Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain is pain felt in the joints that make up your pelvic girdle. It can be pain felt over the pubic bone at the front below your tummy, symphysis pubis joint (SPJ). Or it can be felt at the back to one side, or across both sides, over your the sacroiliac joints (SIJ). One in five pregnant women experience mild discomfort in the pelvic area. If the pain does not improve within a week or two, or interferes with normal life activities then you should ask for help from your midwife, GP or a Physiotherapist.
Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain can be caused by a number of factors. When you are pregnant a hormone called Relaxin is released. One of the things that Relaxin does is relax the ligaments in your pelvis – to make delivery easier! This can cause the joints of your pelvis to be temporarily less stable. This and the added weight of baby can cause uneven movement in your pelvis. The weight of baby can also change your posture. The muscles in your tummy, back and pelvis can be affected also.
As a Physiotherapist I will take a full history from you and if there is anything I am not happy with I will ask you to speak to your midwife or GP. I will then do a full assessment. I will look for things I mentioned above like uneven pelvic joints, changes to your posture, how your muscles are working. Physio treatment can include gentle techniques to try to help your pelvic joints be better positioned and exercises to help your muscles. Exercises may need to changed through your pregnancy as your baby grows. I can also advice or positioning and any braces, supports or belts to help give you support and relieve pain.
Some ladies continue to have pelvic pain after they have given birth, or first experience it after birth, and Physiotherapy can be very helpful then too.
For more information please have a look at this leaflet Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain For mothers to be and new mothers. | WE HAVE MOVED! www.thepogp.co.uk (csp.org.uk).
If you are suffering book an Initial Assessment here Booking – Cathryn Clark Physiotherapy (ccphysio.co.uk)