In short
Pelvic girdle pain is pain in the joints of the pelvis during or after pregnancy, felt at the back of the pelvis, in the buttocks, hips or over the pubic bone. It affects about one in five pregnant women. Staying active, physiotherapy, a support belt and simple changes to movement help most.
On this page
What is pelvic girdle pain?
The pelvis is a ring of bones joined at the back by the sacroiliac joints and at the front by the pubic symphysis. In pregnancy, hormones loosen the ligaments around these joints, and the growing baby changes posture and load. For some women this causes pain, called pelvic girdle pain (PGP). It used to be called symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) when the front of the pelvis is affected.
A review of the research estimated that about one in five pregnant women have pelvic girdle pain.
Symptoms
- Pain over the pubic bone at the front
- Pain at the back of the pelvis, on one or both sides, or in the buttocks
- Pain spreading to the thighs or groin
- Pain when walking, climbing stairs, standing on one leg, turning in bed or getting in and out of a car
- A clicking or grinding feeling in the pelvis
Pain that stops you living your life isn’t normal.
Talk it through with an Australian doctor online. No referral needed.
What helps
- Physiotherapy. European guidelines recommend individualised exercise and advice. A women’s health physiotherapist can show you exercises and ways to move.
- Stay active within comfortable limits. Water exercise is often well tolerated.
- A pelvic support belt helps some women.
- Keep your knees together when getting out of bed or a car, and roll over in bed with knees together.
- Take stairs one at a time, leading with the less painful leg going up and the more painful leg going down.
- Sit to get dressed, rather than standing on one leg.
- Use pillows between your knees and under your bump at night.
- Pace activities and plan rests.
Always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before taking any medicine during pregnancy.
Labour and birth
Most women with PGP have a normal vaginal birth. Let your midwife or obstetrician know, so they can help you find comfortable positions and avoid separating your legs further than is comfortable.
After birth
For most women, pelvic girdle pain improves within weeks to months after birth. If it continues, ongoing physiotherapy helps.
When to get help
Talk to your GP, midwife or obstetrician if pain is making walking or sleeping difficult. Get urgent advice for pain with bleeding, fluid loss, fever, regular tightenings or reduced baby movements.
Next step: talk to a doctor
Answer a few quick questions and you’ll get an email about your eligibility. A consultation doesn’t guarantee any particular treatment.
References
- Wu WH, Meijer OG, Uegaki K, et al. Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPP), I: Terminology, clinical presentation, and prevalence. Eur Spine J. 2004;13(7):575-89.
- Vleeming A, Albert HB, Ostgaard HC, et al. European guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic girdle pain. Eur Spine J. 2008;17(6):794-819.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.