Is it normal to have pelvic pain when pregnant

As your pregnancy progresses, your little one gets all the more snuggly against your organs, hips, and pelvis. That puts more stress on, well, everything! Another likely culprit for all that pelvic pressure in the later months of pregnancy is the hormone relaxin. It helps loosen your ligaments as you move closer to childbirth, but it can affect your pelvic joints, too. Some women experience pain near their pubic bone and the sensation of shaky legs.

Your joints, muscles, and bones will be impacted by your pregnancy. You may notice that these feelings of pressure and mild pain happen with some kind of movement. In the early weeks of pregnancy, your baby is likely much too small to be the reason. But there are many other things happening that could be to blame. A cramping sensation in the early weeks of pregnancy may be due to your expanding uterus. Call your doctor if you start spotting or bleeding. Cramping is a common symptom for a miscarriage.

Constipation can also cause feelings of pressure. As surging pregnancy hormones and an uptick in iron thanks to that prenatal vitamin wreak havoc on your digestive tract, your pelvic discomfort could be related to your need for relief.

Ask your doctor about pregnancy-safe stool softeners , too. To immediately relieve the pressure, try lying down on your side and focusing on breathing. You can also try the following ideas. While pressure in the vaginal or pelvic area is one thing, outright pain is quite another. Pressure in this area can feel similar to the ache you experience with menstrual cramps. You might also notice aching in your lower back.

Pain in your pelvic region is hard to mistake for pressure. In that case, you should contact your doctor right away. There are serious causes for pelvic pain during pregnancy.

These might include miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy , or preterm labor. It is vital to use these visits to discuss all symptoms, even if they seem minor. Early in pregnancy, women may only see a doctor every few weeks. If it is after hours, they should go to the emergency room. Prompt treatment of pregnancy conditions can save both the woman and the baby.

Vaginal pressure during pregnancy is just one of the many symptoms women may experience while pregnant. It should not usually be cause for concern and can be a good sign that the body is releasing the right hormones, and the uterus is growing as expected. A bit of caution in pregnancy can help to detect problems before they become emergencies. Never hesitate to see a doctor, even if the issue seems minor. It is unlikely that there is a severe problem, but reassurance can make pregnancy easier.

If something is wrong, it is best to catch the issue as early on as possible. Read the article in Spanish. Most often, an ammonia-like vaginal smell during pregnancy is caused by changes in the makeup of urine.

Reasons for this include lifestyle factors…. Whether by natural, drug-assisted or surgical means, women have a lot of options when it comes to how they want to bring their baby into the world. What are the recommendations for how long women should wait before resuming sex after pregnancy? How does giving birth affect sex? Factors influencing…. Sometimes women feel vaginal tightness, but can a vagina be too tight?

Think you know all there is to know about your lady parts? Think again. Here, we take you through 10 things that you should know about the vagina. Is having vaginal pressure during pregnancy normal? Medically reviewed by Holly Ernst, P. Causes Relieving symptoms Complications When to see a doctor Outlook During pregnancy, many women feel pressure, or heaviness, around the vagina.

Causes of vaginal and pelvic pressure during pregnancy. Share on Pinterest Vaginal pressure is a common experience in pregnancy. Share on Pinterest A number of conditions can cause vaginal pressure. How to relieve vaginal pain and pressure. Share on Pinterest A doctor will prescribe treatment if an infection is causing the vaginal pressure. When to see a doctor. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3.

Related Coverage. Why does urine smell like ammonia while pregnant? If you have an epidural, make sure your midwife and birth partner are aware of your pain-free range of movement of your legs. When pushing in the second stage of labour, you may find it beneficial to lie on one side. This prevents your legs from being separated too much. You can stay in this position for the birth of your baby, if you wish. Sometimes it might be necessary to open your legs wider than your pain-free range to deliver your baby safely, particularly if you have an assisted delivery for example, with the vacuum or ventouse.

Even in this case, it's possible to limit the separation of your legs. Make sure your midwife and doctor are aware that you have PGP. If you go beyond your pain-free range, your physiotherapist should assess you after the birth. It's estimated that PGP affects up to 1 in 5 pregnant women to some degree. It's not known exactly why pelvic pain affects some women, but it's thought to be linked to a number of issues, including previous damage to the pelvis, pelvic joints moving unevenly, and the weight or position of the baby.

Read more about coping with common pregnancy problems , including nausea, heartburn, tiredness and constipation. Find maternity services or physiotherapy services near you. Page last reviewed: 1 August Next review due: 1 August Home Pregnancy Pregnancy-related conditions Common symptoms in pregnancy Back to Common symptoms in pregnancy.

Pelvic pain in pregnancy. Women with PGP may feel pain: over the pubic bone at the front in the centre, roughly level with your hips across 1 or both sides of your lower back in the area between your vagina and anus perineum spreading to your thighs Some women may feel or hear a clicking or grinding in the pelvic area.