Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy

Pelvic pain is an unfortunate symptom of pregnancy for many women.  Pelvic pain can occur at any point during the pregnancy and in some cases, lingers postpartum.

Postural changes, weight gain, hormonal fluctuations, a weakened abdominal wall and changed body mechanics are potential triggers.  Of course we don't have control over many of these drives, but there are some we can manage.

It is important for women during pregnancy to learn the best way to transfer in/out of bed, on/off the floor, in/out of the car.  Learning the right way to bend and lift can also be very helpful and fend off additional issues.

For someone with anterior pelvic girdle pain (pain the front of the pelvis), think about transferring yourself while keeping your legs together.  Swinging one leg out at a time, (such as when getting out of the car), can be a painful trigger.  

When lifting or bending, make sure you are using your gluteal muscles.  Some women have trouble with this and compensate with their back muscles too much. As you bend forward, you should feel your backside open/lengthening. When you come back up, think about squeezing your butt muscles together to fire up those glutes.

Ice can also be a helpful modality to manage pain as needed.  

Another trick to managing pelvic pain can be the use of a pregnancy support belt.  Many different options are avaialable.  Placemenet of the belt, the amount of provided compression and sizing are all important factors to consider.  Check out my Favorite Products page to see which belt I often recommend.

Of course it is important to discuss issues like this with your healthcare provider.

If you have pelvic pain during or after pregnancy, physical therapy can be beneficial.  Schedule a free consult today with HER Body PT to learn more.