Pregnancy Pain & Discomfort: Causes, Triggers, and How Prenatal Chiropractic Care Can Help

Sep 10

Everyone knows pregnancy brings plenty of changes, but there are aches and discomfort that come along that can catch you off guard. As your baby grows, your body has to adjust to a changing center of gravity, shifting joints, and changes in muscle tension. All of the work your body does to support you often leads to lower back pain, hip pain, pelvic discomfort, and other aches that you may not expect.

How does pregnancy change my body?

As your baby grows, your belly moves forward and outward, which shifts your center of gravity. That puts more stress on your lower back and can increase the natural curve of your lower spine. That added stress affects your hips, SI (sacroiliac) joints, and the muscles surrounding them.

Hormonal changes play a role, too. Hormones like Relaxin help loosen the ligaments during pregnancy, which is an important part of preparing the body for birth. However, that increased looseness can also make the joints feel less stable. When the body has to work harder to create that stability, the surrounding muscles can start to compensate.

A blonde woman and brown haired man holding their blonde baby at a chiropractors office for a prenatal chiropractic appointment.

Where is my pregnancy pain coming from?

This combination of changing alignment, joint stability, and muscle tension can contribute to several common pregnancy complaints, including:

Lower back pain
Hip pain
Pelvic discomfort
Sciatica
Rib pain
Overall stiffness

And these symptoms don't necessarily stay the same throughout pregnancy. As your body continues to change, your discomfort can fluctuate, too.

A couple holding their two children one boy and one girl at a prenatal chiropractic appointment.

How does chiropractic care help with my pregnancy pain?

Your body is changing, the way you care for it should too.

Rather than simply focusing on where you're experiencing pain, chiropractic care looks at how your body is moving and functioning as a whole. By addressing areas of restricted movement and supporting proper joint function, chiropractic care can help take some of the stress off the surrounding muscles and joints.

The goal isn't to stop the natural changes that come with pregnancy. Instead, it's to help your body adapt to those changes as comfortably and efficiently as possible. Supporting mobility and proper movement can help you continue doing the everyday activities you enjoy while your body continues to change.

Prenatal chiropractic care is also tailored to the individual. What one mom needs may look completely different from what another mom needs, especially as pregnancy progresses and symptoms change.

Your body is constantly adapting during pregnancy. Chiropractic care can help support how it moves through those changes.