Can Barely Walk Due to Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy? What Your Body May Be Trying to Tell You
Can barely walk due to pelvic pain during pregnancy? While pelvic pain during pregnancy is common, severe pain that affects your ability to walk, roll in bed, stand on one leg, or stay active is not something you should simply “push through.” Pregnancy-related pelvic pain can be caused by pelvic girdle pain, pubic symphysis dysfunction (SPD), muscle tension, pressure management changes, and postural or hormonal shifts as the body adapts to a growing baby. Pelvic physical therapy can help reduce pain, improve mobility, support strength and stability, and prepare the body for labor and delivery through hands-on treatment, movement strategies, breathing coordination, and individualized care.
Pelvic pain during pregnancy can feel scary, but you’re not alone.
Pregnancy already comes with a lot of unknowns. Your body is changing rapidly, hormones are shifting, and suddenly movements that used to feel easy can feel uncomfortable or completely different. It’s common to feel disconnected from your body during this time.
On top of that, many people experiencing pelvic pain during pregnancy worry that something is wrong or assume this is just something they’ll have to “deal with” until delivery.
Some of the most common things we hear from patients are:
“I feel like my pelvis is splitting apart.”
“I can barely get out of bed.”
“It hurts to walk.”
“Rolling over is painful.”
“I feel unstable.”
While pelvic pain is common during pregnancy, that does not mean you should ignore it or simply push through it. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help.
What Causes Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy?
Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
Pelvic girdle pain, often shortened to PGP, is a broad term used to describe pain around the pelvis, SI joints, tailbone, pubic bone, hips, or lower back during pregnancy.
As your body adapts to a growing baby, hormones and postural changes can place more stress on the muscles, joints, and ligaments around the pelvis.
Symptoms often worsen with:
Walking
Stairs
Standing on one leg
Getting dressed
Rolling in bed
Getting in and out of the car
Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction (SPD)
Pubic symphysis dysfunction (SPD) is another common cause of pelvic pain during pregnancy. This pain is usually felt directly at the pubic bone or front of the pelvis.
Symptoms may include:
Clicking or grinding sensations
Sharp pubic bone pain
Feelings of instability
Pain rolling in bed
Pain getting out of the car
Pain separating the knees
Pain putting on pants or shoes while standing
During pregnancy, hormonal changes help loosen the pelvis to prepare for birth. While this is completely normal and necessary, too much laxity can sometimes create instability and pain.
Many patients with SPD benefit from a combination of strengthening, stability work, movement modifications, and sometimes external support like an SI belt or belly band.
Muscle Tension and Pressure Changes
Pregnancy places a huge demand on the body. As the baby grows and weight shifts forward, muscles throughout the body have to adapt and compensate.
This can lead to:
Pelvic floor muscle tightness
Hip flexor tension
Glute weakness or compensation
Adductor tightness
Low back pain
Rib cage and breathing changes
Many people assume pregnancy pain only comes from “loose ligaments,” but muscle tension and pressure management changes are often a huge piece of the puzzle.
Pelvic physical therapy can help patients better understand these changes while improving mobility, strength, coordination, and overall comfort during pregnancy.
Hormonal and Postural Changes
A hormone called relaxin plays an important role during pregnancy. It helps loosen ligaments throughout the body to allow space for the growing baby and prepare the pelvis for delivery.
Unfortunately, increased laxity can sometimes lead to instability, which often causes muscles to tighten and overwork in an attempt to create support.
As your belly grows, your center of gravity also shifts forward, increasing load through the pelvis, hips, and lower back.
Your body is adapting the best it can, but sometimes it needs extra support.
Is It Normal to Barely Be Able to Walk During Pregnancy?
Quite simply, no.
Mild discomfort during pregnancy can absolutely be normal. Your body is carrying more weight, your posture is changing, your muscles may feel tighter, and growing a human is exhausting.
But pain that significantly limits your ability to walk, sleep, move, exercise, or perform daily activities is not something you should just “accept.”
At Envision Pelvic Health & Wellness, we strongly believe in normalizing support during pregnancy instead of telling people to just suffer through it.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help make pregnancy more comfortable, keep you active, and help prepare your body for labor and delivery.
