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! Kirsty the Physiotherapist at Palms Physiotherapy has first hand experience in this - in all 3 of her pregnancies she experienced this - so she has a lot of empathy and knowledge in how to treat this!

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)