Hip Pain- 20 Weeks Pregnant

Updated on September 20, 2010
B.R. asks from Dallas, TX
24 answers

I'm 20 weeks pregnant and am having horrible hip pain. It mainly happens when I'm sleeping. It starts at my hip and then moves down my leg. It is mainly with my right side. Is this common? I told my doctor about it and he said it is just the hips stretching since this is our first. He didn't seem concerned at all. Does anyone know any excercises or stretches I can do to help? Or is this just part of pregnancy? I've been going to prenatal yoga, walking nightly, and working out 3 times a week. But it doesn't seem to help with the pain.

Thanks for your help!

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So What Happened?

Thank you for everyones help! I found out over the weekend that I have degenerative fibroids that is causing pain in the hips and everywhere else. They are extremely painful, but hopefully the pain will go away soon. Thanks again!

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J.P.

answers from Boise on

You can also try a body pillow. Mine forms a C around me, and I love it. My husband calls it the great wall of china. :)

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T.W.

answers from Denver on

In my opinion this is the worst part of being pregnant! I get such horrible pain and cannot even get up sometimes. The thing that has helped me the most is when I finally get out of bed I go to take my shower and before the shower I fill the tub with water (about 4 inches) as hot as I can stand it and lay on my back for a few minutes to get relief. This was suggested by my doc with my first pregnancy (on #5 now) and it works pretty well.

Good luck!

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K.B.

answers from Dallas on

I've had sciatica since I was in high school and I FINALLY found something that has helped a few years ago. In fact, I don't have hip pain anymore. It's a foam roller. You can get one for $20 at Target in the workout isle. It's near the yoga mats. My original one (I've gone through 4) came with a CD, but the most one didn't have the CD. My mom has degenerative fibroids which cause pain in her hip. This has solved her issue, too. Good luck!!

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L.T.

answers from New York on

Pain going down your leg could be sciatica. There's not much you can do about it, although - and this sounds odd - getting someone to massage your butt cheek might help.

Definitely see a chiropractor. I had to go to mine every week during the second half of the pregnancy, but he kept me able to walk.

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K.H.

answers from Detroit on

Common, but oh so painful! Ask your yoga instructor about the pigeon pose. It has helped me with recurring hip pain but I know some yoga poses should be avoided by pregnant women. (at least it's not permanent!)

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

congrats! random, unexplained pain! welcome to pregnancy : )

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like sciatic nerve pain. I had it soooooo bad with my 2nd child. It got so bad that I would just drop to the ground and not be able to walk. Google it and see if it describes what you're feeling. Physical therapy and certain stretches can help.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

That is nerve pain, try getting a heavy duty belly supporter. I bought mine at Babies R Us for 30 bucks. It has a big back support strap and the one that goes over your belly this will take the weight off your hips and really help, you can even wear this to bed if needed. Also take a warm bath it will help relax you.

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

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G.W.

answers from Dallas on

I had pain like this when I was pregnant with #3 & I went to a physical therapist. I have NO idea if this will help you but I'll tell you the stretch he gave me to do which relieved my pain:

Lay on a high-up hard surface (could be your dining table or if you have a large coffee table; bed may be too soft) with your right butt cheek a little over the edge. Let your left leg dangle. Straighten your left leg and lift it (like doing a regular leg lift) until it's just above even-level with your body. Hold it there a few seconds, then gently lower it and let it rest in the hanging position. Repeat.

This really helped me.

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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

That happened to me too. I got a belly brace that supported my belly and back and the problem was solved! I was in the military, and they made it for me, but I have seen them at Babys R Us, other maternity stores may have them too. Best wishes and God bless!

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Go see Dr Aislen Gerow, ###-###-####. She is a chiropractor in Trophy Club & she us a former obgyn nurse. I just had my 3rd child about 2 mo ago & had severe back pain. She helped and she has a massage therapist there as well. The cost is extremely reasonable with your insurance. I've never been big on chiropractors but she is also a friend of mine so I decided to give it a try. She also has prenatal vitamins that kept my swelling at ZERO after having my last one! Good luck

She

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L.

answers from Dallas on

I had the same pain with my pregnancies. It's the hormones relaxing the ligaments around your pelvis area. You may think this is weird, but it worked. I would wear a leather belt tight and low around my hips and had no pain.
Sometimes your hips can rotate forward or backwards, and I would see a physical therapist to help you get realigned and teach you how to keep your hips stable. Best of luck to you.

