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Tips on Easing Hip Pain While Pregnant

Hip pain is a common problem during pregnancy. The increased pressure from your growing uterus, coupled with the shifting of your pelvic bones to prepare for delivery, can result in painful hips. The hormone relaxin can also contribute to hip pain in pregnancy. Relaxin's job is to relax the pelvis of a pregnant woman, but it can also result in painful joints. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to relieve hip pain.

  1. Home Remedies

    • Apply a heating pad to painful hips or take a warm bath. Remember to avoid bathing in water over 100 degrees while pregnant to prevent overheating that could damage your baby. An ice pack can also be used to relieve the pain. In addition, try sleeping with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off of the hip joint. Swimming or exercising in water can also relieve the pressure on your hips and ease the pain.

    Exercise

    • Safe pregnancy exercises and stretching can soothe aching hips. Consider yoga or Pilates to ease pain during pregnancy, but be sure to tell the instructor you are pregnant. The authors of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" recommend a hip flexor exercise. Stretch your hip flexors by holding onto a chair for stability and extending your legs. Start by lifting your leg in front of you while keeping your knee slightly bent. Gradually straighten your leg while lifting it to a comfortable height and then repeat with the other leg.

    Other Treatments

    • A chiropractor may be able to help ease your hip pain. Massage can also be useful to treat pain during pregnancy, but make sure your masseuse is trained to work with pregnant women. If pain is severe, your doctor may recommend acetaminophen to help you get relief, but you should get your doctor's approval before taking any medication during pregnancy.

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