Tailbone pain, also known as coccydynia is one of the common issues during pregnancy. As you all know a pregnant woman undergoes numerous physical and mental changes to accommodate a little human being inside her uterus. This causes her intense pain and discomfort throughout the pregnancy period. These changes cause various pain including the tailbone pain.
The tailbone is a major part of your body that helps to gain proper posture and aids in several other bodily functions. The extra pressure exerted on the tailbone during pregnancy leads to tailbone pain. Various causes lead to this situation. This article will discuss all the major aspects of tailbone pain including its causes, methods to alleviate pain, and the need for professional consultation.
Understanding Tailbone
The tailbone, also known as the coccyx is a bony structure located at the bottom base of your body. It looks like a triangular arrangement with three to five vertebrae that reduce its size from larger to smaller ones. The tailbone is an attachment site for different muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
The tailbone has a crucial role in various bodily functions. It distributes your body weight while sitting and provides stability and balance. It also has an important role in maintaining the posture and structure of the human body.
It helps to keep the pelvis in position and supports different activities like walking, standing, and sitting. This function also makes the tailbone a crucial element in controlling functions like peeing, bowel movement, and even sexual activities. Although it is small in size, a tailbone injury can result in significant pain. Apart from traumas and injuries, pregnancy can also cause tailbone pain.
What Causes Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy?
Tailbone pain is a common issue during pregnancy. Although not as common as back pain, the majority of women experience tailbone pain during pregnancy. Several causes such as a shift in the body posture, hormonal changes, and extra strain lead to tailbone pain during pregnancy. Some of the common causes of tailbone pain in pregnancy include:
- Hormonal changes
During pregnancy, your body releases a hormone called relaxin. Secreted by the placenta, this hormone equips your body for labor by relaxing the ligaments in the pelvis. This causes extra pressure in the tailbone causing pain.
- Weight gain
During pregnancy, you will gain more body weight and your uterus will grow exerting pressure on your tailbone. This can lead to pain and immense discomfort.
- Change in posture
As you progress through your pregnancy, the gravity of your body will change. The main reason behind this is the change in the body weight. This change in gravity will alter your posture, exerting more pressure on the tailbone causing pain.
- Fetal position
As the baby grows inside your uterus it changes its position. This change and the body weight of the baby will cause tailbone pain during pregnancy.
- Previous trauma
If the pregnant woman has a previous tailbone injury, pregnancy may worsen tailbone pain due to the extra pressure.
How To Relieve Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy?
Although tailbone pain is common during pregnancy, it may cause severe pain and discomfort. Permanent relief from this pain may not be possible during pregnancy, however, several strategies will help you reduce the pain. Some of them include:
- Maintaining proper posture
Maintaining a good posture by sitting straight and avoiding slumping will help to reduce the pressure exerted on the tailbone. Using supportive chairs with extra cushions will be helpful.
- Avoid sitting for longer duration
Sitting for a longer period will exert more pressure on your tailbone causing pain. Avoid prolonged hours of sitting by taking breaks to stand, walk, change position, or lie. This helps to reduce the intensity of the pressure.
- Use cushions
Use supportive pregnancy pillows or other comfortable cushions to support you while sitting or lying down. This will help to reduce the pressure on the tailbone.
- Ice or heat therapy
At times of intense pain apply an ice pack or heat pad on your tailbone to reduce the inflammation and pain.
- Use pain killers
Some over-the-counter medicines that are safe during pregnancies can be used to alleviate pain.
When To Consult A Doctor For Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy
It is important to mention all the pain and discomfort you encounter during pregnancy to your doctor. However, if you experience tailbone pain regularly, it is important to consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Sudden intense pain and persisting severe pain should also be considered at the earliest. If you do not experience any improvement in pain even after trying self-care measures or if your tailbone pain restricts you from doing your daily routine, there are chances that it may cause further complications.
Furthermore, if you experience intense tailbone pain accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, fatigue, bowel disorders, or dizziness you must consult your healthcare professional.
Conclusion
Tailbone pain is a common issue faced by the majority of pregnant women. A variety of reasons including weight gain, hormonal changes, changes in body posture, fetal position, and previous trauma can cause tailbone pain. These causes result in different alterations in the body leading to pressure exertion on the tailbone.
Although this pain cannot be completely cured during the course of pregnancy, it can be controlled by using over-the-counter painkillers, using cushions for support, avoiding prolonged hours of sitting, maintaining proper posture, and using ice packs or heat pads. However, these self-care methods cannot be used all the time. In some severe cases, it is important to consult your healthcare professional.
Some people may experience sudden onset pain, while others may find it difficult to do their daily chores due to the pain. Sometimes, tailbone pain may persist for longer periods without showing any signs of improvement. In such cases, it is mandatory to consult your doctor to avoid further complications.
FAQs
Tailbone pain is common during pregnancy as most women experience it. There is nothing to worry about as it can be reduced with the help of certain techniques.
In most cases, tailbone pain will be cured after delivery. However, some may experience them even after childbirth.
Various methods such as injections, massages, stretches, exercises, and acupuncture will be used by doctors to treat tailbone pain.
Np. Tailbone pain is not connected with labor. However, it may indicate the positioning of your baby.
According to expert’s opinion, rest is essential to cure tailbone pain during pregnancy. more than walking, gentle stretches would provide relief from tailbone pain.
Yes. Stretches and exercises improve flexibility and mobility of thoracic spin resulting in reduced pain.
