pain in the bum.
Avertissement : Les informations présentes sur notre site ne constituent PAS des conseils médicaux pour une personne ou une condition spécifique. Elles sont uniquement destinées à titre d'information générale. Si vous avez des questions médicales et des préoccupations concernant votre enfant ou vous-même, veuillez contacter votre fournisseur de soins de santé. Le lait maternel est la meilleure source de nutrition pour les bébés. Il est important que, en préparation et pendant l'allaitement, les mères adoptent une alimentation saine et équilibrée. La combinaison de l'allaitement au sein et au biberon dans les premières semaines de vie peut réduire la production de lait maternel de la mère et il est difficile de revenir sur la décision de ne pas allaiter. Si vous décidez d'utiliser une préparation pour nourrissons, vous devez suivre les instructions avec soin.
