Ah, pregnancy! The time when you expect glowing skin and a cute baby bump, but sometimes end up with a mysterious pain that feels like a soccer kick to your lady bits. I remember it well—months into my third pregnancy, I started feeling this intense discomfort every time I stood too long or climbed in and out of bed. It was as if someone had taken a swift kick to my pubic area, and no, I couldn’t recall any incident that would warrant such a bruise.
Being a seasoned mom, I was aware that aches and pains are par for the course during pregnancy. With my second baby, I had what felt like a knife twisting in my side due to round ligament pain, but this new pain was entirely different. It fluctuated between a dull throb and a sharp stab, and it just wouldn’t quit.
Moving around became a chore. Standing? Painful. Walking? Excruciating. Getting in and out of the car? Ouch. Even spreading my legs beyond shoulder-width was a no-go. So, basically, moving at all was a real challenge.
I consulted not one, but two doctors about this persistent pain, and their responses were almost identical: “It’s probably just the baby pushing down on your pelvis. Totally normal.” I tried to explain that this was not your average pelvic pressure—this was a sharp pain right at the top of my pubic bone. But they reassured me that various aches are part of the journey.
Determined to figure it out, I turned to Dr. Google (because who doesn’t?). A search for “Why does my crotch hurt during pregnancy?” led me to the term symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD). It sounds more like something you’d catch at a bar, but it’s a real condition where pregnancy hormones cause your pelvic bones to loosen excessively. When the joint connecting your pubic bones gets too loose, it can result in a spectrum of pain in the pelvic area. Some call it pelvic girdle pain, but honestly, that name makes it sound like you’ve just worn your Spanx a bit too long.
At six months pregnant, grocery shopping became a nightmare—I had to resort to one of those driving carts like I was in some sort of mobility competition. I usually loved staying active during my pregnancies, but now even five minutes on my feet felt like I’d run a marathon.
Rolling over in bed? Sharp pain. Spreading my legs? Sharp pain. Yes, even intimacy became a game of angles to avoid the agony. I returned to the doctor with my newfound knowledge, and he casually nodded, “Yeah, that could be it.” Seriously? Why didn’t we talk about this before?
He suggested I try a support belt. That helped a bit, but what really made a difference were chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture—though, I won’t say they were a miracle cure. I even read that in rare cases, SPD doesn’t vanish after childbirth. Yikes! Thankfully, mine did, almost immediately after delivery. I wouldn’t wish that pain on my worst enemy.
Interestingly, my experience with SPD isn’t isolated. Reports vary, with some sources claiming 1 in 300 pregnant women experience it, while others suggest it could be as high as 1 in 5. Two friends of mine experienced it during their pregnancies too. Many women share similar tales online, often dismissed by their doctors as typical pregnancy discomfort. But let me tell you, feeling like a bowling ball has been dropped on your pubic bone is anything but normal.
If you’re currently pregnant and experiencing pain in your pubic area, don’t hesitate to bring it up with your healthcare provider. You’d think a common ailment like this would be more widely recognized, but let’s be real—who wants to discuss their pubic pain over coffee? “Hey, how are you? Oh, just dealing with some killer pubic pain today.” No, thanks!
To all the SPD sisters out there, I feel you. It’s a tough road, but you’re not alone.
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Summary
Pregnancy can come with unexpected challenges, including a painful condition known as symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), which can feel like a severe kick to the pubic area. Many women, like the author, experience this but don’t always recognize it as something that warrants concern. It’s important to communicate with healthcare providers about any unusual aches and pains to ensure proper care and relief.