Learn about pelvic pain during pregnancy

Some women experience pelvic pain during pregnancy. This situation makes women uncomfortable and limit daily activities.

During pregnancy, the mother's body will have many changes, especially the pelvic region. The joints gradually become looser, less stable, and cause pain . However, most pain levels are moderate and manageable.

1. Causes of pelvic pain during pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone called relaxin that softens the ligaments to help your baby pass through the pelvis during labor. This also means that joints in your pelvis naturally become looser.

However, this change does not necessarily cause pelvic pain during pregnancy. Normally, the nerves and muscles of the pregnant mother can adapt to the necessary requirements as the baby gradually develops in the abdomen.

Experts think that pelvic pain during pregnancy occurs when your body doesn't adapt well to ligaments becoming loose. In addition, pelvic pain can occur by:

The joints in the pelvis of the pregnant mother are not moving evenly

There is a change in the working muscles that support the pelvic joints

A pelvic joint is not working well and causes soreness.

Moreover, pregnant mothers are also likely to have pelvic pain if:

Pelvic joint pain or pain before pregnancy

Have had a previous pelvic injury

Have had pelvic pain in the last pregnancy

Have a high BMI (body mass index),  were overweight before pregnancy .

2. Symptoms of pelvic pain

Pain in the hip and groin area is the most common symptom. Symptoms vary from woman to woman, including:

Back pain, pelvic anus pain, or hip pain

Pain with a feeling of pressure in the pubic area of ​​the genitals

Pain inside the thigh or between the legs

The pain gets worse at night and prevents you from sleeping well. Waking up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night can make pregnant mothers experience a lot of pain

Pain when trying to stretch arms and legs, walk or move up and down stairs or even during movements while lying in bed.

Pelvic pain during pregnancy can happen at any time during pregnancy or after birth. You may experience pain for the first time in mid-pregnancy.

3. Methods to help reduce pelvic pain

Avoid strong or sudden movements

If possible, ask a loved one to do the chores

If you are lying down, stretch your knees as far as possible to make your legs less painful

If you are sitting, try bending your back and extending your chest before stretching your arms or moving your legs

Avoid activities that worsen pain or place your pelvis in an uneven position, such as crossing your legs or holding your baby on one side

Try to sleep in a recumbent position with a bent leg with a pillow between your legs. This sleep direction is also very good for the fetus, especially in the third trimester, which will help you reduce the risk of stillbirth compared to sleeping on the back.

Rest often or sit down to rest when doing long standing (ironing) activities

The method of sitting on a ball or kneeling will help reduce the baby's weight on the pelvic area

Avoid carrying heavy loads.

4. Treatment of pelvic pain during pregnancy

Physical therapy can help ease pain and improve pelvic and muscle function, including measures like:

Exercises to strengthen the abdominal, stomach, back and hip muscles

Exercise in water.

If the pain does not go away, you can ask your obstetrician to give you painkillers or give you more instructions on other ways to relieve your pelvic pain.