Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy

Blog by Dr Tayla Rhodes (Osteopath)

There’s a lot of change throughout pregnancy but let’s talk about those relating to our musculoskeletal system! Often in conversation it appears that pain is almost expected during pregnancy and women just put up with it. Although pain is common, a lot of the time it may be managed. Keep in mind this is unique to the individual and doesn’t include the delivery process. The point is, there’s potential ways to manage or improve pain whilst pregnant and even postpartum and Osteo is one option!

As the body changes to accommodate your growing bub, pregnancy related pain may include pain in the lower back and pelvic region, upper back and rib cage, head and neck or the extremities; most of which can be attributed to musculoskeletal changes.

For this to occur pregnancy related hormones encourage the ligaments to become lax and cartilage to soften; this places increased forces/stress on joints, ligaments and muscles. The pelvis is particularly affected as it needs to expand for delivery of bub. The pelvis forms part of the pelvic girdle, our belt of stability that transfers load between the lower extremities and from upper and lower body (and vice versa). The pelvic girdle includes the pubic symphysis and sacroiliac joints which are common sites of irritation (along with soft tissue structures) and often referred to as pelvic girdle pain (PGP). Common issues of PGP are difficulty using stairs, standing for long periods and separating the knees but can also present itself as lower back pain. PGP can be really quite uncomfortable and limit your ability to complete daily tasks both during pregnancy and post-partum.

Osteopathy can help to improve function and pain levels by addressing:

-Imbalances/compensations

-Muscular hypertonicity

-Education, guidance and reassurance

-Exercise and motor patterning

General changes to expect during pregnancy:

Posture, spinal curves

Curvatures adjust according to a shift in our centre of gravity (COG) as the uterus expands and weight in front increases

Gait

The shift in our COG also affects the way we walk and to increase our stability by increasing our base of support. To achieve this the hips and feet will turn outwards and we may adopt a modest penguin-like waddle.

Cavities

As the uterus grows with the baby our internal body cavities are altered as organs are shifted. This places pressure on things like the rib cage containing the lungs and the pelvic floor containing our bladder. This can lead to changes in our breathing and bathroom habits.

Questions?

Please email me tayla@chadstoneregionosteo.com.au

Pregnancy and COVID-19 Vaccinations

Whether you are planning to fall pregnant, currently pregnant or postpartum here are the current guidelines surrounding vaccination against COVID-19. Please speak to your doctor for appropriate vaccine advice that is specific to you!

https://ranzcog.edu.au/statements-guidelines/covid-19-statement/covid-19-vaccination-information

We’re happy to answer any questions you might have, please email us if you need any advice! info@chadstoneregionosteo.com.au

Share:

More Posts:

Want to take up Swimming? Read this first!

If you’re someone who once found solace and joy in the waters but has taken a hiatus from swimming, it’s time to dust off that swimsuit and dive back in. Resuming swimming as a form of exercise offers a fantastic way to rekindle your love for the water while providing a full-body workout. Here’s a guide tailored for those familiar with swimming but looking to make a splash after a prolonged break, emphasizing injury prevention and gradual fitness building.

Free Migraine Seminar

Osteopath Dr Claire Richardson is hosting a free seminar explaining some of the causes, triggers and treatments for migraines – join us in person or online.

Migraines – Cause and Treatment

The word “Migraine” is used fairly loosely when describing a severe headache, however there are differences between headache (which can be severe) and migraine.
The word “headache” is a description of pain in the head, which can be caused by many different things, usually innocuous. Headache does not indicate the cause of the pain and thus, is not a diagnosis in and of itself. Not all severe headaches are a migraine, and not all migraines cause severe headache!

Rib Sprains

Rib sprains, as mild as they may sound, can actually be quite painful and disconcerting, and usually present as a sharp, localised pain on one side of the spine that is worse with movement and can also sometimes aggravated by deep breathing, coughing or sneezing.