Pregnancy Related Pelvic Pain

Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain

Pelvic Pain in pregnancy is horrible! Its not just your normal aches and pains that you experience in pregnancy - this is next level!

Pelvic pain may occur because of: 

• Changes to your posture 

• Increased pressure on your pelvis due to the growth of your baby 

• Hormonal changes which soften the ligaments that support the pelvis. 

These changes can place increased strain on the pelvic joints making the joints inflamed and painful. 

What you might feel 

• Clicking, locking or grinding in the pelvic joints. 

• Pain in the front or the back of the pelvis, buttocks, groin and/or radiating into the thighs. The shaded areas in the picture below are where pain commonly occurs. 

Activities that may increase your pelvic girdle pain 

• • Prolonged walking 

  • Fast walking 

  • Getting in and out of the car or bed 

  • Rolling in bed 

  • Lying flat 

  • Deep squatting or lunging 

  • Going up and down stairs 

  • Standing on one leg (e.g. dressing – putting on pants) 

  • Moving from sitting to standing

  • High impact exercise (e.g. running and jumping activities) 

Tips to manage your pelvic girdle pain 

To avoid increasing pelvic girdle pain: 

• Don’t push through pain. 

• Take smaller steps when walking. 

• Walk shorter distances. 

• Reduce heavy lifting and pushing and pulling activities such as vacuuming. 

• Break up large tasks into smaller activities.

• Rest in between activities. 

• Keep your knees together when rolling in bed.

• Roll under rather than over when rolling in bed. 

• Sleep on your side with a pillow in between your legs. 

• Get in and out of bed with your knees together.

During your Physiotherapy consult, we have a specially designed "Belly Pillow" that allows you to comfortably lay on your belly for treatment on your back! (See Below Image)