Hip and groin pain during pregnancy

Hip and groin pain during pregnancy often reflects changing pelvic load, muscle strain, or joint irritation, but persistent or severe pain deserves clinical assessment. Growing abdominal weight can alter posture, while softer supporting tissues and a changing walking pattern may stress the hip, pelvis, inner thigh, or lower back. Pain can be felt when rolling in bed, walking, standing on one leg, or getting in and out of a car.

Pain near the front of the hip or groin may come from the hip joint, the inner-thigh muscles, the pelvic joints, or nearby nerves. Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain can make stairs, turning in bed, and separating the legs uncomfortable. A clicking sensation, catching, or reduced hip movement can point to a separate hip problem; these symptoms do not identify one diagnosis by themselves. A clinician can examine your gait, hip movement, back, and pelvis and consider pregnancy-safe tests if needed.

Reduce movements that sharply increase pain, but keep comfortable gentle activity so the hip does not become stiff. Change position regularly, take shorter walks, and use a pillow between your knees when side-lying. Keep both legs together when getting out of bed or a car if separating them hurts. Supportive footwear and a pregnancy-adapted physiotherapy plan may improve strength and movement control. Check any pain medicine, heat treatment, or support belt with your maternity clinician before using it.

Arrange prompt medical advice if pain is worsening, limits walking, wakes you repeatedly, or does not settle with activity changes. Seek urgent help for a fall, inability to bear weight, sudden severe pain, new leg weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, regular painful contractions, or one-sided calf swelling and breathlessness. Pregnancy symptoms can overlap with musculoskeletal pain, so maternity concerns should be assessed by the appropriate team.

Ask which structures may be causing the pain and whether you need a pelvic or hip assessment. Mention when it began, which movements trigger it, whether it travels down the leg, and how far you can walk. Ask which exercises, sleep positions, supports, and medicines are suitable for your stage of pregnancy. If symptoms continue after delivery, ask whether a physiotherapy referral or further hip evaluation is appropriate.