Congratulations! You're pregnant, and with that comes a whole host of changes in your body. From morning sickness to weight gain, mood swings to fatigue, there's no denying the fact that pregnancy can be tough on you physically and emotionally. But one symptom that many women worry about is pelvic pain. Is it normal? Or is it something more serious? In this article, we'll explore everything you need to know about pelvic pain during pregnancy.
What Causes Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy?
Before we dive into what might be causing your pelvic pain, let's first take a look at why it happens in the first place. As your baby grows inside your uterus, it puts pressure on all of the surrounding organs and muscles - including those in your pelvis. This can cause discomfort and even pain as the ligaments supporting these structures stretch during pregnancy (ouch!).
One common culprit of pelvic pain during pregnancy is round ligament pain (sounds like a fancy term for "ow!") . The round ligaments are located on either side of the uterus and help support its growth throughout gestation. However, as these ligaments stretch to accommodate your growing baby bump, they may become painful or uncomfortable.
Another possible cause of pelvic pain during pregnancy is pubic symphysis dysfunction (PSD), which occurs when the joint connecting two halves of the pelvis becomes unstable due to hormonal changes (hormones strike again!) . PSD can make simple tasks such as walking or climbing stairs extremely painful for expectant mothers.
Other factors contributing to pelvic discomfort include:
- Increased blood flow
- Pressure from an expanding uterus
- Baby's position
- Constipation (as if things aren't already crappy enough)
While most instances of vaginal/uterine area discomfort resolve without issue post-pregnancy; some cases tend lead women to ask themselves "When will this pain subside?"
When Should You Worry About Pelvic Pain?
Of course, not all pelvic pain during pregnancy is normal (duh, how comforting) . Some instances may indicate a more serious underlying issue that requires immediate medical attention. If you experience any of the following symptoms in addition to pelvic discomfort or pain, contact your healthcare provider immediately:
- Heavy vaginal bleeding or abnormal discharge
- Severe cramping
- Difficulty urinating
- Fainting or lightheadedness (anything but standing!)
- Fever
Though some amount of lower abdominal/pelvic pressure can be considered common-place during a period of gestation - chronic & intense impact on quality-of-life naturally cause women distress.
As with every symptom peculiar to one's body must be weighed carefully when considering urgency for medical intervention so as to put minds at ease whilst taking care of oneself.
How Can You Treat Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy?
The millions-dollar question laid out before us! While it isn't always possible to completely get rid of pelvic discomfort during pregnancy; there are several things you can do in order to ease the tension (pun extremely intended):
Warm Compresses:
Applying warm compresses (such as hot-water bottles) directly onto affected areas should provide some relief without medication. Similarly; soaking in warm water baths pose no harm if fever and/or infection hasn't arisen yet. Ensure adequate salt intake improves blood flow eases salts homeostasis issues/issues relating stressful urine excretion by kidneys.
Exercises:
Performing light exercises like yoga and Pilates have been known to help relieve round ligament pains caused by insufficient ligament support from surrounding muscles/tissues due weight gain. Moderate physical activity makes for healthy circulation aids metabolism re-adjustment create better chances for easier pregnancy journeys ahead..
Acupuncture:
What was once believed being an Eastern traditional approach has transcended everywhere as like their conventional medicine provider realized its efficacy within pregnancy besides 'regular maintenance'. Acupuncture provides another non-medication remedy for pelvic or back pain in some women.
It may seem strange at first, but stimulating points on the body with needles (or the application of pressure where needles can't be used) could help reduce inflammation and relieve tension.
Prenatal Chiropractic care:
Some women opt prenatal chiropractic treatments to address hip misalignment caused by increasing hormone levels during gestation that lead to wider hips. A variety of techniques are used with these approaches from mobilization therapies massage stretching aimed spinal realignment reducing joint stress allowing muscles more laxity easing ligament/nerve impingements/preventing headache development etc..
Whether you use one, two or all four remedies mentioned hereabove will invariably determine if any progress is made (fingers crossed) . Always discuss choice remedies with your health specialist before trying anything out personally.
Conclusion
Pelvic pain during pregnancy is both normal and not so normal; a mixure leading to mild discomfort & major anxiety respectively. It may arise due several factors affecting an expectant ladies' daily workings consequently having impact physical wellbeing - despite leading mundane lives as they have been accustomed pre-pregnancy. Understanding what causes it when it's serious versus not-and exploring alleviating measures should make this symptom less scary next time around!