Pregnancy changes the load, not just the belly.
Your pelvis is carrying weight it has never carried, in a slightly different position, with ligaments responding to hormonal change. The joints at the front and the back of the pelvis take most of that. Pain there is common in pregnancy. Common is not the same as normal, and it is not a sign that anything is broken.
A stabbing at the pubic bone getting out of the car, or a deep ache in one side of the low back, usually comes down to how load is being shared between the hips, the pelvic floor and the abdominal wall. That sharing can be assessed, and it can be changed.
What pregnancy pain actually feels like.
Most of this gets waved off as part of being pregnant. Each one has a physical explanation and a physical treatment, and none of them require you to wait until after the birth.
Pubic Bone Pain
A sharp, catching pain at the front of the pelvis when you walk, climb stairs, or step out of the car.
Low Back and SI Pain
A deep ache on one side of the low back or buttock that builds through the day and bites when you stand up.
Round Ligament Pain
A sudden pull low in the abdomen or groin when you sneeze, roll over, or change direction quickly.
Pain Rolling Over in Bed
Turning from one side to the other wakes you up, and getting out of bed has turned into something you plan.
Leaking Urine
Urine escaping when you cough, sneeze, laugh or run. Very common in pregnancy, and treatable rather than something to put up with.
Pelvic Heaviness
A dragging or bearing-down feeling in the vagina or perineum, usually worse late in the day or after time on your feet.
Settle the pain, keep you moving.
Care starts by watching how you actually move: how you shift weight onto one leg, how you breathe, what your hips and pelvic floor do when you load them. Hands-on work at the pelvis, hips and low back settles the irritated tissue. Then we load it again in the positions that were hurting.
None of this is about stopping. Most people can keep walking, lifting and training through pregnancy with the right adjustments, and a licensed physical therapist can tell you which ones are yours. Pelvic floor work is part of the plan where it is relevant, through our pelvic floor therapy service with Dr. Amelia Fly, PT, DPT, who holds a Level 1 certification in Pelvic Function.
No referral needed in Illinois. In-network with BCBS, PPO and Medicare, and we verify your plan before you start.
Get seen while you are still pregnant.
No referral needed in Illinois. We are in-network with BCBS, PPO and Medicare, and we will verify your plan before your first visit.
That visit is a full one-on-one evaluation: tell us what hurts and when, we watch how you move, and you leave with a plan you can start right away.
You’re all set.
We’ll reach out within one business day to confirm your appointment. If you need to speak with us sooner, call us directly.