If you have pelvic pain during pregnancy, let us tell you you are not alone. It is one of the common issues that many pregnant women go through. Vaginal pain during pregnancy happens because your body is probably making room for the growing baby. The body stretches makes a shift in the hormone level, and aches and pains become common. If you are feeling any wrong sensation in your body, you can consider talking to the experts of Cloudnine Hospital Bangalore.
What is the reason behind pelvic pain during pregnancy?
Many causes may lead to discomfort and pain during pregnancy. Some of the common reasons are listed below:
- Pelvic pressure: This may happen because the baby’s body and overall weight push your pelvis. The growth of a baby may put some pressure on your pelvis. This pain may become prevalent when you are standing, walking, or lying down on the bed or even the floor.
- Round ligament pain: As the baby starts producing room inside your womb, your abdominal muscles start stretching. One particular ligament that runs around your sides becomes stretched, pulled by the growing uterus, creates discomfort, and allows the baby to grow. It may lead to severe stretching in your pelvis. It can also hurt you when you are trying to stand up or sit down, producing sharp painful sensations. In general, these pains subside by 24 weeks. This type of pain becomes worse when you are facing your second or subsequent pregnancy.
- Lower back pain: Sometimes it becomes hard to detect the source of pain in the body. While you may think that it is coming from your pelvis, in reality, it may be radiating from your lower back. Lower back pain is common especially when you are pregnant. It can also happen along with other pregnancy symptoms or underlying diseases like constipation, urinary tract infection, and kidney stones.
- Braxton-Hicks contractions: Contractions are different for every woman, as it may develop different feelings for different personalities. But, it is for sure that you may feel contractions in your pelvis while you are pregnant. Braxton-Hick contractions are usual, that is like a warming up of the pelvis for labor. These types of contractions are felt in the front part of the body. In a true sense, it may develop in your back and radiate towards your stomach. This type of contraction generally stops when you change your position. It is not something that helps to progress your labor. Both the conditions like full bladder and dehydration can lead to Braxton-Hicks contractions.
- Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction: There is one called pubic bone which separates during the birth of a child. But, it begins to loosen or separate prematurely causing a painful condition called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). This pain appears in response to the release of the pregnancy hormone called relaxin, which causes muscles and ligaments to relax. This can lead to sharp and unexpected pain because of the tearing sensation in the lower pelvis.
What can you do to resist Vaginal pain during pregnancy?
If you are experiencing pelvic pain during pregnancy, you can try any of the following methods:
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Identify the Source of Your Pain
Is the pain stabbing in your stomach? Is it sharp or feels like something is stretching from inside? You can try to isolate the discomfort that you are feeling. There can be chances that the pain may develop in some other body part. You should first try to figure out the source of pain in your body. This may follow the best course of treatment allowing your body to detect the pain.
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Lie Down
This will not only help you relieve the symptoms but will help to determine the source of pain. If you are going through round ligament pain, you can get some relief while lying down. This may help you identify the source of pain like SPD or something else.
- Sleep with Pregnancy Pillow
A pregnancy pillow can help relieve pressure, keeping your knees and hips parallel to each other. When you try to sleep on your sides, your top leg may put some pressure on your hip area, causing discomfort in your hip and pelvic. If you will sleep with a pregnancy pillow in between your knees, it can help you relieve certain pressure on your body. You can also use a regular pillow to provide support to your body.
- Consider Chiropractic Care
It is safe to consider the help of a chiropractor. Some chiropractors receive training in prenatal chiropractic care, while some go through additional specialized training. You can take the help of chiropractors who can help you with the treatment of your pelvic and doing any kind of adjustment to the pain. You can also ask your gynecologist if they provide the services of chiropractors or not.
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Get a Pregnancy Massage
Massage can help you deal with pelvic pain caused by the strain. You can opt for the option of pregnancy massage while going to a massage therapist, who may help you with a particular massage. Some specialists handling massage provide a special table for the large bellies to accommodate. Others provide non-traditional positions to perform the massage. You may only be required to take care of one thing that you must not lie flat on your belly especially when you are pregnant.
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Prop Your Feet Up
Sometimes, sitting can simply help you with the treatments while you are dealing with stress, pressure, and pain in your back, hips, and pelvis. You can place a small desk or stool beneath your working desk. This may help your knees, back, and hips to lie in correlation with each other.
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Do Kegel Exercises
Vaginal pain during pregnancy may appear because of the weakening of the pelvis. You can try out some kegel exercises helping to release your kegel muscles. That works in the same way as you are supposed to produce your actions while stopping the flow of urine mid-stream. You can tighten or release the muscles at least 50 times a row; helping you strengthen your kegel muscles. Kegel exercise works on the internal muscles, giving you the way to control your instinct while making you comfortable.
- Take a warm bath
You should go for a warm bath, not a hot bath. This may help you relax your muscles along with a soothing effect. It is better to understand the water should not be above the temperature of 100 degrees. An elevated body temperature may pose a risk for the baby. Also, do not try to stay in a hot water bath for a long time, this may raise your core body temperature making you feel uncomfortable after bathing.
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Avoid Trigger Positions
If you have developed vaginal pain due to PSD, you can predict your comfortability by changing your position to one side. Else, you can also lie down with your legs apart. This may help you flex your muscles like you are pushing or pulling creating a motion. While you are pregnant, you should try to avoid strenuous activities. These strenuous activities may trigger pain in your pelvis and can make it difficult for you to combat.
