Tailbone pain during pregnancy is one of the common symptoms that you may face during any of the trimesters. It is difficult to predict when you might get it or if you will get it at all. Yet, it is imperative to know what it is like to feel this way and how you can prevent or bear it.
The tailbone is a part of our body that locates right at the end of the spine. It is normal to experience pregnancy tailbone pain, but the reasons often differ.
During pregnancy, the bodily pressure falls on the axial skeleton. The pelvis is the bone that makes the neck, head, and trunk, aggravate the joint and tailbone pain.
Tailbone pain early pregnancy might suggest that the growing baby is putting direct pressure on your lower abdomen and coccyx. The tailbone is placed directly below and behind the uterus. Hence, when you expect a weight of 12 pounds on your uterus and tailbone connecting the ligaments, it is bound to impact your lower abdomen.
When there is pressure on your nerves, it may cause severe pain. For example, it might trigger tailbone pain even if you face minor constipation.
During pregnancy, the placenta releases a hormone known as Relaxin which can also be one of the reasons for tailbone pain. Relaxin relaxes the ligaments present in the pelvis for childbirth, which makes the tailbone sensitive.
As per a study, though it doesn’t care about any trimester, the chances of the pain worsening are during your third trimester. As in the final trimester, the pressure is at its peak since the baby is at its full size.
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Causes of tailbone pain during pregnancy
Tailbone pain during pregnancy is widespread, as almost all expecting mothers experience lower back aches while they are pregnant. As per research, nearly 1/3rd of patients experience tailbone pain pregnancy.
The tailbone is the most critical part helping to stabilize while sitting. It plays a vital role in connecting muscles of the pelvic area and supporting the bowel, bladder, and uterus.
Below are some of the common causes of this tailbone pain during pregnancy:
Growing baby
As the baby starts growing and developing, it needs more space in its stomach. As it grows, it needs more space in the uterus, which pushes the tailbone lying behind it—resulting in worsening of the tailbone pain during pregnancy.
Sneeze and cough
Sneezes or coughing may cause pressure increasing the pain in the tailbone. Your postures can also lead to pain as the weight gain during pregnancy puts additional pressure on the tailbone. Hence sitting or cycling for a long time can induce tailbone pain.
Hormones
In your early pregnancy, as the body releases estrogen and relaxin hormones, to relax the ligaments in the pelvic area to make space for the growing baby may also move the tailbone, which can cause pain.
Ways to control tailbone pain during pregnancy
Tailbone pain during pregnancy can happen at any point in time. However, it is mainly seen during the last trimesters. However, to control and get relief from it, a few things are worth trying:
Special pillows
Pregnancy pillows can work wonders, as it helps in releasing the pain from your annoying tailbone. Many kinds are available online and in the markets to support your posture. Recently, new wedge-shaped pillows have been specially made for tailbone support.
While sleeping, you can use as many pillows as you want for comfort. To get a comfortable position, you may use a pad to support the belly and give rise to your hip for extra support.
The right posture
Many times, even unknowingly, there is a habit of slumping forward or overarching your back during pregnancy. This may cause the spine to go under a lot of pressure.
While sitting, make sure your feet are flat on the floor. Try engaging your core by slightly curving your back and keeping the neck straight. Try moving around and avoid sitting in the same place to get relief from the pain.
Avoid Constipation
The rectum and the tailbone are closely placed. And unfortunately, pregnancy hormones and medicines increase the slowness of digestive functionality, causing constipation.
Hence, drinking sufficient water and having a healthy diet with lots of fiber is recommended to avoid constipation, as constipation can worsen the tailbone pain, putting pressure on it.
Try checking with your doctor to take pain relief if the pain increases. However, it is generally advised to avoid taking medication during pregnancy. Hence, consult your doctor to prescribe the proper remedy if the pain increases.
Tailbone pain in early pregnancy
As you are in the first trimester, talking to the little heart is essential in your pregnancy journey. The tailbone pain in your early pregnancy might not be that bad, and there are ways where you can control it to avoid it in the later phase. Below are a few things you can consider doing to prevent tailbone pain:
Balancing
At the start of your pregnancy, the balance of your body will be easier to handle as the baby hasn’t grown yet. Balancing and being symmetrical is very important while pregnant, as the ligaments are very loose during this time, so you need to be extra careful.
The women are advised not to cross their legs and to use only one leg while stepping out of bed. These tips, if followed, prevent bad posture from causing pain in the tailbone. Hence try avoiding such asymmetric movements to exacerbate the tailbone pain.
Physiotherapy
If you experience pain in your tailbone during early pregnancy, try visiting a physiotherapist. As the pain is amateur, the physio may help you get rid of the pain.
