Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy.

Written By Tori Everard

Pelvic Girdle and Back Pain in Pregnancy: It’s Common - But That Doesn’t Mean You Have to Just “Put Up With It”. Here’s Why it Happens and How to Feel Better

By Connie Wells - Founder of the Bump Belt.

Let’s clear something up straight away.

If you’re pregnant and your hips, lower back or pubic bone are aching, even down the back of your thigh to your knee…
If turning in bed feels like a workout…
If walking the supermarket aisle suddenly feels harder than it should…

You are not being dramatic.

And it is not “just part of pregnancy.”

You might have heard:

  • “At least the baby is healthy.”

  • “Other women go through this.”

  • “You’re overthinking it.”

  • “Wait until the baby comes…”

  • “You just need more rest.”

And maybe you’ve thought:

  • “I’m doing everything right - why am I in so much pain?”

  • “Will this ever go away?”

  • “Maybe I’m just not strong enough.”

Let’s say this clearly.

Pelvic girdle pain is real. And it’s treatable.

What Is Pelvic Girdle Pain?

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is pain felt around the hips, buttocks, lower back or pubic bone and sometimes down the back of the thigh to the knee during pregnancy or after birth.

It affects 45-78% of pregnant women.

For many, it improves after birth.
For 30% of women, it lingers - especially if it’s not properly managed.

 

There is increasing recognition that women’s pain is too often dismissed. The Victorian Department of Health is currently doing an inquiry into women’s pain and examining gender bias in pain care, because women’s symptoms are frequently minimised [https://www.health.vic.gov.au/inquiry-into-womens-pain].

So if you’ve felt brushed off - that’s not your imagination.

Why It Happens (And No, It’s Not All In Your Head)

Pregnancy changes everything:

  • Hormones

  • Load through the pelvis

  • Muscle coordination

  • Sleep

  • Stress levels

  • Nervous system sensitivity

Your body is doing something extraordinary.

But sometimes the system gets overloaded.

Pain doesn’t mean your pelvis is “out.”
It doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
And it definitely doesn’t mean you should stop moving altogether.

It means your body needs support.

Why Early Action Matters

When pelvic girdle pain starts to affect:

  • Walking

  • Rolling in bed

  • Getting dressed and standing on one leg

  • Working

  • Looking after other children

  • Exercising

It chips away at your energy and confidence.

The longer pain persists, the more sensitive your system can become.

That’s why we don’t recommend just waiting it out.

We recommend getting ahead of it.

What Actually Helps

Clinical guidelines support:

✔ Education
✔ Targeted exercises
✔ Smart load management
✔ BUMPBELT pelvic support

Most symptoms can be improved - and prevented from escalating - with the right strategy.

The goal isn’t total rest.

The goal is supported movement.

The Game-Changer: BUMPBELT

For many women, a properly fitted BUMPBELT can be game changing.

A BUMPBELT:

  • Provides gentle compression

  • Reduces pain during walking and standing

  • Improves load transfer through the pelvis

  • Increases confidence

  • Helps you keep doing the things you love

We often recommend the BUMPBELT to women experiencing pelvic girdle pain. It’s registered with the Therapeutic Goods of Australia (TGA), Aussie made and eligible as a medical rebate under most health funds. 

It allows many women to:

  • Stay active

  • Keep working

  • Care for their family

You can learn more about the BUMPBELT here:

Website: [https://babybody.com.au/?ref=Peninsulawomensphysio]

Instagram: @babybodyco

Email: hello@babybody.com.au

When combined with guided exercise, it can make a noticeable difference. Often an immediate reduction in pain is felt.

You Deserve a Comfortable Pregnancy

Gratitude and discomfort can exist at the same time.

You can be thrilled to be pregnant and still want relief from pain.

You are not weak.
You are not overreacting.
And you do not need to “push through.”

With the right education, targeted treatment, and appropriate support - most women can return to a far more comfortable, confident pregnancy.

Ready to Feel Better?

If pelvic girdle pain is affecting your daily life, book an appointment with our physiotherapist.

We’ll assess properly.
Explain clearly.
Create a plan that makes sense for you.

And if the BUMPBELT is right for you, we’ll guide you on how and when to use it for the best results.

Because pregnancy is hard enough.

Pain shouldn’t be something you just accept.

Clinton, SC, Newell, A, Downey, PA & Ferreira, K (2017) Pelvic girdle pain in the antepartum population: physical therapy clinical practice guidelines linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health from the Section on Women's Health and the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy, 41(2):102-125)

Gutke A., Boissonnault J., Brook G., Stuge B. The severity and impact of pelvic girdle pain and low-back pain in pregnancy: a multinational study. J. Womens Health (Larchmt) 2018;27(4):510–517.

 

Pulsifer J, Britnell S, Sim A, Adaszynski J, Dufour S. Reframing beliefs and instilling facts for contemporary management of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. Br J Sports Med. 2022 Nov;56(22):1262-1265.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tori Everard
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