Pregnant Hilary Duff Complains of ‘Lightning Crotch’ (We Don’t Know What That Is, But We’d Love to Help Her Out With That)

We don’t know much about the side-effects of pregnancy, other than that it makes beautiful women even more gorgeous. But apparently, in addition to common woes expecting women complain about, like morning sickness and aching backs, is something called “lightning crotch.”

We have Hilary Duff to thank for introducing us to this term, which kind of sounds like a superpower, but totally isn’t. During a recent virtual appearance on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the 33-year-old Younger actor and third-time mama-to-be admitted to this strange symptom.

“I didn’t have it with the other kids,” Duff explained to guest host Brooke Baldwin. “So I texted my midwife the other day, and was like, ‘What’s up with the stabbing pains in my vagina?!’ … It feels awful, like you’re being struck by lightning.”

Duff continued: “She just wrote back, and she was like, ‘Oh, lightning crotch’ — like it was no big thing. I was like, ‘This is quite traumatic.’ Like, it’ll just strike and all of a sudden you’re doubled over. And then it’s gone.”

The sensation – and the odd name for it – originates from “lightening,” or the late-pregnancy phenomenon when the baby’s head drops lower into the pelvis in preparation for birth. This movement can be quite painful, perhaps because it hits a nerve (literally), which sends a shooting pain through the woman’s nether regions. The upside of lightning crotch? As the baby moves lower, toward the birth canal, the mama-to-be has more room to breathe.

That’s of little consolation to most pregnant women, however. When Duff, who is due any day now, was asked if lightning crotch was a fair trade for easier breathing, she said, “I’m not sure which one is better.”

We’re not sure, either. But if you’d like us to take a look at that lightning crotch of yours, Hilary, we’d be happy to. We might know just the thing for it…

Cover Photo: BG015/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor (Getty Images)

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