Growing Pains

A few days ago, wifey was getting some abdominal pains. Pains usually come and go, but this one was lasting for quite a while. Pain relief can't come in a bottle for pregnant women, so we had to open up a book for some advice. The answer in this case came from the essential "What to Expect When You're Expecting."

"I'm very worried about the abdominal pains I've been getting on the sides of my pelvis.

"What you are feeling is probably the stretching of muscles and ligaments supporting the uterus - something most pregnant women experience.The discomfort may be crampy or sharp and stabbing... may be brief or may last for several hours. As long as the pain is occasional and not persistent there's no cause for concern. Getting off your feet and resting in a comfortable position should bring some relief."

At the sixth month, it's good to know that pain wasn't anything serious. If you're the male half in this situation, do what you can to prop her up with pillows to find the ideal position for her, that minimizes stretching of her abdominal area. Sitting up in bed was helpful, in this case. But don't say "I know what you're going through." She probably won't buy that.