Growing a Human Is Quite a Lot of Work for One Body
Pregnancy can be extraordinary.
It can also make parts of your body hurt that you didn’t previously know had opinions.
Lower back aching.
Sore hips.
Pain around the pelvis or pubic bone.
An uncomfortable pulling sensation through your ribs.
A body that feels completely fine at 10am and deeply unimpressed with you by 4pm.
And then there’s the increasingly complicated business of rolling over in bed.
Pregnancy brings enormous physical changes in a relatively short period of time. Your body weight and shape change, your centre of mass shifts, your abdominal wall stretches, your pelvis adapts, hormones influence your tissues, and ordinary activities such as walking, sitting, sleeping and getting out of a car can suddenly feel very different.
Some musculoskeletal discomfort during pregnancy is common.
But “you’re pregnant, of course you’re sore” isn’t a particularly useful treatment plan.
At The Urban Alchemist in Carlton North, our multidisciplinary team works with pregnant people experiencing musculoskeletal pain, stiffness and tension throughout pregnancy.
Depending on what’s happening, appropriate care may include chiropractic care, myotherapy, pregnancy massage, acupuncture , or referral to your GP, midwife, obstetric team or a pelvic health physiotherapist where appropriate.
The important bit is working out what kind of pain you’re experiencing – and whether it’s something we should be treating at all.
Book an Appointment for Pregnancy Pain
Not sure who to book? Contact our team on (03) 9347 9247.
Is Pain During Pregnancy Normal?
Aches and musculoskeletal discomfort are common during pregnancy.
But there’s an important distinction between something being common and something being inevitable.
Your body is adapting rapidly.
That can change how your muscles work, how load is distributed through your back and pelvis and how comfortable different movements and positions feel.
Some people sail through pregnancy with very little musculoskeletal discomfort.
Others find themselves wondering how putting on one sock became an advanced athletic event.
Neither experience tells us that your body is “good” or “bad” at pregnancy.
And if pain is interfering with your sleep, walking, exercise, work or everyday life, you don’t necessarily have to simply tolerate it until the baby arrives.
Where Does Pregnancy Pain Commonly Occur?
Pregnancy-related musculoskeletal symptoms can appear in several areas, including:
- Lower back
- Pelvis
- Pubic bone
- Sacroiliac region
- Buttocks
- Hips
- Groin
- Upper back
- Ribs
- Neck and shoulders
- Legs
Pregnancy can also be associated with symptoms that aren’t purely musculoskeletal, which is why new or unusual pain shouldn’t automatically be attributed to pregnancy.
The location, timing and behaviour of your symptoms help us determine what may be happening.
Why Does Pregnancy Make My Body Hurt?
Usually there isn’t one villain.
Pregnancy creates several changes simultaneously.
Your growing uterus changes your body’s dimensions and load.
Your centre of mass gradually shifts.
Muscles are asked to work differently.
Your abdominal wall changes considerably.
Your activity and sleep may change.
Hormonal changes affect tissues throughout the body.
And eventually you’re carrying around an increasingly substantial passenger everywhere you go.
Pain can therefore emerge from an interaction between load, movement, muscles, joints, previous injuries, physical capacity, sleep, stress and the individual way your body is adapting.
That’s considerably more believable than:
“Your pelvis has gone out.”
Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy
Lower back pain is one of the most familiar musculoskeletal complaints during pregnancy.
It may feel like:
- A dull ache across the lower back
- Pain on one side
- Stiffness after sitting
- Pain after standing or walking for long periods
- Discomfort when changing position
- Pain when getting out of bed
- Aching towards the end of the day
Pregnancy changes the physical demands placed on your lower back, but that doesn’t mean your spine is fragile or being damaged.
For many musculoskeletal back-pain presentations, staying appropriately active is preferable to prolonged rest. General Australian back-pain guidance emphasises maintaining activity where possible rather than routinely resting the back.
If your lower back pain is severe, persistent, associated with neurological symptoms or doesn’t behave like ordinary musculoskeletal pain, medical assessment may be appropriate.
Read more about Lower Back Pain
Pelvic Girdle Pain During Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain – sometimes shortened to PGP – describes pain involving the joints and surrounding structures of the pelvis that develops during or after pregnancy. The Royal Women’s Hospital specifically provides assessment and treatment for pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain as a musculoskeletal pregnancy condition.
