How to manage Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy

What is pelvic girdle pain?

Some pregnant folks may develop pelvic pain in pregnancy. This is sometimes called pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) or symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD).

​PGP is a collection of uncomfortable symptoms caused by a stiffness of your pelvic joints or the joints moving unevenly at either the back or front of your pelvis.
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Symptoms of PGP

PGP is not harmful to your baby, but it can be painful and make it hard to get around.

Pregnant people with PGP may feel pain:

• over the pubic bone at the front in the centre, roughly level with your hips
• across 1 or both sides of your lower back
• in the area between your vagina and anus (perineum)
• spreading to your thighs

​Some pregnant people may feel or hear a clicking or grinding in the pelvic area.
The pain can be worse when you're walking, going up or down stairs, standing on 1 leg,  turning over in bed or moving your legs apart. 
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How to manage PGP

Pelvic floor physiotherapist, Kirstie Gordon-Loiello, and I chat about why you may be experiencing pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy, and she shows a series of exercises to help manage the pain (at 09:10 in the recording).
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In my prenatal yoga classes we do exercises to help you prevent and manage pelvic girdle pain as well as other discomforts that come along with pregnancy. 
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Kirstie is a mom who has a passion for helping other moms.  Her aim is to empower moms of all ages to not settle for “this is your new normal because….”  She understands that being a mom unfortunately often means that Mom puts others before herself.  Having kids is wonderful and amazing, but we as mothers have to take care of ourselves, post-baby body and pelvic floors included!

Kirstie graduated from McGill University in 2009, with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy.  Her first passion was in orthopaedic/sports therapy.  After her son was born, she developed a keen interest in pelvic health, training in women’s health, with a special focus on post-natal therapies.  Her dedication to these issues has motivated and directed her professional development in taking care of Mom as a whole.
Kirstie is a licensed member of the Ordre Professionnel de la Physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ).
To contact Kirstie or book an appointment: 
kirstie@beyondkegels.ca
www.beyondkegels.ca