PEAK WEEK
Week 38 • Third Trimester
Pelvic Pain & Pressure at Week 38
Baby engaged, significant pressure
●
Severity This Week: Severe
Baby engaged, significant pressure
💡 Tips for Week 38
- ✓Limit walking
- ✓Rest often
- ✓Physical therapy
📆 Third Trimester Overview
Common as baby drops into pelvis, especially week 36+
🔍 What Causes Pelvic Pain & Pressure at Week 38?
- •Baby's weight pressing on pelvis
- •Baby dropping into birth position
- •Relaxin hormone loosening pelvic joints
- •Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)
- •Pressure on pelvic nerves
- •Increased blood flow to pelvis
✓ Normal Signs
- ✓Pressure feeling when standing
- ✓Discomfort walking
- ✓Feels like baby will fall out
- ✓Worse at end of day
⚠ Concerning Signs
- ⚠Severe, constant pain
- ⚠Unable to walk
- ⚠Pain with fever
- ⚠Vaginal bleeding
- ⚠Regular contractions
💊 Relief Strategies
- ✓Wear pregnancy support belt
- ✓Rest with feet elevated
- ✓Avoid standing long periods
- ✓Sleep with pillow between legs
- ✓Prenatal chiropractor or physical therapy
- ✓Pelvic floor exercises
- ✓Warm bath for relief
- ✓Avoid heavy lifting
🏥 When to Call Your Doctor
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience:
- ⚠Unable to walk from pain
- ⚠Severe, constant pelvic pain
- ⚠Pain with vaginal bleeding
- ⚠Pain with fluid leakage
- ⚠Regular contractions before 37 weeks