If you’ve found yourself here, there’s a good chance you’re uncomfortable.
Maybe walking feels awkward. Maybe turning in bed makes you wince. Maybe you’ve Googled “why does my pelvis hurt during pregnancy?” at 2am.
First, let me gently say this: you are not imagining it, and you are not alone.
Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is common. Research suggests that around 1 in 5 pregnant women experience some level of pelvic girdle pain (PGP), although for some women it is mild and for others it can significantly affect daily life.
The good news is that there are ways to manage it — and understanding what’s happening in your body is the first step.
What Is Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy?
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) describes discomfort felt in the joints and ligaments of the pelvis during pregnancy.
You might feel it:
- At the front of the pelvis (around the pubic bone)
- Across the lower back
- In one or both hips
- In the buttocks
- Down the inner thighs
Some women describe it as sharp or stabbing. Others say it feels like aching, grinding, clicking, or instability.
PGP used to be commonly referred to as SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction), but the preferred medical term now is pelvic girdle pain, as it better reflects the wider involvement of the pelvic joints.
It is important to know that pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is musculoskeletal in nature. It is not a sign that something is wrong with your baby.
Why Does Pelvic Girdle Pain Happen During Pregnancy?
Your body is doing something extraordinary. But it is also under increasing physical demand.
There are several reasons pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy develops:
1. Hormonal Changes
During pregnancy, your body releases hormones such as relaxin and progesterone. These hormones soften ligaments to allow the pelvis to adapt for birth.
This is essential.
However, softer ligaments mean the pelvis relies more heavily on surrounding muscles for stability. If those muscles become overworked or fatigued, discomfort can develop.
2. Biomechanical Changes
As your baby grows:
- Your centre of gravity shifts
- Your lower back curves more
- Your walking pattern may change
- Your weight distribution alters
These changes increase strain on the pelvis and lower back.
3. Muscular Imbalance and Fatigue
It’s rarely “just the joints”.
Often, pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is influenced by:
- Tight gluteal muscles
- Overworked lower back muscles
- Hip rotator tension
- Abdominal weakness
- Reduced core stability
Your muscles are working harder to stabilise softer ligaments.
And when muscles become tired or tight, they protest.
How Common Is Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy?
Current research suggests that approximately 20% of pregnant women experience pelvic girdle pain, with varying levels of severity.
For most women, symptoms are mild to moderate and manageable with appropriate support.
For a smaller percentage, pain can significantly affect mobility, sleep and quality of life.
It is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints in pregnancy.
So if you’re experiencing it, you are absolutely not alone.
Common Symptoms of Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy
Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy can feel different from one woman to another. For some, it is mild and comes and goes. For others, it can feel sharp, intense, or deeply frustrating.
You might notice:
Pain at the Front of the Pelvis
This is often felt around the pubic bone (the symphysis pubis joint). It may feel:
- Sharp when you move suddenly
- Achy after walking
- Tender to touch
- Like a pulling sensation when turning in bed
Some women describe it as feeling as though the pelvis is “coming apart.” That can sound alarming, but what you’re usually feeling is joint sensitivity combined with muscular tension.
Lower Back Pain
Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy often overlaps with lower back discomfort.
You might experience:
- A dull ache across the lower spine
- Tightness at the base of the back
- Discomfort that worsens after standing for long periods
- A feeling of heaviness in the lower back
As your posture adapts to your growing baby, the lower back works harder to stabilise the pelvis. This can create muscular fatigue, which contributes to pain.
Pain in One or Both Hips
You may feel:
- Deep aching in the hips
- Pain when lying on one side
- Discomfort when walking
- Tightness in the buttocks
Hip discomfort often relates to how the muscles around the pelvis are compensating for ligament softening. Sometimes one side feels worse than the other, particularly if you tend to stand more on one leg.
Difficulty Turning in Bed
This is one of the most common complaints.
Turning from one side to the other may cause:
- Sharp catching pain
- A grinding sensation
- The need to move very slowly and carefully
Keeping the knees together and using a pillow between the legs can help reduce strain.
Pain When Walking or Climbing Stairs
You might notice:
- A waddling gait
- Pain when taking larger steps
- Discomfort when climbing stairs
- Pain when standing on one leg to get dressed
Because pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy often involves joint sensitivity, movements that load one side of the pelvis more than the other can aggravate symptoms.
Clicking or Grinding Sensations
Some women report:
- Clicking in the pelvis
- A grinding feeling
- A sense of instability
While unsettling, these sensations are not uncommon. They often reflect joint sensitivity rather than structural damage.
Pain That Improves With Rest
A helpful clue that you’re dealing with pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is that symptoms often:
- Worsen with activity
- Improve when you rest
- Fluctuate from day to day
That variation is very typical.
Emotional Frustration
This isn’t always listed in medical texts, but it’s real.
You might feel:
- Frustrated at being limited
- Anxious about labour
- Worried something is “wrong”
- Disappointed that pregnancy isn’t feeling as you imagined
Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy can affect more than just your body. It can affect how you feel about movement, independence and control.
And those feelings are valid.
