Natural Birth and Baby Care.com

Belly Spasms, Feeling No Baby Movement

I've had terrible spasms since my 16th week of pregnancy. Now I'm 28 weeks pregnant and have lightning pain in my vagina. My ribs feel like bursting as my stomach is swollen to my chest. Isn't 6.5 months too early for this?

Also, I've felt no quickening until now, though scans show normal baby activity. My weight is normal,so even the doctor doesn't know why.

Answer

I'm not exactly sure what you describe when you say spasms, but it's possible that what you're feeling is Braxton-hicks contractions.

These are "practice contractions" that begin in pregnancy. It's said that they usually start in the third trimester. However, I've worked with a lot of pregnant women and they seem to begin much earlier than that for a lot of women.

Do they happen frequently? If so, I would recommend staying at your doctor or midwife's office for awhile so that he or she can observe and feel your belly when they happen. They can tell you if it's a Braxton-hicks contraction or something else.

Are you getting enough to drink? Braxton-hicks, premature labor, and other complications can be brought on by dehydration. Drink plenty throughout the day, preferably water, milk, herbal tea, or broth.

Also be sure you're getting plenty of fat and protein so your body has the energy it needs to keep your muscles toned and nourish your baby.

Lightening Pain

I sometimes experienced the lightening pain throughout pelvic tissues you're experiencing. I found that they'd often go away if I changed positions or if I made sure I'd been drinking enough.

It could be the baby is sitting on a nerve in a funny way. You can try walking or kneeling down on all fours so your belly hangs down. Arch your back in a "cat stretch." Doing this several times a day can help position your baby well. Sitting on a birth ball can also help.

Belly Size

All women's bellies grow at different rates. It could be that you just grow fast. Do you have a small frame or short torso? That could be causing your discomfort.

If you're having regular scans you can probably rule out multiple babies or too much amniotic fluid around the baby - those would be two things I'd suggest you ask your care provider about.

Baby Movement

As for baby movements - some women never feel baby movements strongly. If you're seeing normal fetal movement on the scans, I wouldn't worry too much. Some women also mistake baby movements for indigestion.