What does lightning crotch mean

Experts think this pain is related to your baby growing larger and dropping down into your pelvis before birth a process called engagement.

With your baby's head lower in your pelvis, there's more pressure on your cervix and the nerves around the lower part of the uterus. While there are different types of pelvic pain in pregnancy , they can feel similar.

Lightning crotch pain can feel a lot like round ligament pain but there are key differences:. Other back pain or nerve-related pain can also feel similar, especially sciatica. The sciatic nerve goes from the lower back down the legs via the pelvis, and when it gets pinched you can also have shooting nerve pain. Here's how to tell the difference:. Lightning crotch pain doesn't mean you're going into labor.

That said, it can seem like labor pain, especially if it's your first pregnancy. Here are the main differences:. Though lightning crotch can be jolting and disruptive, it's usually nothing to worry about. If the pain lasts more than a minute at a time or you have any other symptoms like dizziness, bleeding or other fluid from the vagina, fever, bad headaches, call your doctor right away. These could be a sign of something serious.

The good news is that this pain comes and goes quickly, and you won't have to deal with it for long. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.

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Join now to personalize. That sharp electric shock sensation you may sometimes feel in your pelvis or crotch late in pregnancy is jolting, but not serious or a sign of labor. Many pregnant women report butt pain as a symptom during the third trimester. These treatment options will help you stay comfortable until delivery.

A miscarriage is also known as a pregnancy loss. These are the symptoms, causes, and a look at how to move forward. Certain foods can be very harmful for pregnant women and their babies. This is a list of 11 foods and drinks that pregnant women should avoid. These are the best iPhone and Android apps to find information, answers, tools, and tracking during your pregnancy. Pregnant people who eat well and exercise regularly along with regular prenatal care are less likely to have complications during pregnancy.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Symptoms Causes Is it serious? Symptoms of lightning pain. Causes of lightning pain. Is lightning pain serious?

There are a few ways you can help reduce your pain during pregnancy. Stay active It might sound counterproductive, but staying active will help a lot during your pregnancy. Change up your workload A large Norwegian study from found an increased prevalence of pelvic and lower back pain in pregnant women who performed physical jobs that involved a lot of twisting and bending or lifting.

Try a pregnancy massage I had a lot of trouble with pain in my pregnancies. Wear a support brace There are many different types of supportive garments and braces for pregnant women, but their function is usually the same. Pain as a sign of labor. The takeaway. Will I need to be checked for dilation? Are there any signs of an infection? The discomfort comes and goes, but tends to occur more during the last trimester of pregnancy as the baby is growing larger.

Symptoms of lightning crotch may include:. The exact cause of lightning crotch is not well known, but possible causes could include:. Only some pregnant women experience lightning crotch, and it may or may not occur in the same person with subsequent pregnancies. Treatment for lightning crotch may include:. A study showed that home treatment helped provide relief from lightning crotch pain. This can include:. Lightning crotch could be one early sign of early labor, particularly when other signs are present, including:.

But when you experience consistent contractions that occur more frequently and increase in duration and severity—even if you are not sure you are in labor—it is time to call them. Experiencing severe, sudden pain during pregnancy can be very alarming. Lightning crotch has been described as shooting pain that starts in the groin area or it can be felt in the vagina, pelvis, or rectum and may travel down the inner thigh. The pain occurs randomly, but is commonly experienced when a person has remained in the same position for a long time.

This pain often lasts 15 to 60 seconds. Lightning crotch commonly occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy. The severity of the pain depends on many factors, such as the size and position of the fetus. The pain usually subsides once the baby is born. The cause of lightning crotch is the pelvic bones pulling away and separating as the baby descends into the birth canal to prepare for delivery.

The head of the fetus may also press against sensitive body parts and may hit the nerve endings in the pubic bone. These changes may also cause lightning crotch.

Many home remedies can helping alleviate pain from lightning crotch. These include exercising regularly, and keeping the pelvis and hips flexible—by stretching and staying active, and wearing belly support.

Sitting for long periods can trigger lightning crotch pain.