Tailbone or the Coccyx bone is the last bone of the sacrum and can get painful and sore during pregnancy. Tailbone pain can cause complications during pregnancy thus making the pregnancy experience unpleasant. Some women have tailbone pain before they become pregnant. While some women get this pain during pregnancy or during childbirth.
The tailbone can narrow the birth canal which is the passage through which the baby will pass during childbirth. During this process, the baby may cause an injury to the coccyx bone, such as a coccyx sprain, coccyx bruise, coccyx dislocation and coccyx fracture. This article provides some basic information on dealing with tailbone pain during pregnancy.
Women, who have tailbone problems, even before they got pregnant, should get treatment before they plan to conceive. It is for the simple reason that once you get pregnant, the tests and treatment for tailbone problems cannot be done because it isn’t safe for the developing baby. Once you get pregnant inform your doctor about your tailbone history.
Dealing with tailbone pain during pregnancy
- If you are experiencing tailbone pain during your pregnancy then sit on soft surfaces. While sitting use a soft cushion to avoid any pressure on the tailbone. You can use wedge cushions, these are particularly good for women having tailbone problems because the triangle wedge shape does not allow any pressure on the tailbone. You can also use a donut pillow, this pillow has a hole in the center, so when you sit down, there is no pressure on the tailbone area.
- You must avoid sitting on hard surfaces, as this will only aggravate the condition. You must make sure that you do not sit for long hours, whether on hard or soft surface. A woman suffering from tailbone problem will experience an excruciating pain while getting up from her seat. Hence, when a woman gets up from her seat, she should do so slowly to avoid any discomfort.
- There are medications that are available for tailbone problems. But these medicines are not safe to take during pregnancy. Therefore always ask your doctor before taking any medicines.
- You can consider using a hot compress or a cool compress on the tailbone area to get relief from the pain. Use both of these techniques, so that you know which one works better for you.
- Ask your partner to massage the tailbone area. A massage will help you get relief from the terrible pain. However, some women don’t find massages helpful, so if a massage is causing more pain then stop it immediately.
- Some women have stated respite from tailbone pain by sitting on the birth or exercise ball.
Pregnancy is supposed to be a joyful experience for a woman, but sometimes some complication in the pregnancy can mar that experience. Tailbone pain during pregnancy is just one of the many complications a woman can face during a pregnancy. Proper care, rest, diet and exercise can help alleviate some of the symptoms.
