What should you know about groin pain after giving birth?

Pregnancy and birth can place extra load on the pelvic floor, inner-thigh muscles, abdominal wall, and joints around the pelvis. Pain may appear when walking, climbing stairs, standing on one leg, turning in bed, or getting in and out of a car. Hip Impingement or a Hip Labral Tear can also cause groin pain with hip flexion and rotation, while Hip Osteoarthritis may cause stiffness and reduced movement. The symptom alone cannot identify which structure is involved.

Use shorter walks and change positions often if long periods of standing worsen symptoms. When lifting your baby, bring the baby close, bend through the hips and knees, and avoid twisting while carrying. Choose comfortable supportive footwear and stop exercises that increase sharp pain, pressure, or dragging sensations. A pelvic health clinician or Sports Physiotherapy service can check movement and build a gradual plan. Mention any urinary, bowel, sexual, or pelvic-floor symptoms because they affect the assessment.

Contact a clinician promptly for worsening pain, fever, feeling faint, heavy bleeding, foul-smelling discharge, new leg swelling, or difficulty passing urine. Seek urgent help for severe abdominal or pelvic pain, chest symptoms, or sudden weakness. Arrange a non-urgent assessment if pain limits walking, caring for your baby, or sleep, or does not begin to improve.

Could this involve the pelvic floor, hip, or pelvic joints? Which lifting and walking positions are safest? When should I begin strengthening? Do my urinary or bowel symptoms change the plan? Should I see a pelvic health physiotherapist?