When Symptoms Vary
It’s important to know that pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy does not always follow a neat pattern.
Some days may feel manageable.
Other days may feel more intense.
Hormonal fluctuations, fatigue, activity levels and sleep all influence symptoms.
This variability does not mean you are getting worse. It often simply reflects how responsive the pelvis is during pregnancy.
Is Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy Dangerous?
This is often the first question underneath all the others.
If your pelvis is hurting, especially sharply, it’s completely natural to wonder whether something is wrong.
The reassuring answer is this:
Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is not dangerous to your baby.
PGP is a musculoskeletal condition. It involves the joints, ligaments and surrounding muscles of the pelvis. It does not directly affect your uterus, your placenta, or your baby’s development.
It can feel intense. It can feel alarming. But it is not usually harmful.
Why It Can Feel So Concerning
Pelvic girdle pain can:
- Be sharp or sudden
- Affect how you walk
- Make you feel unstable
- Interfere with sleep
- Limit everyday movement
Because pregnancy already changes your sense of balance and control, pain in the pelvis can feel particularly unsettling.
But what you’re experiencing is usually joint sensitivity combined with muscular strain — not structural damage.
What the Research Tells Us
Current clinical guidance shows that pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is common and, in most cases, self-limiting.
For the majority of women:
- Symptoms improve after birth
- No long-term pelvic damage occurs
- Normal activity can be resumed with appropriate support
That said, “common” does not mean “you should ignore it”.
Just because pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy isn’t dangerous doesn’t mean it isn’t important.
Can Pelvic Girdle Pain Affect Birth?
This is another common fear.
Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy does not prevent you from having a vaginal birth.
In fact, the pelvis remains capable of adapting during labour. Your maternity team can support you with positioning that feels most comfortable for you.
If you are experiencing significant pelvic discomfort close to your due date, it can be helpful to discuss labour positions in advance so you feel more prepared.
Feeling informed reduces fear.
What About Long-Term Effects?
In most cases, pelvic girdle pain improves significantly after birth as hormone levels settle and mechanical strain reduces.
However, if symptoms persist beyond the early postnatal period, further physiotherapy assessment may be beneficial.
Persistent pain is not something you should feel you have to live with long-term.
Early support matters.
The Emotional Layer
Although pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is not dangerous medically, it can feel emotionally heavy.
You might feel:
- Frustrated at losing mobility
- Anxious about movement
- Worried about labour
- Disappointed that pregnancy feels harder than expected
Those feelings deserve space too.
Pain can affect confidence.
And part of support is helping you feel steadier – physically and emotionally.
Can Pregnancy Massage Help Pelvic Girdle Pain?
This is such an understandable question.
When you’re uncomfortable, you don’t want theory – you want to know if something will actually help.
The honest answer is this:
Pregnancy massage does not “realign” the pelvis or correct ligament laxity. Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is influenced by hormonal changes and mechanical load, and massage cannot change those core physiological processes.
However, pregnancy massage can be a valuable supportive therapy.
And sometimes, support is exactly what your body needs.
How Massage Supports Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy
Pelvic girdle pain is rarely just about the joints themselves. Often, it is the surrounding muscles that are working overtime to stabilise a more mobile pelvis.
These muscles can become:
- Tight
- Fatigued
- Protective
- Guarded
- Tender to touch
When muscles tighten in response to instability, they can actually increase the sensation of pulling and restriction.
Gentle pregnancy massage helps to:
- Reduce excessive muscular tension around the hips and lower back
- Improve circulation to overworked tissues
- Encourage more balanced muscle activation
- Reduce protective muscle guarding
- Support nervous system relaxation
When muscular tension decreases, overall discomfort often becomes more manageable.
What Happens During a Pregnancy Massage for Pelvic Girdle Pain?
Your safety and comfort always come first.
During pregnancy massage:
- You are positioned in supported side-lying with pillows for stability
- No pressure is applied directly to unstable joints
- No forceful manipulation or “adjustments” are used
- Techniques are gentle and rhythmical
- Pressure is adapted constantly based on your feedback
Treatment focuses on areas such as:
- Gluteal muscles
- Hip rotators
- Lower back muscles
- Lateral hip and thigh
- Sometimes upper back and shoulders (because posture affects everything)
It is not about pushing through pain.
It is about helping the body soften where it can.
The Nervous System Piece (Which Is Often Overlooked)
Pain is not only mechanical.
When you are uncomfortable for days or weeks, your nervous system becomes more sensitive. Muscles can stay slightly guarded, even when you are resting.
Massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system – your “rest and repair” mode.
When your nervous system feels calmer:
- Muscle guarding can reduce
- Pain perception can soften
- Sleep often improves
- Anxiety around movement can ease
And when you feel calmer, pain often feels more manageable.
That matters.
What Women Often Notice After Treatment
While every body responds differently, many women describe feeling:
- Looser in the hips
- More comfortable walking
- Less tight in the lower back
- Less restricted when turning in bed
- More relaxed overall
- Better able to sleep
The improvement may not be dramatic or permanent after one session. But even small reductions in tension can make daily life feel easier.
