Pregnancy can be a tough time for soon to be mothers, you will experience weird sensations, pain, and discomfort and it is very normal, sometimes these symptoms of pregnancy are often the main indicators of pregnancy which many women might be unaware of, that makes the symptoms have more function.
Aside from the symptoms, pregnant women also take extra measures in following a healthy diet for healthy growth and development of the baby and avoid the worst foods to consume. With that said, pregnancy is a period of rough experiences and challenges which includes choices that you have to carefully pick for the sake of the baby.
Although these certain symptoms of normal pregnancy are safe and usually subsides after childbirth, the discomfort and pain it brings can be unbearable, one of the symptoms that can be unbearable and tough to overcome is pelvic pain, here in this article we will discuss your pelvic pain, why it happens, its known symptoms, complications and some of the ways to minimize it.
What is symphysis pubis dysfunction?
Symphysis pubis dysfunction or SPD is a medical term used to describe the pelvic pain of pregnant women commonly experience. Symphysis pubis dysfunction or SPD is one of the most commonly recognized symptoms of pregnancy. To understand how SPD happens we must take a look at the overall pubic physiology and function. The pelvis is mainly formed of two large pubic bones that have a natural curvature round that makes a cradle shape. The pubic bones coincide together to the front of your pelvis, this is where the firm joint is located, this firm joint is called the symphysis pubis.
SPD or Symphysis pubis dysfunction happens when there is an inflammation in the surrounding pelvic bone due to hormonal fluctuations which happens during pregnancy. This inflammation or swelling can make the pubis less stable which causes immense pain to a pregnant woman. SPD is not a serious condition nor it causes any complications to the baby although many doctors and physiotherapists classify any type of pelvic pain during pregnancy as pelvic girdle pain (PGP).
Symphysis pubis dysfunction or SPD is not entirely a condition that only pregnant women experience. As mentioned before many doctors and physiotherapists classify a pregnant woman’s pain as Pelvic girdle pain because Symphysis pubis dysfunction is a condition that can be experienced by anyone especially with those who had traumatic pelvic accidents or those elderly people with similar conditions such as osteoarthritis.
It is also important to take note that Symphysis pubis dysfunction is just a type of pelvic girdle pain and there are many other classified pelvic girdle pain that pregnant and non-pregnant women can experience such as Diastasis symphysis pubis (DSP), another type of pelvic girdle pain which is related to SPD.
What are the symptoms of symphysis pubis dysfunction?
There are several symptoms of SPD that are widely recognized by doctors and physiotherapists although it can vary for different people, both in terms of severity and presentation. The most known symptoms of Symphysis pubis dysfunction are:
there is a surrounding pain in the front center of your pubic bone, lower back of your sides, and pain in the area between the anus and vagina which is called perineum:
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- worsening
- pain in your thighs
- grinding or clicking sound in your pelvis.
Your pelvic pain can also worsen when you are doing certain activities such as using the stairs, turning over in your bed, walking or any hard rigorous movements, it can also be extremely difficult for you to move or widen your legs, generally the symptom of Symphysis pubis dysfunction is a discomfort in your pelvic area, the pain or discomfort can usually be a challenge into your daily activities
What can i do to minimize the pain of symphysis pubis dysfunction?
There can be a number of ways to minimize the discomfort and pain in your pelvic area. These are some of the proven tips to minimize pain.
1. Take plenty of rest
Have a good amount of sleep or rest every day or if you’re a working mom be sure to sign a prenatal leave in order to maximize your resting stage. Sleeping has very profound effects on the human body, it decreases stress and normalizes the hormonal imbalance that happens usually during pregnancy.
2. Move more! exercise daily!
Although it seems very counterintuitive for you to exercise daily because of the pain you’re having, being more active can decrease the pain and stress hormones in your body such as cortisol. There are also advised therapies and exercises such as aromatherapy, hydrotherapy or TENS therapy, generally having an active lifestyle can significantly minimize the pain you’re in just be sure to avoid doing any hard-hitting high-frequency and intensity exercises that can cause fatigue to light-walking or swimming instead.
3. Take pain medications
There are a lot of safe Over the counter products that can inhibit and minimize the pain of your pelvis some good pelvis pain medications are ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). These medications can improve the swelling of your pelvis. You can also consult the doctor if you really feeling uneasy about the pain of your bearing. They might prescribe a higher dosage of painkilling medication that is usually safe during your pregnancy period.
4. Warm compress your area of pain
Simply putting a warm compress into your pelvic area can help alleviate the pain and swelling. The heat of the compress specifically relaxes the muscle area around the painful part wherein the blood can easily flow through it which reduces the pain, you can apply a warm compress or lay in a warm or lukewarm bath, make sure it’s not too hot as it might burn your skin!
5. Try some yoga and meditation
Yoga specifically deep mindful breathing can help alleviate stress and pain levels by up to 50 percent. There is also a lot of meditation poses that can help ease the pain of any specific part of the body.
Final notes
There is nothing you can do to stop the pain and there are no known medical interventions to prevent or stop the pain from happening. All you can do by now is minimize its effects and take care to protect this vital part of your body, aside from that eating well and right is the most viable option for you so for now just sit back and relax!
Read also:
- Symptoms Of Baby Boy During Pregnancy
- Is Taking a Bath During Pregnancy Healthy or Not?
- The Importance of Sexual Attraction During Pregnancy
