Thigh Pain During Pregnancy

Pain, whether in the back, thigh or hip, is a very commonly experienced side effect of pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, her body is under a lot of stress due to the various hormonal changes taking place in her body and also because of the weight of the growing uterus, especially in the last trimester. Besides these, there are several other reasons why a pregnant woman will experience thigh pain. Below is a list of all the reasons, followed by the steps that the woman can take to minimize her discomfort.

Inner Thigh Pain

Symphysis pubic dysfunction, or SPD, a condition which is caused when the ligaments that keep both the sides of the pelvic bone held together tightly at the symphysis pubis, a joint of the pubic area, relax due to the hormone "relaxin". This softening of the ligaments takes place so that the baby can be easily delivered. In some cases, the ligaments may loosen in excess, making the pelvic joint unstable. This causes tremendous pain in the pelvis, hips and the inner thigh region, especially when she stands or walks or moves her legs. Some other symptoms of SPD are pain and discomfort upon opening one's legs, a feeling experienced by the woman that her bones are grinding and there may also be a clicking sound when she moves her legs.

If a woman is experiencing these symptoms during pregnancy, she should inform her doctor about them. If SPD is confirmed, an obstetric physiotherapist should be consulted. To get rid of the pain, a woman can wear a pelvic support belt, which helps in keeping the bones in their proper position and thus, offers some relief from pain. Secondly, if a woman undertakes certain exercises, such as pelvic tilts or Kegels, they can strengthen the muscles in the pelvic region and thus aid in stabilizing the pelvic joint. Lastly, taking certain precautions, such as not lifting weights or not standing for long hours, will help in keeping the pain in check too.

Hip and Thigh Pain

Hip and thigh pain is caused due to a condition known as Sciatica. It occurs when the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back to the legs and the feet is compressed. The main reason behind the compression of the sciatic nerve is the growing size of the uterus during pregnancy. Some of the commonly experienced symptoms of Sciatica are a tingling sensation as well as numbness in the affected region, accompanied by pain.

Pain caused due to Sciatica, in most cases, goes away by the end of the pregnancy due to the changes that take place in the position of the baby in the uterus during that period. To minimize sciatic pain, a hot compresses should be applied to the affected area. Having a bath with warm water and sleeping on the other side, where pain is not there, helps in minimizing pain too.

A pregnant woman should try to relax and have a good night's sleep to minimize all the side effects or symptoms. For this, forming a routine of exercises as well as some relaxation techniques, will help tremendously. Thigh pain during pregnancy is a temporary condition which goes away once the baby is delivered. Although it can make giving birth a little uncomfortable for the mother, yet by talking to and consulting one's doctor, a woman can come up with a position of delivery that will not be very painful or bothersome for the would-be mother.