Pelvic girdle pain is one of the most common pregnancy complaints that doesn’t get talked about enough — it can make everyday movements like walking, climbing stairs, or turning over in bed genuinely painful. The good news is that it’s manageable, and understanding what’s going on can make it much less frightening.
What Is Pelvic Girdle Pain?
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP), sometimes still called symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), is discomfort or instability in the pelvic joints — the sacroiliac joints at the back of the pelvis and the symphysis pubis at the front. During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin loosens the ligaments around these joints to prepare the body for birth, but this can also make the joints move unevenly, leading to pain and a feeling of instability.
Common Symptoms
- Pain in the pubic area, lower back, hips, or groin
- A clicking or grinding sensation in the pelvis
- Pain that worsens with walking, climbing stairs, standing on one leg, or turning over in bed
- Difficulty separating your legs, such as getting in and out of a car
- Pain that may radiate down into the thighs
Why It Happens
Beyond the hormonal changes from relaxin, added weight, a shifting centre of gravity, and changes in posture as the uterus grows all put extra strain on the pelvic joints. It can happen at any point in pregnancy, though it often becomes more noticeable in the second and third trimesters as the bump grows and joint laxity increases.
How to Manage Pelvic Girdle Pain
- See a physiotherapist — a GP or midwife can refer you for pregnancy-safe physiotherapy, which is usually the most effective treatment and can include manual therapy and targeted exercises.
- Keep your knees together when getting in and out of cars, beds, or the bath to avoid straining the joints.
- Try a pregnancy support belt — these wrap around the hips to stabilise the pelvis and can reduce pain during activity.
- Avoid standing on one leg — sit down to get dressed rather than balancing while pulling on trousers.
- Rest between activities — alternating movement with rest helps avoid flare-ups caused by overexertion.
- Sleep with a pillow between your knees — this keeps the hips aligned and reduces overnight discomfort.
Does Pelvic Girdle Pain Affect Labour?
PGP itself doesn’t usually prevent a vaginal birth, but it’s worth discussing positions for labour with your midwife in advance, since some positions put more strain on the pelvis than others. Many maternity teams will note PGP in your birth plan so staff are aware and can help you find comfortable positions during labour.
When to Seek Help
If pain is severe, worsening, or affecting your ability to walk or carry out daily tasks, ask your midwife or GP for a physiotherapy referral rather than waiting for it to resolve on its own — early treatment tends to produce better results than pain managed alone for months.
FAQs
Is pelvic girdle pain the same as SPD?
They’re closely related — SPD refers specifically to the pubic joint, while pelvic girdle pain is the broader term covering pain in any of the pelvic joints, including the sacroiliac joints at the back.
Does pelvic girdle pain go away after birth?
For most people, symptoms improve significantly within weeks of giving birth as hormone levels return to normal, though some may need continued physiotherapy support.
Can I still exercise with pelvic girdle pain?
Gentle, pregnancy-safe movement is usually encouraged, but a physiotherapist can advise on which exercises help and which activities to avoid while symptoms are active.
