How Pregnancy Hormones Change the Spine, Pelvis and Joints

Pregnancy is an incredible journey of change, with your body constantly adapting to support your growing baby. While most people expect a growing bump, many don't realise that pregnancy hormones also affect your joints, ligaments and posture. These changes are completely normal and play an important role in preparing your body for birth, but they can also contribute to common discomforts such as back pain and pelvic pain.

The Role of Pregnancy Hormones

One of the key hormones involved in pregnancy is 'relaxin', which helps prepare the body for childbirth by softening ligaments and connective tissues, particularly around the pelvis. As these tissues become more flexible, joints may become slightly less stable than usual. When combined with the increasing weight of your baby and the physical demands of pregnancy, these changes can place additional strain on the muscles and joints supporting your spine and pelvis (Weis et al., 2020).

How Your Posture Changes

As your baby grows, your centre of gravity gradually shifts forward. To keep you balanced, your body naturally adapts by increasing the curve of the lower back and changing the position of the pelvis. While these postural adjustments are completely normal, they can increase the workload on the muscles supporting your spine, hips and pelvis, which may contribute to stiffness, muscle fatigue and everyday discomfort (Wiezer et al., 2020).

Why Back and Pelvic Pain Are So Common

Low back pain and pelvic girdle pain are among the most common musculoskeletal complaints during pregnancy, affecting a significant number of women worldwide (Shanshan et al., 2024). You may notice discomfort in the lower back, hips, pubic bone or around the sacroiliac joints, particularly when standing, walking or rolling over in bed. Women with a previous history of back pain, pelvic girdle pain or physically demanding daily activities may have a greater risk of experiencing these symptoms (Wiezer et al., 2020).

How Chiropractic Care May Help

Pregnancy places unique demands on the body, and chiropractic care aims to support these natural changes while helping you stay as comfortable and mobile as possible. Research suggests that a combination of manual therapy, exercise and education may help reduce pregnancy-related low back and pelvic girdle pain while improving function (Weis et al., 2020). At Realign Health Clinic, your care is tailored to each stage of pregnancy and may include gentle chiropractic adjustments where appropriate, soft tissue techniques, mobility advice and practical strategies to help you move with greater ease.

Staying Active Throughout Pregnancy

Although movement may feel more challenging as pregnancy progresses, appropriate exercise is one of the most effective ways to help manage pregnancy-related discomfort. Research shows that exercise-based interventions can reduce the severity and impact of pregnancy-related low back and pelvic girdle pain while helping maintain strength and mobility (Santos et al., 2023; Diez-Buil et al., 2024). Keeping your body moving can also help prepare you for labour and support a smoother recovery after birth.

Supporting Your Pregnancy Journey

Every pregnancy is different, but you don't have to simply accept aches and pains as "just part of being pregnant." Understanding how pregnancy hormones influence your spine, pelvis and joints can help explain why these changes occur and why discomfort sometimes develops. With the right support, many women are able to stay active, move more comfortably and feel better prepared for both labour and postpartum recovery.

If you're experiencing pregnancy-related discomfort or would like to support your body as it changes, our team at Realign Health Clinic is here to help you enjoy a healthier, more comfortable pregnancy.

References

Diez-Buil, H., Hernandez-Lucas, P., Leirós-Rodríguez, R. and Echeverría-García, O. (2024) ‘Effects of the combination of exercise and education in the treatment of low back and/or pelvic pain in pregnant women: Systematic review and meta-analysis’, International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 164(3), pp. 811–822. Available at: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ijgo.15000

Santos, F.F., Lourenço, B.M., Souza, M.B., Maia, L.B., Oliveira, V.C. and Oliveira, M.X. (2023) ‘Prevention of low back and pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with GRADE recommendations’, Physiotherapy, 118, pp. 1–11. Available at: https://www.physiotherapyjournal.com/article/S0031-9406(22)00096-7/abstract

Shanshan, H., Liying, C., Huihong, Z., Yanting, W., Tiantian, L., Tong, J. and Jiawei, Q. (2024) ‘Prevalence of lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies’, Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 103(2), pp. 225–240. Available at: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aogs.14714

Weis, C.A., Pohlman, K.A., Draper, C., Hawk, C., daSilva-Oolup, S. and Stuber, K.J. (2020) ‘Chiropractic care for adults with pregnancy-related low back, pelvic girdle pain or combination pain: A systematic review’, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 43(7), pp. 714–731. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344213305_Chiropractic_Care_for_Adults_With_Pregnancy-Related_Low_Back_Pelvic_Girdle_Pain_or_Combination_Pain_A_Systematic_Review

Wiezer, M., Hage-Fransen, M.A.H., Otto, A., Wieffer-Platvoet, M.S., Slotman, M.H., Nijhuis-van der Sanden, M.W.G. and Pool-Goudzwaard, A.L. (2020) ‘Risk factors for pelvic girdle pain postpartum and pregnancy related low back pain postpartum: A systematic review and meta-analysis’, Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 48, article 102154. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2468781219304515