CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

5 Ways to Ease Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a real pain in the tailbone. Learn what's causing that discomfort and how to find some relief.
save article
profile picture of Korin Miller
Updated June 30, 2020
pregnant woman experiencing tailbone pain while sitting on couch at home
Image: M M Vieira | Shutterstock

It’s no secret that pregnancy comes with its own unique set of aches and pains. But while you’ve probably heard of things like round ligament pain, tailbone pain during pregnancy doesn’t get a lot of attention.

Still, it can and does happen. Grappling with butt pain during pregnancy? Here are some possible causes, plus what you can do to treat it.

What Causes Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy?

Tailbone pain, aka coccydynia, isn’t overly common in pregnancy, but it’s not rare either. “More than half of pregnant women experience back pain. A smaller amount experience tailbone pain,” says Christine Greves, MD, an ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in Orlando, Florida.

Still, it happens often enough, says Michael Cackovic, MD, an ob-gyn at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “I probably hear about it two to three times a day,” he says.

Moms-to-be experience tailbone pain at the bottom of their spine. “I’ve heard some of my patients say it’s a pain in their bottom—literally,” Greves says. The cause of tailbone pain in pregnancy can vary. When you’re expecting, there’s a lot of stress on your axial skeleton (the bones that make up your head, neck and trunk) and your pelvis, and that can lead to pain and joint issues, says Jessica Shepherd, MD, a Texas-based ob-gyn.

There’s also direct pressure on your tailbone from your growing baby. “The tailbone, or coccyx, is immediately behind and below the uterus,” Cackovic says. “In a normal term pregnancy, that means there is about 10 to 12 pounds pushing on it when you account for baby, placenta, uterus and fluids.” Plus, “your tailbone serves as a point of attachment for many tendons and ligaments, all which have nerves that will fire when something presses on them,” he adds. Even seemingly minor things like constipation can make it worse.

Related Video

One more thing that could be behind your tailbone pain: Relaxin, a hormone secreted by the placenta, can exacerbate tailbone pain. “Relaxin’s role is to relax the ligaments in the pelvis to allow for birth, and it can make the tailbone more sensitive,” Cackovic says.

While tailbone pain usually happens more in the later stages of pregnancy, Cackovic says it can start during any trimester, depending on things like your body size, pelvis type and whether you’ve been pregnant before. Still, he says, “it’s usually worse in the third trimester when the size of the baby and position add the most pressure.”

How to Ease Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy

While you can’t change the factors that cause your tailbone pain during pregnancy, there are a few things you can do to try to get relief.

Use ice or heat on your tailbone. When the pain rears its head, reach for an ice pack or heating pad—“whichever feels better,” says Julie Lamppa, APRN, CNM, a certified nurse midwife at Mayo Clinic.

Lay down on your side. If you have the choice between sitting and lying down on your side, Lamppa recommends doing the latter, since it helps take pressure off your tailbone.

Take an OTC pain reliever. Tylenol, which is safe to take during pregnancy, is a good option here, Lamppa says.

Get a special pillow. Using a donut pillow, which is a round pillow with a hole in the center, can help relieve pressure when you sit, Greves says.

Try yoga. Doing stretching exercises through yoga can “work wonders,” Cackovic says.

When to Call the Doctor About Tailbone Pain

It’s always a good idea to at least mention to your doctor at your next visit when you’re having any kind of pain. But if you’re having daily tailbone pain, it’s preventing you from doing your normal daily activities or it’s excruciating, Shepherd recommends calling your doctor sooner rather than later.

About the experts:

Christine Greves, MD, FACOG, is an ob-gyn at the Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in Orlando, Florida. She received her medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine.

Michael Cackovic, MD, is an ob-gyn specializing in maternal fetal medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. He earned his medical degree from Hahnemann University College of Medicine in 1997.

Jessica Shepherd, MD, FACOG, is an ob-gyn and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She is also the founder of Her Viewpoint, an online women’s health forum that focuses on addressing taboo topics in women’s health in a comfortable setting. She received her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in 2005.

Julie Lamppa, APRN, CNM, is a certified nurse midwife at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

smiling pregnant woman feeling belly while sitting on couch at home
7 Ways to Get Baby to Move in Utero
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman drinking a glass of water
Why You Might Have a Dry Mouth in Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman with round ligament pain
What Round Ligament Pain Feels Like—and How to Find Relief
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman with hip pain sleeping with pregnancy pillow
What to Do About Hip Pain During Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
close up of pregnant woman with hands on lower back
How to Relieve Back Pain in Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
tired pregnant woman napping on the couch
Pregnancy Fatigue: Why You're Exhausted—and What to Do About It
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman wearing a bikini on the beach
What’s the Deal With So-Called ‘Pregnancy Glow?’
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
pensive pregnant woman looking down by sunny window
How to Treat (and Prevent) a Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
close up of pregnant belly, side view
How Your Vaginal Discharge Can Change During Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
doctor checking woman's eyes with flashlight
Why You Might Experience Some Blurry Vision in Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman resting in bed
What Causes Restless Leg Syndrome in Pregnancy?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman looking down and holding belly at home
When Do You Start Showing in Pregnancy?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
woman reading pregnancy test result
Is It Possible to Have No Pregnancy Symptoms?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
woman opening toilet lid
What Causes Cloudy Urine in Pregnancy?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman drinking water while sitting on couch at home
How to Find Relief for Heartburn and Indigestion During Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman experiencing a hot flash while working at desk
Are Hot Flashes Normal During Pregnancy?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
close up of pregnant woman applying lotion to belly
How to Get Relief From Dry Skin During Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman sitting on couch at home
What Causes Diarrhea During Pregnancy?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
close up of pregnant woman's belly and belly button
How Your Belly Button Changes During Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman experiencing night sweats in bed
What to Do About Night Sweats During Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List