I had my 4 month doctor appointment yesterday, and told my doctor about the pain I have been having in my left side. When he found the point of pain (which resulted in even MORE pain!), he said that it was round ligament pain and that my uterus was growing very fast. He didn't seem TOO concerned at that point, but after he walked out of the room, he told someone that I needed to get an ultrasound. Now, it usually takes at least 3 weeks to get in to get an u/s. When I checked out, I was told that the appointment would be for the next day (today). I told them that wouldn't work with my schedule. Then they asked if I could be there on Friday first thing in the morning! I have two other children and finding childcare and a way to get my older son on the bus would have been impossible. I told them that the earliest would be on Tuesday. They put me in for first thing on Tuesday morning. I'm a bit concerned though that they wanted me to get in ASAP.
I had complications with my second pregnancy which included Gest. Diab. and Preterm Labor. Has anyone encountered anything like this before? My uterus is above my belly button already, and has expanded left to right all the way to my sides! Seems a bit large for only 4 months along!!! I was really looking forward to the u/s that is normally done around 20 wks to find the sex of the baby. Does anyone know if you can tell at 16 wks?
I did have an ultrasound done at 8 wks, and was told there was only one fetus. There are twins on both sides of the family, but I thought that the tech would have seen that in the first u/s? Also, at each appt. the nurses have only heard one heartbeat. I wonder if a second baby would have a heartbeat in sync with the first, or be able to hide that early in an ultrasound?
UPDATE!!!
I had the ultrasound today and there is only one BIG BABY BOY in there! His feet were at my ribs (left side) and his head was in my right hip! Guess that explains the stretching! The tech did mention that there was a lot of fluid, although I'm not sure how that is really a problem. She did mention that he was very active (doing somersaults and constantly moving away from the camera), but his heartbeat was very strong. She even caught him moving his hand and it kinda looked like he was waving. Thanks to everyone that responded! It did help calm me down before this U/S!
I had some pretty significant round ligament pain with my pregnancy. My midwife suggested I see a chiropractor that specialized in pregnant women, and particularly the "Webster technique". My Chiropractor was a HUGE help to me and really helped to alleviate the lower abdomen pain I was experiencing, particularly on my left side.
Pretty much everyone that responded was correct. I have had 4 children and the pain does get worse with every pregnancy. You also get bigger faster because everything is already stretched out, kinda like a balloon. I have always found it very easy to get an ultrasound. As a matter of fact, they have wheeled the machine right into the exam room.
My guess is they would rather be careful and not just dismiss the growth. They are probably just ruling out a multiple birth (twins), possible polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid), or possible uterine fibroids, etc. They probably want to just rule those things out. I carried too much fluid with all my pregnancies. I always looked like I was carrying 2 or even 3 babies.
Good Luck!! And just RELAX!
sometimes you can tell with 14 weeks....just depends what the baby is doing at the time and of course the position. Good luck!
Round ligament pain is very common, and is more common and more painful with each pregnancy. I found that a belly band and a chiropracter who specialized in pregnancy both helped, although the pain never went away during my entire second pregnancy.
I'm not sure why he would order an u/s for that though, unless it's just to confirm that nothing else is going on. That's the question I would ask your doctor - what is the u/s looking for?
I wish I was growing that fast! I'm 16 weeks right now and don't even have a bump. Instead of gaining weight like I should be, I'm losing weight no matter how much I eat. I'll take some of it from ya if you want ;)
But ya, I have two suggestions for reasons you could be growing so fast. I've heard that with each pregnancy you get bigger faster, so it could be that. Also, yes it's possible for twins to hide early in the pregnancy.
I had round ligament pain with my last two pregnancies (#3 and 4). It got worse w/#4 to the point where I was in constant pain sitting, walking, standing, sleeping. I was miserable. I also believe his size had something to do with it. He was 9 lbs 10 ozs....I gained a whopping 7-9 pounds total during the pregnancy. LOL
I had my "big" ultrasound with him at 16 1/2 weeks. They WERE able to tell that he was a boy. However, they said it's a little harder to tell and they would not tell you for sure if you were having a girl at that point. I had ultrasounds after that at 24, 30 and 36 weeks to check his size and they confirmed each time he was a boy. LOL
I heard you can buy a "belly band" or whatever they're called that helps with some of the round ligament pain. I never got one, I just suffered.....
