One of the most common issues that we see occur during pregnancy, is pelvic pain. As a women’s body travels though the cascade of changes to accommodate the baby’s growth, there are many elements of the pelvis that must shift and change.

Your pelvis comprises a few different bones, including the ilium (hip bones), sacrum (lower spinal area), coccyx (tailbone), and pubic bones. Your womb is housed within this structure, so changes to the womb are highly associated to your pelvis. Your pelvis has a big role to play to allow for your body to grow a baby, including supporting the baby’s weight, and physically separating in order to allow the baby to pass through your birth canal. As these changes occur, the muscles, joints and ligaments must also change a lot. These changes can cause symptoms, including pressure, pain over your groin or hips, back pain, achiness, sharp pain when sitting, standing or walking. The pelvic pressure you may experience is likely to be due to the increased weight within your pelvis as they baby’s weight increases. These changes are most likely to occur in your second or third trimester as your baby grows larger and it’s now your body changes the most in preparation for labour. Pelvic pain can start in the second trimester and grow more intense in the third.

The round ligament is a specific soft tissue that can be stretched or irritated and cause pelvic pain.This round ligament supports the uterus. As the uterus stretches during pregnancy, so does the ligament. When this ligament gets irritated it can feel like a deep, sharp, or stretching sensation. Another possible cause of pelvic pain is Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (also called Pelvic Girdle Pain). This occurs when there is irritation to the front pelvic joint and is usually irritated by walking getting up from being seated or from uneven movements such as putting weight on one leg.

Here are some things you can try to help alleviate your pelvic pain during pregnancy:

• Sleep using a pregnancy pillow to help support your belly

• Use a pregnancy support belt to help take some of the pressure off your lower back and pelvis as the weight of the baby increases

• Even though it may feel like the last thing you want to do, keep moving – walking and gentle movement can help relieve pelvic pain and stiffness, and can also help in preventing it happen in the first place

• Use a hot water bottle or ice pack over the pelvic area that feels sore

• Avoid single legged movements and take the stairs slowly

• Most importantly, remember to rest if you need to!

Heal > Adapt > Evolve