Hormones, Pelvic Girdle Pain and How Chiropractic Can Help During Pregnancy

One of the most common conditions we see pregnant people presenting to our Chiropractors with is Pelvic Girdle Pain. The pelvic girdle is made up of the two pelvic bones and the sacrum (tailbone) that join up at the front at the pubic joint, and at the back via two joints called the sacroiliac joints. Pregnant people will often develop pain around these joints, both around the lower back and hips and around the front over the groin and pubic area. People are often surprised at how early this pain can start to present, usually even before their stomach starts to grow! One of the causes of this is a hormone called Relaxin. Our bodies produce this hormone during pregnancy to help relax our pelvis to accommodate the growing baby and prepare for labour, but also makes our ribcage more flexible to help with the increase demand for oxygen, and help our blood vessels pump the extra blood volume around. The body's production of this hormone actually peaks at 12 weeks of pregnancy, at the end of the first trimester, which is how it can cause back pain before any weight or centre of gravity changes. During later 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester as the belly gets bigger and the belly moves forward, this puts extra strain on the back and pelvis, which is becoming more flexible as the body prepares to give birth.

Thankfully there are many ways Chiropractors can help with these conditions. A 2013 study showed that combining manual therapies such as Chiropractic Adjustments with at-home advice and guided exercise can help decrease pain and maximize function through all stages of pregnancy, right from the first trimester up until birth!