You might feel pain:
- Around the back of the pelvis
- Around one or both sacroiliac joints
- Across the buttocks
- Around the pubic bone
- Through the groin
- Into the hips or thighs
And certain activities can become particularly annoying.
Walking.
Stairs.
Standing on one leg.
Getting dressed.
Getting in and out of the car.
Rolling over in bed.
Getting out of bed.
Basically, all the activities nobody appreciated were technically complex until their pelvis objected to them.
Is Pelvic Girdle Pain the Same as SPD?
You may have heard pregnancy pelvic pain referred to as SPD or symphysis pubis dysfunction.
That terminology tends to focus specifically on the joint at the front of the pelvis – the pubic symphysis.
Pelvic girdle pain is the broader term because pregnancy-related pelvic pain can involve different parts of the pelvic girdle rather than just the pubic symphysis.
If your pain is particularly concentrated around the pubic bone or groin, however, that’s useful information for your assessment.
Pregnancy Hip and Buttock Pain
Pain around the hip or buttock can occur during pregnancy for several reasons.
Sometimes the symptoms are closely associated with pelvic girdle pain.
Sometimes muscular tissues around the hips and buttocks are contributing.
Sometimes pain is referred from the lower back.
And occasionally nerve irritation may be involved.
This is why saying:
“My hip hurts”
doesn’t automatically tell us what needs treating.
Assessment can look at where the pain occurs, which movements provoke it, whether there are neurological symptoms and how your lower back, pelvis and hips are functioning together.
Is It Sciatica?
Pregnancy has an impressive ability to make almost every pain travelling through a buttock get called “sciatica.”
Actual sciatica refers to symptoms caused by irritation, inflammation or pressure affecting the sciatic nerve.
That can include:
- Pain travelling down the leg
- Burning or electric-type pain
- Tingling
- Pins and needles
- Numbness
- Sometimes weakness
Pregnancy-related changes to muscles and ligaments may increase the likelihood of sciatica, but not every buttock or leg pain during pregnancy is sciatic nerve pain.
If you have neurological symptoms – particularly increasing numbness or weakness – get assessed rather than diagnosing yourself from where the pain happens to travel.
Rib and Upper Back Pain During Pregnancy
As pregnancy progresses, some people develop aching or pressure around the ribs and upper back.
Your torso is accommodating significant changes, your breasts may become heavier, your sleeping positions change, and the physical demands on your upper body can increase.
Muscular tension through the upper back, chest and surrounding areas may contribute to discomfort.
But significant pain beneath the ribs – particularly later in pregnancy when accompanied by symptoms such as severe headache, visual changes or sudden swelling – needs medical assessment because upper abdominal/rib-region pain can sometimes be associated with pregnancy complications.
Context matters enormously.
Neck and Shoulder Pain During Pregnancy
Pregnancy doesn’t magically exempt your upper body from ordinary life.
You’re still working.
Driving.
Using your phone.
Sleeping differently.
Possibly using more pillows than the average luxury hotel.
And your body is changing.
Neck and shoulder tension may occur alongside pregnancy for the same sorts of reasons it occurs at other times – muscular fatigue, prolonged positions, activity demands, stress or existing musculoskeletal problems.
If those are your dominant symptoms, our dedicated condition pages go into considerably more detail.
Neck Pain
Shoulder Pain
Why Does Pregnancy Pain Feel Worse at Night?
Pregnancy sleep can become an engineering project.
You may no longer tolerate your usual sleeping position.
Your hips or pelvis may become uncomfortable while lying on one side.
Rolling over may hurt.
Your lower back may ache.
And every trip to the bathroom requires dismantling and rebuilding a pillow fortress.
Finding a supported position can help.
Depending on your symptoms, you may find it more comfortable to experiment with pillows supporting your abdomen or between your knees, rather than assuming there’s one universally correct pregnancy sleeping arrangement.
If pain is regularly preventing sleep or becoming progressively worse, tell your maternity care provider and consider having the musculoskeletal problem assessed.
Should I Keep Exercising if I’m Sore?
In many uncomplicated pregnancies, staying physically active is beneficial.
Pain doesn’t automatically mean you need to stop moving altogether.
