Pregnancy

Low Back and Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy

Reviewed by Dr. Dustin Dukart, DC

The extra load, the shift in your center of gravity, and the ligaments loosening to make room — by the second or third trimester, a lot of that shows up as low back pain, a deep ache across the back of the pelvis, or a sharp catch in the groin when you roll over or climb stairs. It’s common, and there are reasonable ways to make it more manageable.

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What the Evidence Actually Shows

Back and pelvic pain in pregnancy is very common, and ACOG notes that staying active, using support, and physical therapy are reasonable approaches. For hands-on chiropractic care specifically, the research is real but limited: a systematic review of chiropractic care for pregnancy-related low back and pelvic girdle pain found the evidence “moderate or unclear but favorable,” held back mainly by the small size and quality of the studies. A broader Cochrane review found exercise programs help, and did not find high-quality evidence for spinal manipulation on its own. So we frame it honestly: a gentle, pregnancy-appropriate plan combining hands-on care, exercise, and practical adjustments can help with the discomfort — it isn’t a guarantee, and we’ll tell you if it isn’t helping.

What a Visit Looks Like

Gentle, pregnancy-adapted positioning and techniques — no forceful twisting of the abdomen or low back — focused on easing tension through the pelvis, hips, and low back, plus a few exercises and positioning tips you can use at home. Sessions are short and comfortable, and we coordinate with your OB or midwife rather than working around them.

SI Joint, Pelvic Ring, and Round-Ligament Work

When pregnancy loads the pelvis, two things commonly drive the pain: the sacroiliac (SI) joints of the pelvic ring not moving evenly, and rising tension through the round ligaments. What we do is a simple two-step process — assess and address SI joint and pelvic-ring dysfunction, then ease round-ligament tension. That’s the same objective the Webster technique is built around: a more balanced, comfortable pelvis.

It’s often asked about in the context of a baby in a breech position, so here’s the honest version: the Webster technique’s most-cited breech report is a survey of practitioner-reported outcomes, not a controlled trial, and systematic reviews of chiropractic care in pregnancy do not establish controlled evidence that any of this turns a breech baby. We use it for pelvic and ligament comfort — not as a breech treatment. If your baby is breech, that’s a conversation for your OB or midwife about options with real evidence behind them, such as external cephalic version.

When to Call Your OB or Midwife First

Contact your maternity provider or seek urgent care — not a chiropractic visit — for any of these during pregnancy:

• Vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage
• Regular or painful contractions before term
• Severe or sudden abdominal pain, or pain with fever
• A noticeable decrease in the baby’s movements
• Severe headache, vision changes, or sudden swelling (possible signs of preeclampsia)
• Calf pain, redness, or swelling in one leg

Ready When You Are

Most new patients are seen within a few days.

Book Your Visit → or call (612) 314-9482