Stretching and pulling feelings are definitely normal and expected, and absolutely nothing to worry about!
I was slightly concerned when you said "I was kicked and started feeling cramping"; and a quick call to the doctor was not out-of-the-question with that description you provided; the word "cramping" can mean different things during pregnancy to different women, and I just wanted to clarify what you were referring to (not to be an alarmist, just cautionary).
Regardless of weight, every woman's ligaments, tendons, muscles and organs are either being stretched or pushed aside to make room for your growing uterus. It sometimes is alarming, (I know!), when you move suddenly and there is a sharp pain in one side that quickly goes away, or a feeling of aching, pulling, stretching...these are all normal feelings and will likely intensify as you reach your 3rd trimester.
Regular check-ups with the doctor will hopefully put your mind at ease. Are you keeping a log of your questions and concerns? Are you around other moms-to-be where you can compare notes, and help your pregnancy symptoms feel normal and valid (or, as normal as they can be?!) :-)
It's great to talk with your doctor and doctor's nurse, and I have also personally found exercise to be very helpful. This is my second child, too, and I still was paranoid every time I physically exerted myself, even though I know it is good for me and will not harm the baby... it's just like you said that you wonder about aches, pains, pulling, stretching...if it's anything to worry about. I have actually found prenatal yoga to be VERY helpful, as they have us do many stretches that feel amazing, and I'm not as afraid of my body (or hurting the baby) as I was before prenatal yoga. Are there prenatal fitness classes near you, and if so, are you interested in trying them out? It may give you more confidence in your body as well, and exercise during pregnancy is definitely recommended! Prenatal exercises are geared towards gaining strength and flexibility; not so much about cardiovascular fitness or weight loss at this point in our lives (so you don't need to worry about your weight).
Lastly, do you have any pregnancy reference books that you can refer to, from your first pregnancy? There are a few good ones that I like (and can recommend), and they do provide the "What If" scenarios, so you know WHEN to worry about certain pains, discharge or anything else during pregnancy.
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Stretching and pulling feelings are definitely normal and expected, and absolutely nothing to worry about!
I was slightly concerned when you said "I was kicked and started feeling cramping"; and a quick call to the doctor was not out-of-the-question with that description you provided; the word "cramping" can mean different things during pregnancy to different women, and I just wanted to clarify what you were referring to (not to be an alarmist, just cautionary).
Regardless of weight, every woman's ligaments, tendons, muscles and organs are either being stretched or pushed aside to make room for your growing uterus. It sometimes is alarming, (I know!), when you move suddenly and there is a sharp pain in one side that quickly goes away, or a feeling of aching, pulling, stretching...these are all normal feelings and will likely intensify as you reach your 3rd trimester.
Regular check-ups with the doctor will hopefully put your mind at ease. Are you keeping a log of your questions and concerns? Are you around other moms-to-be where you can compare notes, and help your pregnancy symptoms feel normal and valid (or, as normal as they can be?!) :-)
It's great to talk with your doctor and doctor's nurse, and I have also personally found exercise to be very helpful. This is my second child, too, and I still was paranoid every time I physically exerted myself, even though I know it is good for me and will not harm the baby... it's just like you said that you wonder about aches, pains, pulling, stretching...if it's anything to worry about. I have actually found prenatal yoga to be VERY helpful, as they have us do many stretches that feel amazing, and I'm not as afraid of my body (or hurting the baby) as I was before prenatal yoga. Are there prenatal fitness classes near you, and if so, are you interested in trying them out? It may give you more confidence in your body as well, and exercise during pregnancy is definitely recommended! Prenatal exercises are geared towards gaining strength and flexibility; not so much about cardiovascular fitness or weight loss at this point in our lives (so you don't need to worry about your weight).
Lastly, do you have any pregnancy reference books that you can refer to, from your first pregnancy? There are a few good ones that I like (and can recommend), and they do provide the "What If" scenarios, so you know WHEN to worry about certain pains, discharge or anything else during pregnancy.
January 5, 2010 - 10:09pmThis Comment
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