Dealing With Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy

Pelvic pain during pregnancy is normal.

Hormones fluctuate dramatically, and ligaments stretch as your organs make place for the growing uterus; it’s no surprise that you’re experiencing pain you didn’t have before.

I know from personal experience that pelvic discomfort may be awful, to the point that some women become almost paralyzed during their last months of pregnancy.

Even if they aren’t uncomfortable, some pelvic feelings can cause you to worry that something is wrong.

Learn what’s expected, what’s not, and how to deal with pelvic pain during pregnancy.

What is pelvic pain during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, your pelvis is extremely important.

It must separate to let your kid pass through during labor, as well as sustain the extra weight of a baby as your tummy grows larger.

Aside from the actual pelvic bones, the lower abdomen and pelvic region have a lot going on.

Strange feelings are typical in this area during pregnancy due to the positioning of the uterus, the positioning of the baby, and the stretching of muscles, ligaments, and skin.

Approximately 72% of pregnant women experience pelvic pain at some point (include source link)

Pelvic discomfort can manifest as a variety of sensations:

Pressure.
Sharp, stabbing discomfort.
Backache.
Stretching.
Pain that radiates.
Body soreness

Pelvic pain is most common in the third and fourth trimesters of pregnancy when the baby is the largest and puts the most strain on a woman’s body. Some types of pelvic pain, however, appear early in pregnancy.

Causes of pelvic pain during pregnancy

A variety of less severe conditions can cause pelvic pain during pregnancy.

The most common cause of pelvic discomfort is your body allowing your baby to pass through your pelvis during labor.

The following are the most common causes of pelvic pain during pregnancy:

Pelvic pressure

As the baby grows, the infant’s weight will press down on your pelvic, causing pressure. This pressure is more noticeable when standing or walking, and it subsides when you lie down.

Constipation

Constipation, typical when you’re expecting, can cause pelvic pain or discomfort during pregnancy.

Drink plenty of water and consume high-fiber foods like raw fruits and vegetables. Ask your obstetrician whether you can try a stool softener or a glycerin suppository if that doesn’t work.

Ovarian cysts

Functional ovarian cysts, which develop due to changes in how your ovaries produce or release eggs, are persistent, noncancerous, and generally harmless.

During pregnancy, they can get more prominent, and the pressure that your developing uterus puts on your ovaries might cause chronic pain. If the cyst ruptures, the pain may become excruciating.

Braxton-Hicks contractions

Every woman’s contractions are different, but many experiences a sensation in their pelvic area.

Braxton-Hick contractions are common and serve to prepare the uterus for delivery. Only the front of your body feels Braxton-Hicks contractions.

True pregnant contractions start in the back and progress to the stomach. Braxton-Hicks contractions do not progress labor and should be terminated if you shift positions.

If you’re getting contractions while standing up and aren’t sure if they’re real, lie down on your couch for a moment to see if they cease.

Before resting down, pregnant women should empty their bladder and drink a large glass of water, as a full bladder and dehydration can both produce Braxton-Hicks contractions.

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction

The pubic bone, designed to separate during childbirth to allow your baby to pass through the birth canal, begins to loosen and separate early in Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD).

Relaxin, a hormone produced during pregnancy, causes your muscles and ligaments to relax.

Sharp, unexpected pains in the pubic bone or a tearing sensation in the center of the lower pelvis might result from this.

Common locations for pelvic pain

As your body prepares for childbirth, you may experience pelvic pain.

It’s not uncommon for pelvic pain to spread to other parts of the body.

As a result, during your pregnancy, you may experience pain and discomfort in the following places of your body:

Across your lower back, across the center of your pubic bone
You have perineum.
In the thighs
The circular ligament This is the ligament that connects the apex of your uterus to your groin. Sharp, stabbing pains on one or both sides of your abdomen may occur when it begins to stretch. It usually is harmless, despite being unpleasant.

How to relieve pelvic pain during pregnancy

While your treatment options may be limited during pregnancy to protect your growing baby, there are some natural alternatives to reduce pelvic pain.

Before attempting anything new, talk to your doctor about your pain level and symptoms. Tell the truth about how you’re feeling and how much suffering you can take.

Identify the source of your pain

Try to identify the discomfort you’re experiencing as much as possible. Is there a sense of pressure? Stretching, Stabbing, sharp pains?

Although pain can spread from one part of the body to another, determining the source of your core suffering will help you decide the best treatment option.

Sleep with a pregnancy pillow

By propping up your knees and keeping your hips horizontal, a pregnancy pillow can ease the strain on your pelvis.

Your upper leg drags your hip down when you sleep on your side with your knees together, which can cause hip and pelvic discomfort.

This discomfort can be relieved by sleeping with a pregnancy pillow between your knees. A standard cushion will suffice if you don’t have a pregnancy pillow.

Get a massage

A prenatal massage can lower stress hormones, relax muscles, and improve blood flow.

The increased circulation that follows a massage will help you feel better. Still, it may also help you sleep better (a welcome benefit for women suffering from aches and pains associated with pregnancy).

While any masseuse can give a prenatal massage, it’s better to find someone who specializes in maternal care and has a lot of experience working with pregnant people.

The reason is that they’ll be aware of which positions to avoid and how much pressure is acceptable. This will ensure your and your baby’s safety.

Exercise

If your doctor has cleared you to exercise, being active while pregnant is one of the most effective methods to avoid and relieve pelvic pain.

Your doctor may also suggest stretches and exercises for your pelvic floor, stomach, back, and hip muscles that you can practice at home.

Maintaining a regular exercise regimen can help relieve pain by keeping you limber, but most women reap several other benefits.

Exercising might help you sleep better and make your labor and delivery more smooth. It may be simpler to get back in shape after your kid is born if you stay active during your pregnancy.

Take a warm bath

A warm, but not hot, a bath can be soothing and relaxing, but the water temperature must not exceed 100 degrees to be safe.

If you’re soaking to relieve aches and pains, be sure the water isn’t too hot to raise your core body temperature.

Complications of pelvic pain during pregnancy

Some women develop serious complications during pregnancy that cause different types of pain. Some of them include:

Miscarriage

When a woman experiences abdominal pain in the first trimester, miscarriage is always possible because 15 to 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. This is a terrible reality.

Bleeding and cramping, which might be rhythmic or resemble monthly cramps, are common miscarriage symptoms.

Preterm labor

You may be in labor if you have a persistent backache and fluctuating pelvic pressure.

If you’re having four or more contractions per hour and they last longer than two hours after urinating and lying down, you should see your doctor.

Appendicitis

Even if you’re not pregnant, your appendix might get inflamed. In most cases, you will have pain in your lower right abdomen.

Because the appendix is pushed up higher in the belly as you grow farther along in your pregnancy, appendicitis might sneak up on you.

To avoid rupturing and damaging the insides, appendicitis necessitates emergency surgery to remove the appendix.

When to see your doctor

When you have mild to severe pelvic pain, there are some things you should do first. Rest should also help to minimize and eliminate the pain.

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should see your doctor.

Along with your pain, you have a temperature and chills.
Your discomfort is persistent and does not improve with rest.
You’re experiencing persistent lower abdominal aches.
When you urinate, you get a scorching sensation.
You have dizziness and are constantly sick and vomiting.
You notice a discharge that is greenish, watery, or bloody.
There is bleeding.

Endnotes

A woman’s life is transformed when she becomes pregnant.

Don’t let the anticipation and excitement of welcoming a baby into your family overshadow pelvic pain during pregnancy.

Consult your doctor about the best treatment options for you after you must have tried out the natural ways of relieving pelvic pain during pregnancy.

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I am rooting for you.

Viv.