We are DONE having kids. I honestly don't think I could go thru another pregnancy. After being sick 24/7 for the first trimester, I had a few good weeks where I felt okay, then the round ligament pain started. It is NOT fun to have to deal with that pain.
Good luck.
The only reason I would think they'd want the u/s is maybe they feel there may be multiples. But if that was the concern you would think they'd use the traveling room size u/s machine, as most offices have, and do a blood test as well to verify levels. They may not be experienced with multiples if this is the case. And if they were truly concerned about a problem, why put it off? This is why I don't think they think there's a "problem". I would bite the bullet and drag 20 kids with me if I were this curious about having the u/s, lol!
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
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I would try not to worry. I carried large with both of my kids. Since this is your 3rd pregnancy, it may just be that your uterus went ahead an popped right into full-term position. It is also possible that you are having twins, and the first one was hidden.
I am a twin and when my mom had her u/s (35y ago), they told her that she was having triplets. Then at a later one said, nope only twins, we must've confused a butt for a head!
As for the quickness of the u/s, I think that is nothing out of the ordinary. U/s can be sceduled anytime, its just common to plan them in advance. I had a dr. tell me that I couldn't get in to see them for 6wks. I talked to a nurse, told her what was going on, and not only got an appt. for the next day, but another one for each of the next 3 weeks!
Good luck.
M.
Your doctor probably wants to make sure that his diagnosis is right and have a good look to make sure nothing else is going on in there.
Yes - they can sometimes determine gender at 16 weeks.
Good luck, and please let us know how the ultrasound goes!
I am surprised taht the dr didnt do an ultrasound in the ofice.. my dr had an old dusty ultrasound machine in the office..
it didnt have the crystal clear pix like the fancy hosptial ultrasound but the drs could get a quick look at things..
anyway they could be concerned of twins.. you can see lots of things at 16 weeks.. gender the heart lots of things..
just stay calm and wati til you have that ultrasound.. I bet there is a big baby boy in there..
Is there a possibility of twins?
Not sure about the twin thing, but i just had u/s at 16 weeks and 2 days. Tech gave me 70 % chance it's a girl. I am not convinced though,since we have 2 boys .... so we will see:)
Well, first of all, u/s is generally not all that reliable for determining sex of a baby prior to 18-21 wks or pregnancy. The tech may be able to take a pretty good guess, but it won't likely be as reliable as it would be later. You'll just have to see what kind of image you get & how the baby is positioned.
Secondly, this doesn't sound horribly abnormal to me. I guess there's a possibility that you could be pregnant w/ twins, but it could just also be that this is your 3rd pregnancy (I think you said) and that with each pregnancy, your round ligaments get stretched & weakened a bit more & your body has already been through pregnancy & "knows the reutine" so it starts expanding "sooner". It may also possible that you're further along than you originally thought.
I really wouldn't worry about it too much. I'm sure that everything is fine. If having an u/s earlier rather than later would make you feel better about things, than that's fine. But in the meantime, just try to relax, trust your body & trust your baby. Everything will be fine!
Good luck!
If he said it's the round ligament, I wouldn't worry at all. I had that same problem, and I was pregnant with twins and grew VERY rapidly. Maybe he just wants to check that there is only one in there! :) Round ligament pain isn't anything to worry about. It'll go away on it's own.
And, yes, sometimes you can tell at 16 weeks.
I hope you have plenty of maternity clothes leftover! I'm sorry you grew so fast, that CAN'T be fun, no wonder you have round ligament pain! I am 16 weeks along myself with my second and I am showing now, I look like I did at 6 mos with my first right now. I carry more weight this time around, so that doesn't help things, but we will make it. Anyway just wanted to share a little of my experience, and wanted to say that the ultrasound tech that I had at 9 weeks told me to come back between 16 and 18 weeks to find out the sex. So, you may be able to find out!
sometimes even in early ultrasounds a twin can be hiding. my mom didn't find out with me and my twin until she was 17 weeks along....
my dr told me the sex of mine at 12 weeks. i had it confirmed at 18 and 22 weeks. and going to see him again on monday. (all diff. techs at diff places so i know that he is a boy).
