I'm actually stumped here, dearest Internet.

I really can't figure out if I should be exercising or not.

The walking is not exacerbating my pelvic symphisis issues at all, those actually seem to improve/abate for a bit after working out, but my belly is really painful for the walking and that has NOT been abating through the course of the exercise, it actually gets worse. Imagine two Charlie horses in the front of your hips that draw tighter and tighter the more you move. Sharp, burning pain. That is round ligament pain, during pregnancy, except usually it is just a twinge from a funky movement and goes away. Unfortunately it seems through the course of my twenty minutes working out that it just persists.

It is excruciating, but I really enjoy the exercise overall, I just can't seem to get a handle on those ligaments. With how short I am my belly gets huge and pendulous fast, and that puts a strain on those ligaments as they bear much more weight. Walking is a shock to those shock absorbers, and every step hurts when they decide to act up.

Now, as to where I am torn (figuratively, not literally thank goodness!), round ligament pain is USUALLY harmless, if really, really, uncomfortable. It isn't a sign something is 'wrong' and while pregnancy is the time to take it easy and not overdo it, I can't figure out if the muscular, cardiovascular, and energy benefits of moving outweigh the disadvantages of this pain. I don't know if it is something I should head or push through, because it is a common pain and not indicative of a problem with my body like a contraction would be.

I've had a few contractions working out as well, and you CANNOT mark or walk through those! I definitely have to pause and wait for them to pass before moving again. It's nothing regular or too strong so those don't worry me, but nonetheless I am really struggling with finding a light activity to do that won't cause me pain.

I need to verify but I am pretty sure I have an OB appointment next Wednesday (for my 28 week check and glucose test) and I will bring it up then. In the meantime, I am honestly stumped - the more active one is during pregnancy the better labor usually goes, the faster the recovery, the better positioned the baby, etc etc. I honestly have no clue where the equation gets tipped and one does more harm than good by moving, especially when the pain signal is explainable and not related to preterm labor. I have honestly never been very active during a pregnancy, I am a couch slug, and walking has generally been very painful at the end of each pregnancy. But this time I WANT to move and I am not sure if I should. What do I do?