pelvic girdle pain.
last revised · reviewed 2026-07-05
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is pain around the pelvic joints — the pubic bone at the front, or the sacroiliac joints at the back — affecting around 1 in 5 pregnant women. It is treatable, and early referral to a physiotherapist makes a real difference, so tell your midwife rather than enduring it.
what it feels like
Pain over the pubic bone, in the groin, across the lower back, or radiating into the thighs — classically worse when walking, climbing stairs, standing on one leg (getting dressed), turning over in bed, or getting in and out of a car. Some women feel or hear clicking in the pelvis.
why it happens
The hormone relaxin loosens the ligaments of the pelvic joints in preparation for birth, and pregnancy posture and weight shift the load they carry. If the joints move unevenly, the surrounding muscles strain and the joints become irritated and painful. It is a mechanical joint problem — not harm to you or the baby — and it responds to treatment.
what helps
- Ask your midwife for a physiotherapy referral early — manual therapy and targeted exercises are the treatment of choice
- Keep your knees together for the movements that hurt: swivel out of the car as one unit, sit down to dress
- Take stairs one at a time, leading with the less painful leg
- Sleep with a pillow between your knees; keep knees together when turning in bed
- Stay active within your pain limits — total rest weakens the muscles the pelvis relies on
- A pelvic support belt can help, especially for walking — a physiotherapist can fit one
- Break up standing and walking with sitting rests; avoid pushing through pain, which flares it
when to call your midwife or doctor
- Pain that stops you walking or managing stairs — ask your midwife or doctor for an urgent physio referral
- Pelvic pain with contractions, bleeding, or pressure before 37 weeks — call your midwife or maternity unit
- Difficulty passing urine, or numbness around the saddle area — seek help immediately
- Pain not improving with physiotherapy and self-care — go back to your midwife or doctor; more support is available
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call — no midwife has ever minded a careful question.
common questions
What does pelvic girdle pain feel like?
Typically pain over the pubic bone, in the groin, hips, or lower back, worse with walking, stairs, standing on one leg, or turning in bed. Some women notice clicking or grinding in the pelvis. The hallmark is pain tied to movements that load the pelvic joints unevenly.
Will pelvic girdle pain go away after birth?
For most women, yes — PGP improves substantially in the weeks after birth as relaxin fades and the joints firm up. Getting physiotherapy during pregnancy speeds recovery and reduces the chance of it lingering, which is why early referral matters.
Can I still have a normal birth with PGP?
Almost always, yes. It helps to note your pain-free range of hip movement beforehand and share it with your birth team, and positions like kneeling or all-fours often work well. PGP alone is rarely a reason for any particular type of birth — discuss your plan with your midwife.
read it in context
Pelvic girdle pain tends to show up around these weeks of pregnancy:
related symptoms
- Heartburn
Heartburn — a burning feeling rising from the stomach towards the throat — affects up to 8 in 10 women at some point in pregnancy, most often in the second and third trimesters.
- Itchy skin
Mild itching is common in pregnancy as skin stretches over the bump and hormones make it drier.
- Frequent urination
Needing to wee more often is one of the earliest pregnancy signs, driven by increased blood flow to the kidneys and hormonal changes.
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