Lightning crotch is not an actual lightning from the sky hitting your belly. This sharp electric shock is jolting but it’s not a serious sign of labor.

Lightning crotch in the third trimester

😩What is lightning crotch?

It is a sharp pain like a jolt or sting in the vagina, rectum or pelvis.😖 The pain can be slight or excruciating. It often lasts no more than a few seconds. 

😩What causes lightning crotch?

Your baby is moving into position and getting ready to come out.👶 With your baby’s head lower in your pelvis, your cervix and other nerves around the lower part of the uterus are under pressure, causing you pain.🙁

The difference between lightning crotch and other kinds of pains

😩Different from round ligament pain

Round ligament pain often occurs in the second trimester while lighting crotch often strikes you when you enter the third trimester.🤰 Round ligament pain radiates from your hip bones and varies in terms of pain scales; however, lightning crotch creates a sharp pain that only lasts for seconds.⏲️

😩Different from sciatica

The sciatica starts from the lower back through the pelvis and down each leg, also causing shooting nerve pain.🧠 Sciatica can happen anytime during pregnancy but lightning crotch only happens when you’re near the end of the journey.🤰  

Moreover, you can feel sciatica along the path of the sciatic nerve. You won’t be able to feel pain in the groin or vagina like lightning crotch.🙂

😩Different from labor pain

Lightning crotch is not a sign of labor.🙅‍♀️ You may mistake it for labor pain, but labor contractions are often repeating and regular, and the beats are getting closer over time. Lightning crotch will sting for a few seconds and disappear.🙂

Ways to prevent lightning crotch

You can wear a support belly band to reduce the pressure on the lower part of the uterus. Gentle exercises to keep you active such as walking🚶 and swimming🏊‍♀️ are recommended. Trying a warm bath also helps you relax.🛀 When you have a lightning crotch, you can shift your position to make yourself more comfortable and less in pain.