But the answer also isn’t:
“Push through everything because exercise is good for you.”
If an activity consistently causes significant pain, you may need to temporarily modify the load, range, intensity or type of exercise.
That might mean changing how far you walk, modifying gym exercises, reducing impact, changing a movement or finding another form of activity that your body currently tolerates better.
The goal is usually to help you remain as comfortably active as appropriate – not put you on the couch for nine months.
Always follow advice from your maternity care team where your pregnancy or health circumstances require activity restrictions.
How Is Pregnancy-Related Musculoskeletal Pain Assessed?
The assessment should start with something obvious:
You’re pregnant.
That means we need to understand not just the pain but your stage of pregnancy, maternity care and anything medically relevant before deciding whether musculoskeletal treatment is appropriate.
We may ask:
- How many weeks pregnant are you?
- Where exactly is the pain?
- When did it begin?
- Was there an injury?
- What movements aggravate it?
- Does walking hurt?
- Can you comfortably roll over in bed?
- Are stairs difficult?
- Are there neurological symptoms?
- Have you had similar pain before pregnancy?
- What exercise are you currently doing?
- What does your work involve?
- Are there any pregnancy complications or restrictions from your maternity team?
Physical assessment may then look at relevant movement, strength, function and musculoskeletal structures.
We don’t need to aggressively provoke pain to prove that it exists.
And we certainly don’t need to tell you your pelvis is “unstable” and frighten you into moving less.
What Treatments Can Help Pregnancy Pain?
There isn’t one pregnancy treatment that everybody needs.
Some people need advice and reassurance.
Some need hands-on treatment.
Some need exercise or rehabilitation.
Some need pelvic health physiotherapy.
Some need their GP, midwife or obstetric team.
And sometimes several disciplines working together makes the most sense.
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Chiropractic care may be considered for some pregnancy-related musculoskeletal presentations, including back, pelvic, hip, neck or other mechanical pain.
Treatment should be modified appropriately for pregnancy and your individual comfort, stage of pregnancy and clinical presentation.
Depending on your symptoms, care may involve hands-on techniques, movement advice and strategies to help you manage changing physical demands.
It should not involve claims that chiropractic treatment can “align the pelvis for birth” or guarantee a particular labour outcome.
Chiropractic Care
Learn more about Chiropractic
Myotherapy During Pregnancy
Myotherapy may be appropriate where muscular pain, tension, movement or physical capacity are significant parts of your presentation.
Treatment may involve hands-on techniques alongside movement, exercise or self-management strategies adapted to pregnancy.
Myotherapy
Learn more about Myotherapy
Pregnancy Massage
Sometimes what your pregnant body wants isn’t an elaborate rehabilitation strategy.
It wants someone to help the muscles that have been working overtime feel less bloody tired.
Pregnancy massage can be adapted for comfort as your body changes and may be useful for muscular tension, general aches and relaxation.
Positioning matters, particularly later in pregnancy, and treatment should always be adapted to you rather than forcing you into a standard massage setup.
Pregnancy Massage
Learn more about Pregnancy Massage
Acupuncture During Pregnancy
Some people choose acupuncture during pregnancy for particular symptoms or general wellbeing.
Pregnancy changes which acupuncture points and techniques may be appropriate, so treatment should be provided by a suitably qualified practitioner who knows you’re pregnant.
Acupuncture
Learn more about Acupuncture
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
Pelvic health physiotherapists have specialised expertise in pregnancy-related pelvic and pelvic-floor conditions.
The Royal Women’s Hospital’s women’s health physiotherapy service treats pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain as well as pelvic floor problems, pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome and abdominal muscle separation.
If your symptoms suggest that pelvic health physiotherapy is the most appropriate care, that’s where we’d rather send you.
The objective isn’t to keep every patient.
It’s to get you to the right practitioner.
What About Pelvic Floor Pain?
Pelvic floor symptoms deserve specific attention rather than being lumped into generic pregnancy back pain.
Your pelvic floor supports your bladder, uterus and bowel and has increased demands placed on it during pregnancy.
Symptoms such as:
- Pelvic heaviness or pressure
- Urinary leakage
- Difficulty controlling your bladder or bowel
- Vaginal or vulval pain
- Pain with sex
- Significant pelvic-floor discomfort
may warrant assessment by a pelvic health physiotherapist, GP or maternity care provider.
