Hip Pain During Pregnancy

Hip pain during pregnancy is quite a common complaint. It can happen any time. However, as the size of the baby grows, the pain becomes more and more prominent. The intensity of the pain can vary from mild to severe. For those who suffer from mild pain, it could be just a matter of annoyance. But there are some who suffer from severe pain which disrupts their sleep at night, affecting their normal day-to-day activities as well.

Causes

There are many changes that take place during pregnancy that can be responsible for causing pain. The most commonly found causes are listed below:

Hormonal Changes: There are several hormones that are released by the body during pregnancy. Certain hormones like progesterone act as a relaxing agent on the muscles, ligaments and joints of the body. In this way, your body prepares itself for childbirth. In this process, muscle tissues and joints that provide support to the body get relaxed and stretched and cause hip pain.

Change in Body Structure: There is a continuous change in the body structure of a pregnant woman. As the uterus is growing in size, the abdominal muscles are stretched excessively, which put a lot of strain in the hip area, causing hip pain.

Change in Body Posture: Due to a change in the body structure, a pregnant woman's posture tends to become awkward while making movements like bending, sitting and walking. This exerts additional pressure in the hip area and causes tension in the muscles. Too much of such movement can give rise to sharp hip pain during pregnancy.

Other Causes: Many women tend to experience this kind of pain because of too much mental stress. In any condition, our body muscles become stiff and tense under stress. This combination of tension in the muscles and the extra pressure in the hip and pelvic region can lead to hip pain. Weight gain is another issue that can be responsible for this kind of pain.

Remedies

Here are some simple remedies that can relieve hip pain:

Application of Heat: When you are suffering from hip pain, the most simple way of getting rid of the pain is to apply heat. It has a soothing effect on the pain. Taking a warm bath can also be useful in this regard.

Limit Activities: Any activities or pregnancy exercises that aggravate the pain need to be reduced in order to get relief from the pain. Like, walking is recommended in pregnancy to keep the body in shape. However, it may not be the right choice if you are suffering from hip pain.

Massage: Many women find therapeutic massage highly effective to reduce hip pain. Such massages can loosen the taut muscles and help in pain management. Instead of visiting a spa for a simple massage, opt for a massage from a licensed chiropractor who has experience for this kind of a massage.

Muscle Strengthening Exercises: There are some exercises that can help to add strength to the pelvic muscles and thigh muscles and improve mobility. However, it is essential that the exercises are done under the supervision of a physical therapist who can guide you on the safe postures of exercises in pregnancy . Swimming is another simple exercise that can help to ease off the pain from the hip region.

Support Your Back: Many pregnant women experience back pain while lying down or sleeping. This is mainly because of inadequate support to the joints of the pelvis region. This can be provided by placing a pillow in between the legs and one under the belly. This way a lot of pressure from the hips and the pelvis are taken off.

There are some measures which when taken can prevent the hip pain. Try to maintain a good posture while standing so that the hips are not strained. Sit with your feet in an elevated position. Do not keep them in crossed condition. Avoid high-heeled shoes altogether for the time being as it can be lead to pain. Lots of calcium and magnesium need to be included in the diet to prevent hip pain. Drink plenty of fluids so that the body remains properly hydrated. Though pregnancy hip pain is common, one should not take this condition lightly. It is always recommended to visit your doctor and inform him about the pain.