True Chiropractic Heidelberg
Pregnancy-Related Back & Pelvic Pain in Heidelberg
Back pain and pelvic girdle pain are extremely common during pregnancy. At True Chiropractic we provide safe, carefully adapted assessment and care to support your comfort and function throughout pregnancy.
No referral needed • Same-week appointments • Same chiropractor every visit • HICAPS on-site
Understanding your condition
Back and Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy
Back pain is one of the most frequently reported complaints during pregnancy, affecting the majority of women at some point between the first and third trimester. While it is common, it is not something that simply has to be endured — appropriate care can make a significant difference to daily comfort and function.
Two distinct but often overlapping presentations are most common:
Pregnancy-related lower back pain involves the lumbar spine and typically presents as a dull aching or stiffness in the lower back that worsens with prolonged standing, sitting, or movement. It is driven by a combination of increased spinal load from the growing uterus, changes in posture and the centre of gravity, hormonal changes affecting ligament laxity, and altered movement patterns.
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a specific presentation involving the sacroiliac joints, pubic symphysis, or the pelvis as a whole. It can produce pain in the sacral region, buttocks, inner thighs, and pubic area, and is often associated with difficulty walking, climbing stairs, rolling over in bed, or any activity requiring single-leg loading. PGP tends to be more functionally limiting than general lumbar back pain and benefits from prompt assessment and management.
Why it happens
What Drives Back and Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy?
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Postural Change and Load Shift
As the uterus grows and the centre of gravity moves forward, the lumbar spine adopts an increased lordosis to compensate. This places greater load on the lumbar discs, facet joints, and supporting muscles.
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Hormonal Ligament Laxity
Relaxin and other pregnancy hormones increase ligament laxity throughout the body, including the sacroiliac joints and pubic symphysis. This increased mobility reduces stability and can lead to pain under loading.
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Muscle Demand Changes
The abdominal muscles are progressively stretched and their capacity to stabilise the lumbar spine and pelvis is reduced. The gluteal muscles, pelvic floor, and paraspinal muscles must compensate for this.
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Sleep Position and Rest Challenges
As pregnancy progresses, comfortable sleep positions become limited. Side-lying with an unsupported pelvis can create asymmetric loading of the sacroiliac joints overnight.
Signs and symptoms
Common Presentations During Pregnancy
• Lower back aching that worsens through the day or with prolonged activity
• Sacral or posterior pelvic pain — deep buttock or tailbone area
• Pubic symphysis pain — front of the pelvis, worse with walking
• Pain on rolling over in bed or getting in and out of a car
• Difficulty with single-leg activities such as stairs or putting on shoes
• Buttock or thigh pain that can be confused with sciatica
• Upper back and rib pain from postural change and thoracic load
• Neck and shoulder tension from breast changes and postural shift
If you develop any lower limb neurological symptoms (significant numbness or weakness), or if pain is accompanied by bleeding, contractions, or other pregnancy-related concerns, contact your obstetrician or midwife promptly.
Safe, adapted chiropractic care
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is adapted at every stage to ensure your comfort and safety. Techniques, positioning, and the focus of treatment are adjusted to the specific trimester and presentation.
At True Chiropractic, the approach for pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain may include:
• Gentle mobilisation of restricted lumbar and sacroiliac joints
• Soft tissue therapy for associated muscle tension, particularly through the lower back, gluteals, and piriformis
• Sacroiliac joint and pelvic assessment to identify and address asymmetric loading
• Safe positioning — side-lying or supported positioning is used throughout the second and third trimester
• Exercise and home care advice including safe strengthening and pelvic floor support
• Support belt advice for pelvic girdle pain cases that benefit from external support
Please let us know when booking that you are pregnant so we can prepare the room and adapt the appointment appropriately from the outset.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ: Pregnancy Back and Pelvic Pain
Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?
Chiropractic care adapted for pregnancy is considered safe when performed by a registered practitioner who adjusts their technique appropriately for each trimester. Dr Lee will always explain the approach and obtain your consent before any care begins. If you have specific concerns or a high-risk pregnancy, discuss this with your obstetrician first.
Do I need to tell you I am pregnant before booking?
Yes — please mention that you are pregnant when booking. This allows us to set up the room appropriately (supportive positioning, no prone tables in the second or third trimester) and ensure the appointment is adapted from the start.
Is pelvic girdle pain the same as sciatica?
Not the same, though they can feel similar. Sciatica involves irritation of the sciatic nerve and typically produces pain that travels down the back of the leg, sometimes with numbness or tingling. Pelvic girdle pain is centred around the sacroiliac joints and pubic symphysis and does not usually follow a nerve distribution. Both can occur during pregnancy and both can be assessed by a chiropractor.
Will my back pain resolve after giving birth?
Many women find that pregnancy-related back pain improves significantly after delivery as hormonal levels normalise and postural demands change. However, the postnatal period introduces its own physical demands — feeding, lifting, and carrying — that can perpetuate or create new musculoskeletal issues. Postnatal chiropractic care is available at True Chiropractic if you need support after your baby arrives.
Can I be seen in my first trimester?
Yes. There is no trimester restriction for chiropractic care. The approach is adapted to your stage of pregnancy throughout.
Book an assessment
See a Chiropractor for Pregnancy-Related Back and Pelvic Pain in Heidelberg
Dr Nicholas Lee • BSc, BHSc/BAppSc (Chiropractic) • AHPRA Registered
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain, a thorough assessment is the right starting point. Dr Lee will take the time to understand your history, examine your presentation, and give you a clear picture of what is happening and what the most appropriate approach looks like for your situation.
True Chiropractic is located at 124–126 Mount Street, Heidelberg — 2 minutes from Heidelberg Station. No referral required.
Ready to Book Your Assessment?
True Chiropractic • 124–126 Mount Street, Heidelberg • No referral needed • HICAPS on-site • Same-week appointments
Important: The information on this page is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. True Chiropractic complies with AHPRA guidelines for health practitioner advertising.