The exercises they give are mainly concentrating on the tailbone pain area. During pregnancy, it is highly recommended to get it done by an experienced person who can help you get relief rather than aggravate it.
Physical movement
You must keep moving in your pregnancy if you have no complications. Women who tend to be on complete rest or working on the laptop for long hours can worsen joint aches, especially tailbone pain. Hence if it is a normal pregnancy, try staying active by doing your favorite mild activity, like walking, light Zumba, or yoga.
Prenatal stretches for tailbone pain pregnancy
As per research by gynecologists and obstetricians, modified pilates and yoga are great options for pregnant ladies. However, it is highly recommended to be done under an expert’s guidance to avoid asymmetrical postures and accidents that may harm the mother and the baby.
Mild workouts and stretches are always considered to help reduce tailbone pain. However, consult with your doctor before going for a new lifestyle change. As you need to be sure if there are any complications in your pregnancy that you must avoid.
Below are a few of the exercises that can help in the relief of tailbone pain:
Cat-Cow on the floor
The cat-cow stretch can be one of the best stretches to strengthen the lower of your back and pelvis. This exercise removes the pressure from the spine and the tailbone. The pelvic tilt helps work out the back, abdominal muscles, and arms.
Cat-cow while standing
This is similar to the standard cat-cow pose, but this is the form performed while standing. This stretch mobilizes the spine to help in relieving pain from the tailbone. This form allows the back and abdominal muscles and helps the lower body.
Bridges
These stretches help strengthen the hip muscles. This works best for your lower back, abdominal, and glute stretches. This will help you in relieving pain from the hip and tailbone area. However, avoid doing this form post-20th week.
Child pose
Child pose stretch is another form that involves the hip and the back. It is highly effective in easing the pain in your pelvis, tailbone, and lower back.
Torso twists
This stretching form is ideal for removing all the stress from your back, shoulder, and torso.
Tailbone pain after birth
The pain in the tailbone is known as Coccydynia, causing pain in the coccyx or tailbone. About 7% of mothers face coccydynia. The ratio of women experiencing tailbone pain or coccydynia is four times higher than men.
The tailbone can radiate pain into the sacrum and perineum. You might think the tailbone pain is gone for good as you deliver your baby. But this may stay even after the delivery due to the following reasons:
- Dislocated tailbone
- Fractured tailbone
During delivery, as the baby comes out, it pushes back the tailbone, which may strain the ligaments resulting in fracturing the tailbone. However, injuries to the tailbone are primarily common under challenging deliveries. As one must receive additional assistance of forceps for delivery, women tend to experience tailbone pain after birth.
Additionally, mothers with a history of broken tailbones have a threatening risk of injuring the tailbone again while giving birth. Hence it is advisable to let your doctor know about your history of tailbone injury from the very start so that they can do things with minimal pressure.
The usual reasons for a tailbone fracture or dislocation are due to the following reasons:
- An incorrect baby position can cause pressure near the tailbone area
- Babies who weigh around 13 pounds during birth may put a lot of pressure on the tailbone, causing a fracture
- Pregnancies that are having complications may also have complicated labor causing the pop of the tailbone
- Since delivery is a necessary surgery, proper medical assistance is required
- Any medical negligence may cause further difficulties
- Women with a small pelvis may have difficulties during labor as it will put a lot of stress on the tailbone.
Treating the tailbone pain
Once you are done with your delivery, you must take care of yourself with the baby. Please do not neglect the pain, as it may worsen with time.
Hence the proper treatment is required to get rid of it. A well-functioning tailbone is the essential part of your body that is interconnected with the entire pelvic region and your back and shoulders.
The few home remedies and traditional treatments for tailbone pain that you can try are:
- Taking proper rest is one of the best solutions to pain
- Prolonged hours of sitting can aggravate the pain further
- Doctors highly recommended using a tailbone cushion while sitting
- Nonsteroidal medication used for anti-inflammation can help
- Sitz baths are one of the most relaxing ways to reduce stress in your tailbone as it would calm the muscles and ligaments
- Avoid constipation, as you need to reduce any pressure created around the tailbone area
- Maintaining a fibrous-rich healthy diet helps maintain mommy’s health and prevent constipation
- Massaging the tailbone area with essential oil to reduce stress can also help
If the pain is still there, the doctor may prescribe Injections to reduce the pain. Since tailbone injuries can be lifelong, taking all the necessary steps to avoid them is essential.
Hence talking to your doctor about all your concerns can significantly help.
I hope this article clarifies tailbone pain during pregnancy and ways to cure it naturally.