20 Weeks Prego with Hip & Leg Pain!

Updated on March 20, 2011
A.C. asks from Waynesville, MO
15 answers

I'm 20 weeks prego today and lately when I goto sleep I suffer from hip and leg pain. I toss and turn all night and it's starting to take a toll on my lack of sleep!!! Any reccomendations on how to alliviate the pain would be great! Thanks in advance! :)

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Get thee to a chiropractor that's treated pregnant women. (I couldn't have lived without mine!)

Sounds like classic preggo pain, and regular adjustments can keep you med-free and feeling better.

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L.L.

answers from Rochester on

During my last pregnancy, my hips both became very loose in their joints, almost to the point of dislocation. It was incredibly painful to lay, walk, sit...really, anything, and I could NOT walk up and down stairs. Both my hips and legs hurt from this...well, my hips, butt, and all the way down the front and back of my legs.

A quick trip to a physical therapist diagnosed the problem, and the solution? Basically, a brace similar to a girdle, only worn around your hips. It IMMEDIATELY helped, I felt so much better, and I only had to wear it for a few weeks to correct the problem! :)

Maybe check into it!

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C.K.

answers from St. Louis on

I understand where you are coming from! I suffered with that as well during my pregnancy (around the 16 week mark). I don't mean to scare you but the pain ended up changing to day time and affected my walking and put stress on the baby b/c my hips were affected so bad...the only thing that I can tell you to do is tell your dr. to write you a script for physical therapy....it worked for me and helped to alleviate the discomfort and pain...the other thing to do is sleep with a pillow between your legs (to elevate the hip) and sleep with a pillow under your feet. I felt like I was sleeping in a fort, but it helped! Good luck, trust me catching this early is good adn seeing a physical therapist early helps to prevent things from being unmanagable...C.

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A.C.

answers from Washington DC on

body pillows ... 2 of them. One for the front and one for the back. Or a waterbed. I slept on one when I was pregnant with my oldest and got the best sleep of my entire pregnancy.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I think it might be round ligament pain. Ask you OB about it next visit.

And PILLOWS!

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S.F.

answers from Utica on

I went from using NO pillows (I was a stomach sleeper) to 6 pillows LOL
I had one for my head (sometimes 2) and one for behind my back one under my hip one between my legs and one to hug and support my big belly. It made the 100 bathroom trips a real pain in the a$$ but it was comfy and when I finally went to sleep I would stay asleep except for when my bladder would get me up
Good Luck - you are half way there =)

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J.F.

answers from Tallahassee on

I had horrible lower back/hip/leg pain when I was pregnant with my daughter. I tried getting massages a few times with no luck and then at my OB's recommendation I went to a chiropractor. It did take about 4-5 visits (he said my lower back was really jammed up and in bad shape) but I was amazed at how much it helped me. I had been in terrible pain every time I took a step with my right leg and after 4-5 visits with him I was pretty much pain free. I also had to go back for an adjustment about 2 months after my daughter was born (because of all the change your body goes through). I now go to see him as needed, usually once or twice every 1-2 years.

A.F.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

Sleep with a pillow in between your legs. Although I do it it doesn't help me at all only because me back pain leads to my leg pain because of a car accident back in 2005. But the pillow should help too. :)

A.F.

answers from Chicago on

Are you sleeping with a body pillow? If not, I would HIGHLY suggest it- hug it and put one leg on each side (top leg over the pillow). This helps take some strain off the hips and as your belly gets bigger, that too. Also, you might need a hip brace as well as Mrslavallie suggested below. I had EXCRUCIATING hip pain with baby #1. None with baby #2 or this pregnancy (31 weeks with baby #3). Are your leg pains cramps like charlie-horses? If so, talk to your OB, there are things you can do nutritionally and with exercise to ease that. If it is in the area of the sciatic nerve, there are yoga stretches you can do to ease that too. Good luck and Best wishes!

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M.O.

answers from Chicago on

I had this, but only with my third pregnancy. The dr said there's little to do but to try to get comfortable - easier said than done! I used a body pillow, and stacked other pillows to try to align my hips, knees and ankles. Honestly two of the best things I found that really helped were walking every day and buying myself some new shoes!

The walking helps to relax and stretch your ligaments while the new GOOD shoes offered better support and cushioning.

I went into The Walking Store and got their help getting proper fit and good shoes. They weren't cheap but they saved me - seriously. I never had foot or leg issues with my first two pregnancies. But new shoes really did help me to feel better at the end of the day.

As for the pillow stacking, nothing really worked. However I did find that my body pillow supported me through my knees, but then my ankles were still together. The dr suggested putting a pillow between my knees so I could move it around easier and then another between my ankles. The logic was that by having my ankles together, it was creating pressure on my hips and back.
I hope this helps you Mama!

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

Is it sciatica? (Didn't read the other responses). Before bed, try laying on your back with your butt up against the couch and your feet ON the couch, then put a small pillow on your lower back to ease the pain. Getting on all 4's and arching your back helps too. Sleep on your left side (it's better for baby anyway) with a pillow between your legs. You might want to google excersises that help ease sciatica pain. I dealt with sciatica with all 3 pregnancies... it doesn't tickle, THAT'S for sure!! Feel better :)

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

URG. I was just like that too.
The best help for me, was to sleep with a body pillow, and tuck it between my knees. It forced hubby out of the bed onto the sofa due to space issues after about month 8, lol, but I was able to sleep without so much pain.

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J.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

I had leg pain the last few months of my pregnancy. Try sleeping with a pillow between your legs or an ice pack.

C.A.

answers from New York on

I had really bad arm pain. I told my OB about it and he said that maybe the baby was sitting on a nerve. I used a handheld massager and when she was born sure enough the pain went away. She was sitting on a nerve. Not sure what to tell you but like the others say go to a chiropractor. Maybe that will help. Talk to your OB and see what they say. Good Luck

B.F.

answers from Kansas City on

Oh my, I couldn't have lived without my chiropractor. I had never been to one and my husband said I needed to go when I was pregnant with our child. Wow, the difference was amazing! I can't believe I suffered thru 2 pregnancies before going!

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