Hands-on musculoskeletal care elsewhere in the body isn’t a substitute for appropriate pelvic-floor assessment.
What Can I Do at Home for Pregnancy Pain?
The useful strategies depend on what hurts.
But for uncomplicated musculoskeletal discomfort, you might experiment with:
- Changing position regularly
- Staying gently active within your comfort
- Breaking long periods of sitting or standing into smaller chunks
- Modifying activities that consistently flare symptoms
- Using pillows to make sleep more comfortable
- Taking shorter walks more frequently rather than one enormous walk
- Keeping frequently used objects within comfortable reach
- Sitting down to dress if standing on one leg aggravates pelvic pain
- Moving your legs together when getting in and out of the car if separating them aggravates pelvic pain
- Following exercises recommended specifically for your presentation
You do not need to prove anything by suffering through movements that clearly aggravate you.
But neither do we want fear of pain to convince you that your pregnant body has become dangerously fragile.
Can I Take Pain Medication While Pregnant?
Don’t assume that a medication is safe simply because you could take it before pregnancy.
Healthdirect advises that paracetamol can be used for mild-to-moderate pain during pregnancy, while NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin should generally be avoided unless specifically advised by your doctor.
Speak with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist about medication during pregnancy – particularly if you’re taking anything regularly.
When Pregnancy Pain Is NOT Something to Book With Us
This section matters enormously.
Pregnancy comes with ordinary aches and pains, but certain symptoms require assessment by your maternity team or urgent medical care.
Contact your doctor, midwife or hospital promptly if you experience symptoms including:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Severe abdominal pain
- Clear fluid leaking from the vagina
- Fever or chills
- Shortness of breath or racing heartbeat
- Pain or swelling in one leg
- Reduced or absent fetal movement
- A significant blow or injury to your abdomen
Later in pregnancy, symptoms such as severe persistent headache, visual changes, sudden significant swelling or pain beneath the ribs also require prompt medical assessment.
Early Pregnancy Pain Needs Particular Care
Before 20 weeks, severe lower abdominal pain or cramping – particularly when accompanied by vaginal bleeding, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness or fainting – requires urgent medical assessment.
These symptoms can occur with serious complications including ectopic pregnancy.
Don’t book bodywork first.
Contact your doctor, maternity service or emergency department.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Pregnancy Pain
Pregnancy is one of those times when healthcare really shouldn’t become a turf war.
Your midwife or obstetric team looks after your pregnancy.
Your GP manages medical concerns.
A pelvic health physiotherapist may be the best person for pelvic-floor or particular pelvic-girdle issues.
And practitioners such as chiropractors, myotherapists, massage therapists and acupuncturists may provide supportive care for appropriate musculoskeletal symptoms.
At The Urban Alchemist, we’re comfortable with that.
We don’t need every pregnancy symptom to belong to us.
We want to understand what’s happening, work within our scope and help you find the most appropriate care.
Book an Appointment for Pregnancy Pain
SECONDARY LINK: Not sure who to see? Contact our team on (03) 9347 9247.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Pain
Is lower back pain normal during pregnancy?
Lower back pain is common during pregnancy as your body adapts to changing physical demands.
Common doesn’t mean you necessarily have to simply put up with it, though.
If pain is affecting your movement, sleep, work or everyday activities, having it assessed can help determine whether treatment, exercise or activity modification may be useful.
Lower Back Pain
What is pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy?
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain is pain involving the joints and surrounding structures of the pelvis during or after pregnancy.
Symptoms may be felt around the pubic bone, groin, hips, buttocks or back of the pelvis and can make walking, stairs, turning in bed and standing on one leg uncomfortable.
Is pelvic girdle pain dangerous for my baby?
Pelvic girdle pain is a musculoskeletal condition and is different from obstetric complications affecting your pregnancy.
However, don’t assume all pelvic or abdominal pain during pregnancy is PGP.
Severe, new or unexplained pelvic or abdominal pain – particularly with bleeding, fluid loss, fever or other concerning symptoms – should be assessed by your maternity care provider.
Is pregnancy pelvic pain caused by relaxin?
