Is it normal for it to hurt when my baby moves?

From that first flutter to the sharp kicks and pokes of the third trimester, your baby’s movements will change over the course of your pregnancy. As your baby gets bigger, it can sometimes even hurt when they move.

While your little ninja’s kicks can be strong at times, that isn’t often a sign that something's wrong. In fact, it suggests that your baby is developing well (Pregnancy, Birth & Baby 2022).

When do you feel baby kicking?

Most women start to feel their baby moving between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. If it’s your first pregnancy, or your placenta is at the front of your womb, it may take longer for you to feel any movement (NCT 2016).

The first movements are called quickening. They can feel like flutters, swishes, tiny pulses or taps. As your baby grows and becomes stronger, you should be able to feel (and see!) more distinct kicks, jabs, punches, stretches and rolls. While these movements may cause some discomfort or pain in your belly or ribs, talk to your doctor or midwife if the pain is severe or you have any other symptoms that worry you (Cleveland Clinic 2022, NCT 2016, Pregnancy, Birth & Baby 2022).

What is lightning crotch in pregnancy?

Lightning crotch is aptly named. It’s a sharp or shooting pain in the vagina, pelvis or bottom. While it can take you by surprise, lightning crotch is nothing to worry about and isn’t a sign of labour (American Pregnancy Association n.d., Medical News Today 2020).

Experts aren’t sure why some women get lightning crotch, but they think it could be caused by three factors:

• Your baby moving: As your baby twists, turns and kicks, they may put pressure on a nerve that could cause a sudden, sharp pain.
• Your baby dropping: When your baby drops into your pelvis to get ready for labour, they may push on the nerve endings in your pelvic floor and bladder.
• Round ligament pain: Your growing belly might be putting extra pressure on the ligaments that support your uterus. You could feel lightning crotch when you make movements that stretch these ligaments.
  (Medical News Today 2020)

What can I do to relieve pain caused by my baby moving?

While you can’t prevent painful kicks from your baby or lightning crotch, there are a few things you can do to relieve belly pain and pelvic pain during pregnancy. These include:

• Moving around or getting down on all fours to try to shift your baby, which may alter the angle of your baby’s kicks or relieve pressure on your nerves
• Wearing an abdominal support band to take the pressure off your pelvis and nerves
• Having a pregnancy massage to relieve aches and pains
• Taking a warm bath to relax your muscles
  (Medical News Today 2020)

When should I be concerned about pain from my baby’s movements?

Each pregnancy differs. It’s normal if your friends have less discomfort than you or if you feel kicks more or less than you did in a past pregnancy. Try to get used to your baby's unique pattern of movement to learn what's normal for them.

If you get constant or severe belly pain or pelvic pain, or if you notice that your baby is moving less often than they normally do, contact your midwife, doctor or hospital maternity unit without delay (Pregnancy, Birth & Baby 2022).

Learn more about how to get relief from late-pregnancy aches and pains, and find out what types of pain relief are safe for you to use.