Pubic symphysis pain: pelvic pain in pregnancy

Generally for most folks pubic pain shows up in the third trimester, though if you had it in your previous pregnancy, chances are good it will show up again (and earlier) in your following pregnancies. For most people this shows up as a sharp, shooting pain in the region of the pubic bone. The interesting thing about the pubic bone is its actually a joint, there are two bones that meet at what we think of as the pubic bone, and like any joint, there is connective tissue that holds the joint together.
 
Because of relaxin, a hormone released during pregnancy, connective tissue in the body is softening over time. As baby grows, added weight presses down on the pelvis which puts strain on this joint, and for some folks this ends up causing pubic symphysis dysfunction. It will usually show up one of two ways 1) when doing lunges or after long walks or exercise where legs are going forward and back or 2) when opening the knees away from one another in things like rolling over in bed. ​

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