And when you’re pregnant, “easier” is significant.
Massage as Part of a Wider Plan
The most effective support for pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy usually includes:
- Guidance from a women’s health physiotherapist
- Gentle stabilising exercises
- Movement modifications
- Rest where needed
- Supportive bodywork
Massage is not a replacement for physiotherapy when symptoms are severe.
But it can be a complementary therapy that supports muscular comfort and emotional wellbeing alongside other care.
When Should You Seek Further Advice?
Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is common, and in most cases it can be managed with the right support.
However, there are times when it’s important to seek additional medical advice.
You should speak to your midwife, GP or a women’s health physiotherapist if:
Your Pain Is Severe and Worsening
If discomfort is increasing rather than fluctuating…
If it is significantly limiting your mobility…
If you are struggling to carry out basic daily tasks…
It’s time to ask for further assessment.
Pelvic girdle pain should not leave you feeling unable to function.
You Cannot Bear Weight Comfortably
If standing, walking, or transferring your weight causes intense pain or instability, professional support is important.
This may include referral to a specialist physiotherapist who can assess joint stability and guide you through appropriate strengthening exercises.
You Experience Numbness, Tingling or Weakness
Pelvic girdle pain itself is usually joint and muscle-related.
If you notice:
- Numbness
- Pins and needles
- Weakness in one or both legs
- Changes in bladder or bowel control
These symptoms require prompt medical review, as they may indicate nerve involvement or another underlying issue.
Always err on the side of caution.
There Is Sudden Swelling, Redness or Heat
If you experience:
- Sudden swelling in one leg
- Redness
- Warmth
- Calf pain
You should seek urgent medical advice to rule out conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
These symptoms are not typical of pelvic girdle pain and should never be ignored.
You Feel Worried or Unsure
This one matters just as much.
If something feels different…
If you’re anxious about what you’re experiencing…
If you’re unsure whether your symptoms are “normal”…
Please speak to your midwife or GP.
You are never wasting anyone’s time by asking a question.
Pregnancy is a time when reassurance matters.
Pelvic Girdle Pain Is Common – But You Deserve Support
Although pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is common, that doesn’t mean you should simply tolerate it without guidance.
Early advice can:
- Prevent symptoms from worsening
- Improve mobility
- Reduce anxiety
- Help you feel more in control
Support might include physiotherapy, movement advice, lifestyle adjustments, or complementary therapies such as pregnancy massage.
FAQ’s
Does pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy go away after birth?
In most cases, yes.
For the majority of women, pelvic girdle pain improves significantly after birth as hormone levels settle and the mechanical strain of pregnancy reduces. As relaxin and progesterone levels fall, ligament laxity decreases and stability gradually returns.
However, recovery time varies. Some women feel much better within weeks, while others benefit from postnatal physiotherapy or gentle rehabilitation to restore muscular balance.
If pain continues beyond the early postnatal period, it’s important to seek assessment rather than assuming it will resolve on its own.
Is pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy dangerous for my baby?
No, pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is not harmful to your baby.
PGP is a musculoskeletal condition affecting the joints, ligaments and muscles of the pelvis. It does not directly impact the uterus, placenta or fetal development.
Although it can feel intense or limiting, it is not usually associated with danger. That said, severe or worsening symptoms should always be discussed with your midwife or GP to ensure appropriate support.
Can pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy affect birth?
Pelvic girdle pain does not prevent you from having a vaginal birth.
The pelvis remains capable of adapting during labour. Your maternity team can support you with positions that feel comfortable and stable. Many women with PGP benefit from side-lying, kneeling or supported upright positions during labour.
If you are concerned, it can be helpful to discuss positioning options with your midwife in advance so you feel prepared and confident.
Is pelvic girdle pain the same as sciatica?
No, although the symptoms can sometimes feel similar.
Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy usually involves discomfort around the pelvic joints — the pubic bone, hips or lower back — and is influenced by ligament softening and muscular strain.
Sciatica, on the other hand, involves irritation of the sciatic nerve and typically causes shooting pain, tingling or numbness down one leg.
If you’re unsure which you’re experiencing, a healthcare professional can help assess the difference.
What is the best treatment for pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy?
There is no single “best” treatment, but a combination approach tends to be most effective.
Evidence-based management often includes:
• Assessment and exercises from a women’s health physiotherapist
• Movement modifications to reduce strain
• Use of support belts where appropriate
• Gentle, adapted pregnancy massage to ease muscular tension
• Rest and pacing
The aim is not to “fix” the pelvis instantly, but to improve stability, reduce muscular overload and make daily life more manageable.
Early support usually leads to better outcomes.
Pregnancy Massage in Walton-on-Thames
If you are experiencing pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy and would like gentle, adapted support, I offer specialist pregnancy massage in Walton-on-Thames.
I have been supporting pregnant and postnatal women since 2010, and each session is tailored carefully to your stage of pregnancy and how you are feeling that day.
I welcome women from across Surrey, including Weybridge, Hersham, Molesey and Esher, who are looking for calm, professional support.
You deserve to feel comfortable in your changing body.
