Pregnancy is the part of your motherhood where you experience a lot of emotions at once. Be it happy or sad, the mood swings are on the rollercoaster. Not only psychologically, your body also undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy. The weight of a life growing inside you can be overwhelming sometimes.
But with these changes, also come complications like nausea, morning sickness, back pain, and inner thigh pain. While these complications are common during pregnancy 31% of women experience inner thigh pain and groin discomfort while they are pregnant.
In this blog, we are going to discuss how this pain is caused and what remedies you can try to manage the pain.
How Is Inner Thigh Pain Caused During Pregnancy?
While it is no surprise that the uterus makes way to accommodate your baby, your legs and abdomen also play a part in it. The medical term for this particular pain is Symphysis pubis dysfunction. This is often experienced later in the pregnancy when your baby bump is no longer a bump and is ready to pop out.
The ligaments that keep your pelvis aligned tend to loosen up to the extent that pelvic joints become unstable. This instability in the pelvic joints gives way to inner thigh pain and groin pain. During this process, the hormone relaxin is released from the placenta, which helps in the dilation of the cervix during childbirth.
Excessive relaxin in the system can also cause the ligaments to loosen up which in turn leads to discomfort in walking, and pain in your groin, and inner thighs. Although, this is a natural process but is painful to experience.
Remedies To Overcome Inner Thigh Pain During Pregnancy
It has been observed that expecting mothers who move around too much are more likely to experience pain in their inner thighs. But, pregnant women doing daily activities may also experience this excruciating pain.
Here are some of the remedies that you can try to manage the pain.
🔹 Resting
The first and foremost thing for an expectant mother is to rest as much as you can. Especially after the third trimester of your pregnancy. Take maternity leave from work and avoid lifting anything remotely heavy. Cut the intense workout session and give rest to your body. With this, you are also reducing the risk of accidents that might take place or complications that may arise during the workouts.
🔹 Stretching
While resting is important for the baby and mother, stretching becomes the next relaxing workout that you divulge in. It not only gives flexibility to move around but also increases the blood circulation in your body.
You can try butterfly, seated-side stretch, or abductor stretch for your daily exercise. Make sure to stop the movements if you feel any discomfort. Consult with your OB/GYN for better recommendations in stretching exercises.
🔹 Heat And Cold Therapy
This is a traditional remedy that will alleviate the pain in your inner thighs. You can include hot baths with Epsom salt in your routine or a heating pad for heat therapy. Remember to check the water temperature to avoid burning and use the heating pad with a cloth.
Cold therapy has a similar process but with an ice pack. For this remedy, you can take a piece of cloth filled with ice cubes and rub it on your inner thighs. Do this for 10-15 minutes once a day to eliminate the pain.
🔹 Support Garments
Using a compression garment for your thighs can give relief from the inner thigh pain. If you are familiar with maternity support belts, then these support garments have the same concept. With gentle compression and support to your thighs, it reduces the pressure on pelvic joints and gives you stability.
Ensure that the material is breathable and adjustable which can support your thighs for a long time. Avoid wearing them for a longer period for the risk of rashes, or swelling.
🔹 Sleeping Positions
Doctors recommend sleeping on your side during pregnancy, as it is helpful for both the baby and the mother. It helps in reducing the pressure on the major organs and improves blood flow to the uterus. You can also put a pillow between your legs to manage the pain in your inner thighs.
Conclusion
In summary, inner thigh pain during pregnancy can be managed through stretches, massage, heat therapy, supportive belts, and safe analgesics if approved by a doctor. While uncomfortable, it stems from natural causes like weight gain and relaxing hormones.
Staying active with low-impact exercise can strengthen muscles to support strains. Listen to your body, rest when needed, and maintain good posture. In most cases, inner thigh pain resolves post-partum. Consult a physician if the pain becomes severe or persists.
