Hip Pain Relief During Pregnancy

Hip pain during pregnancy is common and can range from mildly irritating to debilitating. Hip pain can occur at any time during pregnancy but often happens in the third trimester and tends to be worse at night.

Many doctors are unsure how to treat it or dismiss it as one of the many trials of pregnancy, but suffering through it is not the only option.

 

Causes

During pregnancy, the woman’s body produces relaxin, a hormone that relaxes the joints so the pelvis can expand in preparation for birth.

The hormone is produced from the beginning of pregnancy but often does not cause painful symptoms until later in the pregnancy when the size and weight of the uterus causes the pelvis to move. Poor posture caused by pregnant belly can increase the possibility of pelvic injury and hip pain.

 

Treatment

Many women experience pain with walking or certain types of exercise. Avoid painful activities; pain is your body’s way of saying something is wrong. Take a stab at swimming as opposed to strolling, and supplant your present exercise routine with yoga or pilates.

These low-impact activities will help realign your hips and back and relieve pain. Find a yoga or pilates instructor who is familiar with pregnancy to find poses that will help aching hips the most.

A chiropractor can realign hips and back during pregnancy to soothe hip pain as well as backaches and headaches. Again, find a professional who is familiar with pregnancy for the best care.

Hip pain tends to attack with a vengeance at night. Sleep on your side, knees bent with a pillow between your knees. Some women are more comfortable with a pillow under their stomach or behind their back. Experiment to find the most comfortable combination.

Seek medical attention for severe hip pain that prohibits walking and other everyday activities. Your doctor may prescribe painkillers to ease the pain or even crutches.