Pregnancy and Hip Pain
Hip pain is common during pregnancy. Pregnant women experience pain in different ways. Pain can be all along the spectrum of mild to severe. Sometimes the pain will radiate into the buttocks and thighs and even down the leg, depending on the nerves impacted. It could be a constant ache, sharp bolts of pain or both.
This discomfort often occurs late in the pregnancy, during the third trimester, as your body prepares for labour. Your body releases hormones that allow connective tissue to relax and soften. The joints and ligaments between the bones in your pelvis will begin to loosen.
Tips to help minimize your hip pain:
- Maintain good posture when standing and walking to avoid strain on the hips. Try to keep your back straight and when standing adjust your stance to maintain balance on the hips.
- Gentle exercises like stationary cycling, swimming and walking and gentle stretching are recommended. Prenatal yoga positions such as the Easy Pose and Bridge pose (elevates your hips, temporarily alleviating pressure in the pelvic bowl). A squat is another hip-opening pose and strengthens the pelvic floor.
Increasing flexibility in the hip bones is imperative for allowing the baby to move through your body during labour. Hip pain may be minimized by sleeping on your side, bending your knees, and adding pillows under the abdomen or between your knees.
Treatment
Determining the source of your hip pain is the first step. Once the source of pain is identified, a treatment plan will help reduce the discomfort.
Prenatal chiropractic treatment involves safe and gentle adjustments, massage, exercise and stretching.
Dr Natasha Hayden is a pediatric and prenatal chiropractor that is passionate about helping her community discover just how good their bodies are designed to feel, so they can do more of what they love.
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