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• going upstairs
• standing on one leg (for example, when you’re getting dressed or going upstairs)
• turning over in bed

It can also be difficult to move your legs apart – for example, when you get out of a car.
There is treatment to help, and techniques to manage the pain and discomfort. If you get
the right advice and treatment early on, PPGP can usually be managed and the symptoms
minimised. Occasionally, the symptoms even clear up completely.
Most women with PPGP can have a normal vaginal birth.

Who gets pelvic pain in pregnancy?

It's estimated that PPGP affects up to one in five 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.

Factors that may make a woman more likely to develop PPGP include:
• a history of lower back or pelvic girdle pain
• previous injury to the pelvis – for example, from a fall or accident
• having PPGP in a previous pregnancy
• a physically demanding job

When to get help for pelvic pain in pregnancy

Getting diagnosed as early as possible can help keep pain to a minimum and avoid long-
term discomfort. Treatment by a physiotherapist usually involves moving the affected joint,
which helps it work normally again.
If you notice pain around your pelvic area, tell your midwife, GP or obstetrician. Ask a
member of your maternity team for a referral to a physiotherapist who specialises in

obstetric pelvic joint problems.
These problems tend not to get completely better until the baby is born, but treatment from
an experienced pelvic health practitioner can significantly improve the symptoms during
pregnancy.

contact www.frombumps2babies.co.uk for a consultation and treatment plan.

Treatments for pelvic pain in pregnancy
Physiotherapy aims to relieve or ease pain, improve muscle function and improve your
pelvic joint position and stability. This may include:
• manual therapy to make sure the joints of your pelvis, hip and spine move normally
• exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor, stomach, back and hip muscles