Groin Pain in Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one such phase of life that brings about lots of changes in the body of the mother to be. These changes trigger various forms of pain and discomfort for her. One such common problem is groin pain. Most women complain it as a sudden sharp pain that lasts for a few seconds and is felt while changing position of the body. Others may get it as a dull pain that lasts for quite some time at the end of an active day. Groin pain can happen in any stage of pregnancy but it tends to become more severe in the third trimester.

Causes

Hormonal changes is one of the most commonly found causes of groin pain during pregnancy. Certain hormones like progesterone and relaxin are released in large amounts during pregnancy in order to prepare the body for childbirth. However, these hormones tend to loosen up the muscles and other tissues that provide support to the joints and gives rise to this kind of pain. The round ligaments surround the uterus for support by connecting it with the groin. These ligaments get overstretched in order to accommodate the expanding uterus which results in intermittent pain in the groin area. The entire body structure of a pregnant woman is changing continuously due to the growing size of the uterus. This along with increased body weight puts an additional amount of pressure in the lower abdominal region and causes lower back and groin pain . The frequency and severity of the pain increases if a correct posture is not maintained.

Ways to Relieve Groin Pain

When you are suffering from sudden groin pain then you must sit down and take rest so that the pain subsides. Besides, there are some simple measures that can be tried at home to get rid of the problem and prevent its recurrence:

Relieve the Pressure
This can be done by lying down on one side and bending the knees and the hips. For further support, place one pillow in between the knees and another under the belly. Thus you can ease off a lot pressure from the groin region which in turn will lessen the pain.

Maintain Correct Posture
While standing, tuck in your hips and pelvis and hold your head up. Do not let your shoulder stoop down. Try to avoid standing for a long time. While sitting, keep your feet on an elevated position and do not keep them in crossed position. When you lower your body, bend your knees and not the waist.

Apply Heat
This will have a soothing effect on the groin pain. You can apply heat by placing a heating pad on the painful joint for 5-10 minutes. Or else, you can immerse your body in a bathtub of warm water to which sea salts and lavender oil have been added for some time.

Limit Your Activities
Some pregnant women get groin pain when they are involved with too many physical activities. If you are one of them, then you must take it easy. Suspend all those activities that tend to aggravate the pain.

Go for a Massage
Prenatal massage is highly effective for groin pain in women. It helps in loosening up of tense muscles and brings down the pain. However, make sure it is done by a licensed chiropractor who is trained to perform this kind of massage.

Exercise
When you are doing pregnancy exercises regularly, it will make your muscles strong and flexible. Thus they can provide adequate support to the additional body weight and improve mobility of your body. However, you should do them under the guidance of a physical therapist.

Hope all these measures will help you get a lot of relief from the annoying pain in the groin. However, if there is severe groin pain that persists for several hours, then consult your doctor to check out for any other complications. Most importantly, do not take any pain relieving medicines without asking your doctor.