You’re seven months pregnant, excited to meet your little one, but every step feels like a battle. Getting out of the car sends a sharp, shooting pain through your pelvis. Rolling over in bed makes you gasp. Even putting on pants has become a painful challenge that brings tears to your eyes.
Your friends say it’s normal pregnancy discomfort. Your mom says she had it too and just pushed through. But this feels different. This isn’t the gentle ache of a growing belly or the occasional backache you expected. This is a pain that stops you mid-step, makes simple movements feel impossible, and leaves you wondering how you’ll make it through another 12 weeks.
What if this pain doesn’t have to be your reality? What if there’s a name for what you’re experiencing, and more importantly, what if there’s relief available right here in Grand Ledge?
What Is Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction?
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, or SPD, is a real medical condition that affects about one in every four to five pregnant women. If you’re experiencing it, you’re not alone, you’re not being dramatic, and you’re definitely not weak.
Here’s what’s happening in your body. The symphysis pubis is the joint where your two pubic bones meet at the front of your pelvis. Normally, this joint is stable and barely moves. But during pregnancy, your body releases a hormone called relaxin that loosens all your joints to prepare for delivery. This is a good thing because it allows your pelvis to expand slightly during birth.
Sometimes, though, relaxin does its job a little too well. The symphysis pubis joint becomes overly loose, creating instability and inflammation. When this happens, movements that require your legs to separate or your pelvis to shift weight unevenly can cause sharp, debilitating pain.
SPD usually shows up during the second or third trimester when your baby gets bigger and heavier. The extra weight, combined with the loose joint, creates a perfect storm for pain and discomfort. Certain factors make SPD more likely, including previous pelvic injuries, how your baby is positioned, your pelvic alignment before pregnancy, and even how you move throughout your day.
As both a chiropractor specializing in prenatal care and an instructor of physiology at Lansing Community College, I see this pattern frequently in my Grand Ledge practice. The good news is that understanding what’s happening in your body is the first step toward finding relief.
Recognizing the Signs of SPD During Pregnancy
How do you know if what you’re experiencing is SPD or just typical pregnancy discomfort? Here are the signs that point specifically to Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction.
The hallmark symptom is sharp, shooting pain in the pubic bone area, right at the front and center of your pelvis. This pain often radiates out to your hips, lower back, or inner thighs. You might feel a clicking, grinding, or popping sensation when you move your legs. Some women describe it as feeling like their pelvis is separating or unstable, which is actually pretty accurate to what’s happening.
Your walk might change too. You develop a painful waddle that’s different from the typical pregnancy waddle. This isn’t just about your belly throwing off your balance. This waddle happens because you’re instinctively trying to avoid movements that trigger pain.
Daily activities become surprisingly difficult. Getting out of the car requires carefully keeping your knees together. Putting on pants or underwear while standing on one leg is nearly impossible. Climbing stairs feels like climbing a mountain. Rolling over in bed at night wakes you up with sharp pain. Even separating your legs slightly to get dressed can cause intense discomfort.
The pain is often worse at night and can seriously disrupt your sleep. You might find that certain positions provide relief, but changing positions to find that relief causes pain. It’s a frustrating cycle that leaves many women exhausted.
Here’s what makes SPD worse. Activities that require you to separate your legs, like getting in and out of cars, putting on shoes, or even just walking with a normal stride. Uneven weight distribution, like standing on one leg or carrying heavy items on one side. Twisting movements, especially combined with lifting. Standing for long periods without support. If you’ve had previous pelvic injuries or alignment issues, those can make SPD more likely and more severe.
When should you seek help? Don’t wait until you’re in tears or until the pain is unbearable. If the pain interferes with your daily activities, disrupts your sleep, makes walking difficult, or doesn’t improve with rest, it’s time to get support. You deserve to enjoy your pregnancy, and help is available.
How Prenatal Chiropractic Care Helps SPD
Chiropractic care offers a natural, effective approach to managing Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction by addressing the root cause rather than just masking symptoms. Let me explain how and why it works.
The foundation of chiropractic care for SPD is restoring proper pelvic alignment and stability. When your pelvis is misaligned, it puts uneven stress on the symphysis pubis joint. This makes the instability worse and increases inflammation. Gentle chiropractic adjustments realign your pelvis so that your body weight distributes evenly across all your pelvic joints instead of concentrating stress in one area.
These adjustments also reduce inflammation and nerve irritation in the affected area. When joints are properly aligned, they move more smoothly with less friction and pressure. This allows your body’s natural healing processes to reduce swelling and calm irritated nerves. The result is less pain and better function.
What makes prenatal chiropractic care different from regular chiropractic? Everything about the approach is modified for pregnancy. We use specialized tables designed for pregnant bodies so you can lie comfortably without pressure on your belly. The techniques are gentle and low-force, never involving twisting or forceful manipulation. We focus specifically on pelvic stability, sacroiliac joint function, and supporting your body’s natural preparation for birth.
Here’s something important. We never use forceful manipulation or what some people call “cracking.” Instead, we use gentle adjustments that support your body’s natural alignment. These adjustments help balance the round ligaments and pelvic floor muscles, improve sacroiliac joint function (which is often involved in SPD), and support optimal fetal positioning.
