Typically Every 2–4 weeks until birth, as needed
Pregnancy back and pelvic pain
Pelvic girdle pain, lower back ache and rib pain in pregnancy, treated gently and safely at every stage.
How we treat it
Around one in five pregnant women has pelvic girdle pain. The hormone relaxin loosens the ligaments of the pelvis to prepare for birth, the bump shifts your centre of gravity, and the joints at the back and front of the pelvis take a load they are not used to.
It is common, but it is not something you just have to put up with. Gentle treatment of the pelvis and lower back, advice on how to move, sleep and get in and out of the car, and one or two simple exercises help most women stay active through to the birth.
Ilse treats all our pregnancy patients using a pregnancy table and side-lying positions. If your pain is new, book a first visit; if you are already a patient, book a pregnancy appointment.
Common signs
- Pain at the front of the pelvis when walking or on stairs
- Pain turning over in bed or getting out of a car
- Aching in the lower back or buttocks
- Rib pain under the bra line in the third trimester
See a doctor first if you have
- Pain with bleeding, fever or contractions — call your maternity unit
- Sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet
Call 999 or go to A&E for anything sudden and severe. For urgent advice, call 111.
“Pelvic pain from week 24 made walking the dog miserable. Monthly visits until the birth kept it manageable, and nobody treated me like I was fragile.”