As you near the last four to six weeks of pregnancy, you may experience a certain pain in your crotch described as “lightning crotch pain.” It’s a sensation of shooting pain, pins and needles, or electric shock around your pelvic area that lasts anywhere from a few seconds to a full minute. At this time of your pregnancy, your baby is repositioning itself inside the womb as he prepares himself for delivery, hitting nerve endings in your cervix that cause these pains. The best way to avoid these pains is to exercise regularly and change positions throughout the day, as staying in one position for a long period of time will trigger the sensation. When the pain hits, wait it out patiently by sitting and stretching until it goes away. This moves your baby in a better, more comfortable position.

This article was originally published in Spring 2024.