Why Do I Have Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy? Will It Get Better?
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During the entire course of pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many transformations. While some of these physical changes are easily visible like the weight gain or expanding belly, others can just be felt like backaches or morning sicknesses. There is another example that falls in the latter category. Here, we are talking about those pelvic pains that make its guest appearance every once in a while during pregnancy. If you think you are alone in this, you are mistaken. In fact, 80 percent of expecting mothers experience this symptom (1). This pain might heighten during the final trimester as the stress on the pelvic region increases.
It is one of the pelvic joints in which the pain originates; it is either the right or the left sacroiliac joint (present at the back portion of the pelvis) or the pubic symphysis (at the front portion of the pelvis). The pain can either be localized to the particular spot or may be felt in the buttock, back or leg. The pelvic pain can range from a minor ache or heaviness to a debilitating or searing sensation. It may show its effect on many daily activities including:
- House chores
- Walking
- Climbing stairs
- Turning over in bed
- Exercise
There are a number of probable causes for the pelvic pain. Let us talk about some of them:
1. Hormonal Changes
The hormones bring about an increased flexibility in joints, thus, resulting in more movement through the entire body. In fact, the pelvic area also widens to ease the passage of the baby at the time of delivery. Unfortunately, this causes the pelvic area to become relatively more mobile. Hence, results in additional strain on the pelvic joints causing pain and irritation.
2. Posture
As your body prepares for pregnancy, your weight will shift towards the front part of the body. This may change the way your muscles function and can even increase the pressure in the pelvic area. The changed posture due to weight gain can put more stress on the joints in the pelvis.
3. Workout
This is one thing that requires perfect balance during pregnancy. If you indulge in a heavy workout, the pelvic pain may intensify. But, too little exercise may also result in pain in that area due to the weakness of muscles and inactivity. It is advisable to find that perfect balance to continue working out during the entire course of pregnancy. This may help with the pain. And, always make sure you consult your doc or physiotherapist prior to taking up something new.
Most women notice a natural drop in pain post the childbirth. Till then, you can always work towards keeping the pain in check. To achieve this, there are a number of remedies you can opt for. Here are some of them:
1. Massage
You can go for a massage occasionally. This may help with the relaxation of tightened muscles during pregnancy. Of course, make sure that the pressure applied during massage is light.
2. Designated Exercise
You can consult your physiotherapist who will guide you on specific exercises that help with the pelvic pain. It may also help strengthen the muscles in that area.
3. Floor Training
Taking guidance from a medical professional, you can go for this. It may help by either relaxing your tightened muscles or strengthening the weak ones.
4. Work On Posture
You can train to work on correcting your postures, be it while sitting, working, or standing.
Suffering from a pelvic pain can be quite overwhelming, especially since it may hinder a number of day-to-day activities. Yes, it is a relief to know that the pain will wear off with time. But, you can always give these remedies a try (obviously, under supervision). It might help more than you can imagine. All the best!
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