Pregnancy Health & Help

How to decrease crotch pain in pregnancy

Pregnancy is a long journey. If you are experiencing pain in your lower back, pubic area, buttock, etc., then you need these tips to ease your pain. 

Now is the time to get ready for your birth journey. Take your next step by downloading the FREE workbook below to get Annabelle’s 4 Step Process to a birth you will love to remember.

Pelvic girdle pain is a general term for all pelvic pain such as pubic pain. It was previously called symphysis pubis dysfunction.

Pelvic girdle pain is pain anywhere from the lower back, hip, pelvis, down to the thigh, either at the front or back.

You are experiencing pain in the pubic joint and the back in the sacroiliac joint.

Pain can increase throughout your pregnancy as your baby grows, your posture changes, and ‘relaxin’ increases (hormone that softens ligaments to allow the pelvis to open more).

This is common in pregnancy, but it is not normal. Talk to your healthcare provider. 

Signs and Symptoms 

  • Difficulty walking (a waddling gait).
  • Pain when putting weight on one leg, such as climbing stairs, or getting out of the car.
  • Difficulty lying in some positions, such as on your side and your experience a clicking or grinding in the pelvic area.
  • Pain during normal activities.
  • Pain during sex.

Cure = make little changes to your everyday life

  • If something hurts, don’t do it
  • Rest more and avoid heavy lifting.
  • Get dressed sitting down or leaning on your bed.
  • Sleep with a pillow between your knees, turn inward to change positions, or keep your knees together to turn your hips in bed.
  • Avoid asymmetrical positions of the pelvis: sitting cross-legged, pushing or pulling to one side, bending and twisting to lift, or carrying anything on one hip.
  • Sex: lying on side or on all-fours.
  • Kegel exercises
  • Butterfly
  • Pelvic tilts on birth ball

Lightning crotch: sharp or shooting pain in the vagina, rectum, or pelvis (can feel it in the butt). This is a nerve-like pain into your vagina. 

This is normal and common in pregnancy.

Cause:

  • Baby movement → pressure on nerves → sharp pain
  • Dropping (baby moves to lower part of uterus) → head on cervix and nerves → sharp pain
  • Quick position changes → round ligament pain (growing belly = more stretching of ligaments that support uterus) → sharp pain

Lightning crotch can be a sign that labor is getting close, but it is not necessarily a sign of active labor.

Is it lightening crotch or contractions?

  • Is it a sharp shooting pain or cramping?
  • Is the pain low or high?
  • Does the pain occur with sudden movements or is the pain frequent and painful?

*Labor means frequent contractions that are PAINFUL! 

Cure: 

  • Belly band
  • Walking
  • Slow movements
  • Warm bath with epsom salt (2 cups per bath)

Are you ready to take the next step towards your birth. Download my free workbook below to get started! 

Disclaimer: This is for educational purposes only. This should not be taken as medical advice or take the place of what your healthcare provider recommends. Please discuss any healthcare information found on this channel with your healthcare provider. Pearently exists as a source of information and knowledge and in no way can we determine whether or not any of the information is specifically best for your individual case. With that in mind, we are grateful to share this information with you and we hope that you find success in your journey to achieve a happy and healthy pregnancy, labor, and birth.

– Sincerely, Team Pearently