PELVIC PAIN DURING PREGNANCY

Many women experience discomfort, and sometimes pain, during pregnancy due to the pressure a growing baby. Don’t ignore your pelvic floor or symptoms of pain, especially when you are trying to stay healthy and grow another human.
These uncomfortable symptoms can be caused by stiffness of your pelvic joints or the symphysis pubis may become stretchy and unstable due to a rise in hormones.

SYMPTOMS OF PELVIC PAIN:

FIRST TRIMESTER: accommodation pain due to your expanding uterus
SECOND TRIMESTER: round ligament pain that starts in your side as the ligament that goes from the top of the uterus down to the groin stretches
THIRD TRIMESTER: Pressure from your baby’s weight putting pressure on the nerves that run from your vagina into your legs.

YOU MAY FEEL PAIN:

At the front or center of your pubic bone, level with your hips
On one or both sides of your lower back
In your perineum, the area between your vagina and anus
When you spread your thighs
You may feel a clicking or grinding in the pelvic area

THE PAIN CAN COME AND GO AND GET WORSE WHEN YOU:

Walk, bend and twist to lift, or push heavy objects
Climb up and down stairs
Stand on one leg
Turn over in bed
Move your legs apart or try to get out of a car

MANUAL THERAPY CAN HELP:

Manual therapy help to relieve or ease pain, improve mobility, and improve pelvic joint position and stability. Manual therapy during and after pregnancy can help decrease low back, pelvic pain and post-delivery bladder problems.

Manual therapy to help joint alignment and your pelvis, hips, and spine move normally
Exercises to support your pelvic floor, stomach, back and hip muscles
Addressing pain triggers such as posture, flexibility, or nerve involvement
Education on lifestyle changes to reduce pain
Water-based exercises
Advice on positions for sleeping, sex and labor and birth
Pelvic support belt or crutches