Hormonal changes are one part of pregnancy, but blaming pelvic pain entirely on “relaxin making your pelvis unstable” is an oversimplification.
Pregnancy-related pain is influenced by multiple factors, including changing physical demands, muscles, joints, previous pain, movement and individual circumstances.
Your pelvis hasn’t simply become loose and dangerous.
Can I have chiropractic treatment while pregnant?
Chiropractic care may be appropriate for some pregnancy-related musculoskeletal problems.
Treatment should be adapted to your pregnancy, comfort and individual clinical presentation.
If there are pregnancy complications or concerning symptoms, your maternity care team takes priority.
Chiropractic
Can I have massage while pregnant?
Pregnancy massage can generally be adapted to accommodate your changing body and comfort.
Tell your therapist that you’re pregnant, how many weeks you are and whether there are any pregnancy complications or recommendations from your maternity team.
Pregnancy Massage
Can I lie on my stomach for treatment?
As pregnancy progresses, lying face-down obviously becomes impractical and uncomfortable.
Pregnancy treatment can be adapted using side-lying, seated or other comfortable positions depending on the therapy and stage of pregnancy.
You do not need to squash your bump into a treatment table to receive care.
Can pregnancy cause sciatica?
Pregnancy-related changes may increase the likelihood of sciatica, but not every pain in the buttock or leg is true sciatica.
Pain accompanied by tingling, numbness or weakness deserves appropriate assessment.
Why does my pelvis hurt when I roll over in bed?
Rolling in bed can be particularly uncomfortable for people experiencing pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain because it places changing loads through the pelvis.
Strategies for moving, sleeping position and appropriate treatment or rehabilitation may help make this easier.
Why does my pubic bone hurt when I walk?
Pain around the pubic bone can occur as part of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, particularly if walking, stairs, standing on one leg or movements involving separation of the legs aggravate symptoms.
If pain is severe, new or doesn’t behave like a musculoskeletal problem, discuss it with your maternity care provider.
Should I stop exercising if I have pregnancy pain?
Not automatically.
You may need to modify activities that significantly aggravate your symptoms, but complete inactivity isn’t necessarily the answer.
The right level and type of exercise depends on your pain, pregnancy and medical circumstances, so follow any specific advice from your maternity team.
Do I need a pregnancy support belt?
Some people find a pelvic or pregnancy support belt comfortable for particular activities.
It isn’t something every pregnant person needs, and it shouldn’t replace appropriate assessment, movement and rehabilitation where those are indicated.
If you’re considering one because pain is significantly limiting you, have the problem assessed first.
When should I worry about pain during pregnancy?
Seek prompt medical advice for severe or unusual pain, vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, fever, reduced fetal movement, abdominal trauma or other concerning symptoms.
Severe headache with visual changes or sudden swelling later in pregnancy also needs prompt assessment.
If you’re unsure whether a symptom is musculoskeletal, call your midwife, doctor or maternity service rather than guessing.
How do I know which practitioner to book?
You don’t need to diagnose yourself before you’re allowed through the door.
For musculoskeletal lower-back, pelvic, hip or other pregnancy-related pain, chiropractic or myotherapy may be reasonable starting points depending on your presentation.
If you’re mainly looking for muscular relief and relaxation, pregnancy massage may be more appropriate.
Some pelvic symptoms are better managed by a pelvic health physiotherapist.
And anything suggesting an obstetric or medical problem belongs with your maternity team.
If you’re unsure, contact reception, tell us how many weeks pregnant you are and what’s hurting, and we’ll help you choose an appropriate starting point on (03) 9347 9247.
Pregnancy Pain Treatment in Carlton North, Melbourne
Your body is doing something enormous.
That doesn’t mean you need to spend months hobbling around saying:
“Well, I suppose this is pregnancy.”
If back pain, pelvic pain, hip discomfort or muscular tension is making pregnancy harder than it needs to be, there may be practical ways to help you move and feel more comfortably.
At The Urban Alchemist in Carlton North, our multidisciplinary team offers pregnancy-appropriate chiropractic care, myotherapy, massage and acupuncture, with treatment adapted to your individual symptoms and stage of pregnancy.
And when what you’re experiencing belongs with your GP, midwife, obstetric team or pelvic health physiotherapist instead, we’ll tell you.