Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy, How To Ease It?
Apr 15, 2022
Tailbone pain is one of the most common discomforts in pregnancy, alongside lower back pain. Lower back and excruciating pain in the rear side, the tailbone is seen in expectant women. According to human anatomy, the tailbone is scientifically known as a coccyx. It is present at the bottom of your spinal bone with its end above your buttock, to be exact.
The tailbone works as a stabilizer during sitting and is an attachment point for the pelvic floor muscles. They support your bladder, bowel, and uterus. During pregnancy, the growing baby pushes against it along with raging hormones that contribute to tailbone pain.
Excruciating tailbone pain is also known as coccydynia and is not rare in pregnancy. This issue results because of pelvic ligaments becoming loose and changing their position. The cause of tailbone pain varies. While women are pregnant, a hormone called relaxin is released in their bodies which relaxes the ligaments and muscles.
The Relaxin hormone loosens up the muscles in the pelvis to make them more flexible. This is a natural phenomenon to facilitate the growing baby during pregnancy; the tailbone goes beyond providing a simpler way out, consequently reducing pain during childbirth.
Ligament relaxation is why the pelvic floor muscles tighten and result in stronger contractions helping in body stabilization. These muscles are joint with the tailbone causing pain.
Tailbone pain is mostly felt when the period of pregnancy reaches 2nd and 3rd trimesters. The sad news is that we cannot get rid of it entirely; but we have enlisted some ways you may alleviate pain for relief:
You may find yourself involuntarily either slouching forwards or overarching the back during pregnancy, which adversely affects the spine bone, causing pain in the lower back and tailbone.
Various ligaments are loose during the gestational period, making balance and symmetry primarily important. Therefore, you must try not to sit cross-legged or stretch using one leg while
wearing pants or while getting out of bed.
These movements during pregnancy time pain the tailbone. Also, remember not to sit idle in one position for a long span. Sit up and move frequently, taking small strolls.
Take the pressure off those painful points by getting custom-produced pillows or cushions especially created by expecting or nursing moms. If your mind is going towards the donut pillow, that is not what we are talking about. Rather, a wedge-shaped pillow and cutout tailbone are the best.
If the remedies are not working for you and the pain is getting worse, seek help from a professional. Physical therapy helps reduce muscle tension and preserves its strength while removing the instability causing pain.
A heating pad or ice patches on the spot, whichever works for your pain.
If you can choose between sitting and lying down, choose the latter for taking pressure off the tailbone.
For the majority of the lot, this excruciating pain halts after birthing their babies. But, sometimes, the instability left untreated causes trauma and dysfunction. If you are also under conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and tailbone pain, deal with the issue as soon as possible. Contact Rheumatology Clinic of Houston, PA at 832 237 8585.