Pubic Pain and Pregnancy
COPING WITH PELVIC PAIN
From the moment of conception up to birth delivery, it is a roller-coaster journey for every expectant mother. A major part of that journey is to endure the tremendous changes and adjustments your body has to undergo until the baby emerges to the outside world.
Those bodily changes and adjustments during pregnancy may come with pains and discomforts for some soon to be mama’s. This condition may not be harmful to the baby, but it could be uncomfortable or painful for the expectant mother. Today, let’s discuss pain and pressure in your pubic symphysis.
This Pain in the front of the pelvis in your pubic region is called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction. This can cause sharp shooting pain, a tearing sensation with specific movements, pain with opening and closing your legs, and general discomfort. Some refer to it as “lighting crotch.” It is a very uncomfortable experiences that flares up with specific movements for many mamas.
The Nature of Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)
The pelvic bone bears the weight of the baby bump throughout your pregnancy. There are strong ligaments that hold the pelvis in place. During pregnancy, relaxin hormones are produced to loosen the ligaments and muscles most especially in the pelvic region. This is intended to increase the range of motion and to assist during birth delivery. On the downside, the pelvic joints become unbalanced and move unevenly due to the slackening. This can be a contributing factor to the discomfort and pain caused by SPD, the Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction.
Although the loosening of ligaments is intended to assist in giving birth, relaxin is produced even during the early stages of pregnancy. Hence, the symptoms of SPD become apparent during those early stages and tend to worsen as the pregnancy progresses, usually during the third trimester.
In SPD, the pelvic joints become stiff that occur both at the front and back of your pelvis. The pain is commonly experienced at the front center of the pubic bone, at the lower back on one or both sides. Hence, pain is felt at the groin and the pubis.
The pain radiates up to the thighs and becomes more intense during walking or climbing up and down the stairs. These are the instances when the body weight is placed in only one leg or the body is twisted, such as changing position while lying in bed.
Other normal activities where pain is experienced would be dressing up, getting in and out of a car, and standing up from a chair. Body movements get hampered that causes discomfort and pain. In these situations, SPD is often linked to lower back pain.
The baby’s weight and position are also considered to be contributing factors to pelvic pain. It is less common to experience SPD outside of pregnancy. Other causes may be attributed to pelvic injuries and osteoarthritis.
SPD is not harmful to the baby and most women with this condition can still have vaginal birth delivery without remarkable complications. However, chronic pain may lead to depression which may negatively affect your baby. It is also not a fun way to experience pregnancy.
The symptoms of SPD may not entirely disappear not until after birth delivery. This is why seeking the professional help of a chiropractor can help in managing the pain and discomfort that could have paved the way for a healthy pregnancy.
Chiropractic may help decrease Pubic Symphysis pain
Generally, SPD occurs as pregnancy progresses. There is an increase in the weight of the baby you are carrying which gives pressure on the pelvis and the lower back. Together with the hormonal production of relaxin that causes the ligaments to become elastic, these changes result in the pubic joint unable to bear the weight, and pain is felt.
The pubic joint connects the bones with many ligaments. The working mechanism can be patterned like a velcro tape which allows torsion and flexibility. The ligaments get weak due to the production of relaxin. They become softened and inflamed, making each body movement become painful as the joint becomes misaligned.
The other pubic joints at the back, called the sacroiliac joints (SI joints), are not spared by the effect of relaxin. This is where chiropractic care can significantly help the patient in order to get relieved of the pain symptoms.
Chiropractic adjustment will be focused on balancing the pelvis, including adjusting the pubic bone. Through gentle, and effective adjustments of the pelvis, sacrum, and pubic bone, and releasing related ligaments and muscles, patients often experience a relief of symptoms.
The treatment aims to reduce the weight on the symphysis and to lessen the inflammation, thus giving symptomatic relief. Many expectant women experience significant improvement after they have undergone chiropractic adjustment.
Aside from reducing the pain, chiropractic adjustments would improve muscle strength and pelvic joint stability and positioning. It helps to ensure that the pelvis, spine, and hips move normally. Your chiropractor can assess the stability and strength of your joints and pelvic muscles and help you plan your activities ahead and what to avoid.
Chiropractic adjustments to the pelvis are safe and comfortable both for the baby and the mother. Moms-to-be are happy and confident with their chiropractors at Dover Health Care Center (DHCC). They feel great relief, if not for a noticeable reduction of symptoms of Pubic Symphysis Pain.
It is, therefore, highly important to have professional chiropractic management, especially for pregnancy-related pain. If you are ever in Delaware, and seeking care before, during, or after pregnancy, you are welcome to stop by DHCC!