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

Hi, I'm a physical therapist, and also currently pregnant with my 3rd. It does sound like it could be sciatica, but it very likely is coming from an unstable SI joint (sacroiliac, where your pelvis and sacrum/tailbone meet). I definitely recommend sleeping with a pillow between your legs, that has helped me alot. Also, a pregnancy support strap could be very helpful. My SI joint flares up occasionally, and if I wear the belt for a day or two it really makes a difference. Make sure that the belt is not just a stomach support belt, you want a strap that goes VERY low, over your SI joint (SI joints are the dimples you see that are just above and to the sides of where your butt crack starts- if you feel with your hands you can feel the round bony surface). Also, I have to caution about the chiropractor. There are very good and very bad chiros, just like in any profession, but if you see a chiro make sure it is someone who sees LOTS of pregnant women. Many chiros will go in and make "adjustments" which is usually mobilizing the joint to "put it back in place". Well, mobilization is often the LAST thing a pregnant woman needs. All the joint laxity from the pregnancy hormones is the source of the problem and pain in the first place, so making your joint even more mobile could exacerbate the problem instead of helping. Good luck, you're discovering all the joys and pains that come with pregnancy!

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K.V.

answers from Dallas on

See a chiropractor who specializes in pregnancy. I would suggest Erin Stark in Dallas. Near Preston and Beltline.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

With my first pregnancy, I hurt so bad I couldn't even move and out of desperation, I went to the chiropractor. It was the best thing I ever did! Because of the weight of the baby, my hips had rotated out of whack oh....what a relief! When I was pregnant with my second baby, I didn't wait for things to get that bad and went to the chiro fairly early on. I had a wonderful guy and he was really gentle, but I couldn't have made it through without him.

I wish you the best!

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

I remember that pain! And that was 17 years ago, that last time.

Can you swim? If you can get to a gym or place with pool (actually our outdoor pool in the neighborhood is still decent temp.) just swim and float or just float. The baby and you lifted and supported by the water feels wonderful!!! Or use a noodle and float in the pool.

Keep doing your yoga and walking, but swimming sure made a big difference for me! I swam up until a few days before each child was born. Felt great to get baby weight off the back and hips!

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R.S.

answers from Dallas on

My first would sit on my sciatic nerve. I found that laying on my left side would help for a little while (I don't remember why the left side is supposed to be better, but I always read to lay on the left). Not a permanent fix, but it at least gave me some relief I was working at a summer camp in the office that year, and people learned when they came to the window to look on the floor for me - that's where I usually hung out!I also slept with a body pillow between my knees at night which helped.

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N.B.

answers from Toledo on

Please go to a chiropractor. Your structure is starting to shift due to a growing baby. It pulls your balance off, strains your back, stretches your pelvis, and more. My chiropractor now has a massage person because so many insurances now cover massage therapy in conjunction with chiropractic care. Both will help you alot, together or separately.

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D.S.

answers from Dallas on

It's the hormones and your pelvic structure adjusting. I have twins (now 8, but I still remember) so I experienced it doubly with the excess load. My chiropractor had me doing some sort of excersize with a large yoga ball. I do not remember what it was unfortunately. I know that it was intended to open up my hips.

Since you are only 20 weeks the pain is not likely from the excess load in the front-yet. I actually used to wear 2 pregnancy belts simultaneously. The weight of the babies puts a lot of stress on the lower back too. Even though I only gained 33 lbs (but 20+ inches around my waist) it was an enormous strain on my body. You may be the same way so invest in a good pregnancy belt.

good luck and congrats!

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S.R.

answers from Dallas on

You could look into cranio-sacral massage therapy. It's very gentle, safe during pregnancy. www.kenpiercy.com You'll know after one session if you love it and feel much better, or if it's not really your thing. It's worth a try.
I had the same pain with all 3 of my babies, but didn't know about cranio then. I wish I had. Regular massage helped. Acupuncture also helped.

S.

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M.A.

answers from Dallas on

It is very normal and probably not the last random pain you will have this pregnancy. I found my hip pain to be greatly helped by sleeping with a big pregnancy pillow like the Leachco Back 'N Belly: http://www.amazon.com/Leachco-Back-Belly-Contoured-Pillow.... Good luck and hope you feel better. I know it can be miserable but know that you are not alone and the great thing about pregnancy is that it will end eventually! :-)

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N.N.

answers from Dallas on

Congratulations on your new bundle on the way. I just had my first baby,and I had the same issues. It was painful enough to keep me up at night sometimes. I did water aerobics and yoga 6 days a week and found out that it was my sciatic nerve. I asked my doctor and yoga instructor what I could do, and they both showed me a good sciatic nerve stretch. Your yoga instructor can show you what to do. That didn't always help the pain. My doctor said if the stretching doesn't work there isn't much you can do because it is probably where the baby is sitting that causes the pain. I would keep up the exercise because it got worse for me when I stopped being active, and was completely gone when my daughter was born.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

Hi B.,

Congratulations!

Your doctor is right, it is just your body adjusting ot the hormones and preparing for birth. I just had my first baby 8 weeks ago and experienced the same thing. Continue with the prenatal yoga, walking and exercises but also try the chiropractor. I went every other week throughout the pregnancy and this helped a lot. Also make sure you are sleeping on your left side. You can also try using one of those stability balls to sit on during the course of the day, this will especially help feel better toward the end of the pregnancy.

Good luck!

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