Signs Your Pelvic Pain May Benefit From Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
You may benefit from pelvic PT if you experience:
Pain with walking
Pain rolling in bed
Pain with stairs or lunges
Pain standing on one leg
Pubic bone pain or clicking
Difficulty exercising or staying active
Pain affecting sleep
Pain interfering with daily activities
How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help During Pregnancy
Hands-On Treatment
Pregnancy pelvic pain is often connected to muscle tightness, postural changes, ligament laxity, and shifting body mechanics.
Hands-on treatment may include:
Soft tissue work
Joint mobilization
Muscle relaxation techniques
External pelvic floor treatment
Internal pelvic floor treatment when appropriate and consented to
The goal is to help reduce tension, improve mobility, and decrease pain.
Movement and Exercise Strategies
Interestingly, muscles often become tight because they’re overworking and compensating for weakness or instability elsewhere.
That’s why pelvic PT typically includes a combination of:
Mobility work
Strengthening
Stability exercises
Glute and core coordination
Pregnancy-safe movement modifications
We help patients continue moving safely instead of avoiding movement altogether.
Breathing and Pressure Management
As pregnancy progresses, the rib cage expands and the diaphragm has less room to move. This can contribute to pressure changes throughout the abdomen and pelvic floor.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help improve:
Rib cage mobility
Diaphragm function
Breathing mechanics
Pelvic floor coordination
Pressure management strategies
This often helps reduce unnecessary tension throughout the body.
Birth Prep Education
Preparing for labor and delivery is another important part of pelvic PT during pregnancy.
This may include:
Labor and pushing positions
Pelvic floor relaxation training
Push prep strategies
Perineal massage education
Breathing coordination during labor
One of the biggest things we work on? Learning how to relax the pelvic floor.
Many patients unintentionally tighten and brace during pushing because of pain or fear. Practicing relaxation and coordination ahead of time can help patients feel more prepared and confident going into delivery.
What NOT to Do if You Have Severe Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy
Pain is your body’s way of asking for support.
If you’re experiencing severe pelvic pain during pregnancy, try to avoid:
Pushing through sharp pain
Aggressive stretching
Random exercises from social media
Doing hundreds of Kegels a day
Completely stopping all movement unless instructed by your medical provider
Many pregnant patients are told to constantly do Kegels to “prepare for birth,” but honestly, many patients actually need to learn how to relax and lengthen their pelvic floor muscles.
Movement is still important during pregnancy. Muscles, joints, and connective tissue generally respond well to safe, supported movement. The key is finding movement strategies that feel good for your body.
When to Talk to Your OB or Midwife
Please speak with your OB, midwife, or medical provider immediately if you experience:
Fever
Vaginal bleeding
Sudden swelling
Loss of sensation
Contractions or concerns for preterm labor
Severe calf pain
Sudden loss of bladder control
Dizziness
Decreased or absent fetal movement
You Deserve Support During Pregnancy
Pregnancy discomfort is often minimized, and many people are told that pain is “just part of pregnancy.” But pelvic pain that impacts your ability to walk, sleep, exercise, or function day to day deserves attention and support. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help you feel more comfortable, confident, and prepared throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
If you are currently pregnant and can barely walk due to pelvic pain, we want you to know this is not something you simply have to suffer through until delivery. And unfortunately, pelvic pain does not always magically disappear postpartum either. We work with many postpartum patients who continue experiencing pelvic pain after birth because the root cause was never addressed during pregnancy.
The good news? Help exists.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Northwest Chicago Near Park Ridge, IL
At Envision Pelvic Health & Wellness, we help pregnant patients feel stronger, more comfortable, and more supported throughout pregnancy, birth prep, and postpartum recovery.
If you have questions about insurance, cost, or whether pelvic floor therapy is right for you, we are here to help.
You are welcome to:
Book a discovery call
Call the clinic with questions
Learn more about pelvic floor physical therapy for pregnancy
If you are looking for pelvic floor PT in Northwest Chicago, near Park Ridge IL, Envision Pelvic Health & Wellness is here to support you with transparent guidance and compassionate care.
Book a discovery call or submit a contact form today to learn more.
Or, if you’re ready to book your initial evaluation use the link below.