During pregnancy the body produces a hormone called Relaxin which prepares the body for giving birth by making the ligaments more stretchy and elastic. This causes the pubic bone to move anteriorly (forwards) or laterally (sideways). This can lead to pain in the pubic bone, in the back, in the hips and legs. It is quite common with about 1 in 5 pregnant women suffering from some pelvic pain. It fully resolves after childbirth in the majority of cases. It is important to get help early on to prevent the pain becoming too severe.
An osteopath can help by assessing the position of the pelvic girdle in order to correctly diagnose the problem. Exercises to strengthen the core muscles and stretch tight muscles, can help, as well as gentle mobilization of the joints involved. Women are advised to make certain adaptations to reduce the pain. It is helpful to sleep on one’s side with a pillow between the knees and to keep the knees together when getting in and out of the car or out of bed. Women are advised to carry on exercising where possible and without causing too much pain. It is better to walk with small steps and to avoid exercise such as swimming breast stroke. Avoid carrying heavy objects and doing vigorous manual work. Avoid standing for too long. Women may be advised to wear a maternity belt to give their pelvic girdle extra support.