There’s also a nervous system component that many people don’t realize. The alignment of your pelvis directly affects the nerve signals traveling between your brain and body. When your pelvis is properly aligned, those signals flow more freely. Your parasympathetic nervous system, the part responsible for rest, digestion, and optimal body function, works better. This means you don’t just get pain relief. You support your overall pregnancy health and your body’s ability to prepare for birth.
Chiropractic care works with your body’s natural wisdom, not against it. Your body knows how to grow a baby and prepare for delivery. Sometimes it just needs support to do those things comfortably and efficiently.
Self-Care Strategies for Managing SPD at Home
While chiropractic care addresses the underlying alignment issues, there are practical things you can do at home to manage SPD symptoms between visits. Think of these strategies as supporting the work we do together.
A pelvic support belt can be incredibly helpful for daily activities. These belts provide external stability to your pelvis, reducing the strain on the symphysis pubis joint. Many women find significant relief just from wearing one during the day, especially when walking or standing for periods of time.
How you sleep makes a big difference. Place a pillow between your knees when lying on your side. This keeps your pelvis in a more neutral position and prevents the top leg from pulling on the joint. Some women find that a pregnancy pillow that supports both belly and knees works even better.
Movement modifications are essential. When getting in or out of the car, keep your knees together and swivel both legs at the same time instead of stepping out one leg at a time. When getting out of bed, roll onto your side first, then push up with your arms rather than trying to sit straight up. Sit down to put on pants, underwear, and shoes instead of balancing on one leg. Take stairs one step at a time, bringing both feet to each step before moving to the next one, and use the handrail for support.
Avoid activities and positions that trigger your pain. This might mean saying no to activities you used to do easily. That’s okay. You’re not giving up or being lazy. You’re being smart about protecting your body during this temporary phase. Don’t cross your legs when sitting. Avoid standing on one foot. Ask for help with heavy lifting or tasks that require twisting.
Ice can help reduce inflammation when you’re having a flare-up. Apply an ice pack to the pubic bone area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Always put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
Here’s the balance to strike. You want to avoid movements that cause pain, but you don’t want complete bed rest either. Prolonged bed rest actually weakens the muscles that support your pelvis, making the problem worse over time. Gentle movement, modified to avoid pain triggers, keeps those muscles engaged and functional. Listen to your body’s signals. Pain is information, not a sign of failure. It’s your body telling you to modify or stop a particular movement.
Get Relief from Pregnancy Pelvic Pain in Grand Ledge
You don’t have to suffer through the rest of your pregnancy in pain. Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction responds remarkably well to prenatal chiropractic care, especially when treatment starts early. Many women find significant relief within two to four visits, and continued care throughout pregnancy helps maintain pelvic stability as your baby grows.
The earlier you seek help, the better your outcomes tend to be. Your body is more responsive to gentle corrections when the problem hasn’t been present for months. Plus, getting relief sooner means more weeks of comfortable pregnancy instead of weeks spent struggling through pain.
What should you expect at your first visit to our Grand Ledge office? We’ll start with a comprehensive assessment of your pelvic alignment and a gentle evaluation of how your joints are moving. We’ll discuss your specific symptoms, what triggers your pain, and what provides relief. From there, I’ll create a customized care plan designed for your unique needs and your stage of pregnancy. You’ll receive education on home support strategies and a safe, gentle adjustment suited specifically for pregnancy.
My specialty in prenatal care includes training in the Webster Technique, which focuses on optimal pelvic alignment and fetal positioning. As an instructor at LCC teaching physiology, I understand pregnancy from both clinical and educational perspectives. This combination allows me to explain what’s happening in your body and why certain approaches work, so you can make informed decisions about your care.
Your body is doing something absolutely amazing right now. You’re growing a whole new human being. That’s incredible work, and it shouldn’t have to be painful work. You deserve to enjoy this journey, to feel excited about meeting your baby without dreading every movement, and to prepare for birth from a place of strength rather than pain.
If you’re experiencing pelvic pain, difficulty walking, or any of the symptoms we’ve discussed, I’d love to help. Let’s work together to make the rest of your pregnancy more comfortable so you can focus on the joy of what’s coming instead of managing daily pain.
Schedule your prenatal chiropractic assessment today.
Dr. Andrea L Herrst DC
221 S Bridge St rm 3, Grand Ledge, MI 48837
Phone: 517-980-0366
Email: info@drherrst.com
Website: https://drherrst.com
Pain is not a requirement of pregnancy. Help is available, effective, and right here in Grand Ledge. Your comfortable, joyful pregnancy is possible. Let me help you get there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Andrea L Herrst is a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in women’s health, pregnancy care, and Mayan Abdominal Therapy. She serves families in Grand Ledge, Michigan, and is also an instructor of physiology at Lansing Community College. Dr. Herrst integrates evidence-based chiropractic care with holistic approaches including homeopathy, focusing on supporting the body’s natural ability to heal and function optimally. Her practice emphasizes gentle, effective care for pregnant women, postpartum recovery, and family wellness.
