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Sleeping Positions to Relieve Hip Pain During Pregnancy: Evidence-Based Tips for Better Comfort
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Introduction
Hip pain during pregnancy is a common and frustrating challenge, especially when it disrupts your sleep. Finding ways to ease this discomfort can make a big difference to your daily wellbeing, particularly as your pregnancy progresses. One of the simplest and most effective strategies is adjusting how you sleep. In this article, we’ll explore how certain sleeping positions can help relieve hip pain during pregnancy, using the latest research and expert advice. With just a few small changes to your bedtime routine, you can enjoy better comfort, more restful sleep, and healthier support for both yourself and your baby.
Why Does Hip Pain Happen During Pregnancy?
Hip pain during pregnancy is caused by a mix of physical changes. As you gain weight and your center of gravity shifts, extra pressure is put on your hips and lower back. Pregnancy hormones like relaxin also cause your ligaments to loosen, which can make your joints feel less stable. Changes in posture and the way you walk may add even more strain. If you spend long periods sitting or lying in positions that don’t support these changes, hip pain can worsen. Selecting the right sleeping position, therefore, becomes crucial. Research shows that hip pain is linked with poorer sleep quality, both in people with hip issues and pregnant women. In fact, physical discomforts like hip and low back pain are known to disrupt sleep during pregnancy.
How Sleeping Positions Affect Hip Pain
Your sleeping position makes a significant difference in managing hip pain. Sleeping on your side—especially on your left side—is widely recommended. This position is more comfortable for most pregnant women and helps take pressure off your hips and back. It can also improve blood flow to your baby. Conversely, lying on your back (the supine position) in late pregnancy can increase discomfort by adding pressure to important blood vessels, which may decrease circulation to both you and your baby. Because of the risks associated with sleeping on your back, health professionals advise side-sleeping as your safest and most comfortable option. Multiple studies have shown that poor hip health is linked to worse sleep quality, but that addressing hip discomfort—often through position changes—can improve how well you sleep.
Tips for Sleeping Comfortably and Reducing Hip Pain
To relieve hip pain at night, try sleeping on your left side with a slight tilt. You don’t need to be perfectly flat on your side—even a gentle angle can help reduce pressure on your hips and support healthy blood flow. Pillows are your friends here:
- Place a firm pillow between your knees to keep your hips aligned and ease pressure on your lower back.
- Tuck a wedge pillow or small cushion under your bump to support your belly and take strain off your pelvis.
- Put a pillow behind your back to help keep you from rolling onto your back during the night.
These small adjustments help keep your spine and hips supported, making a noticeable difference—especially in the third trimester, when hip pain tends to worsen. Healthcare providers often recommend that pregnant women pay close attention to sleep positions, particularly later in pregnancy, to reduce pain and promote restful sleep.
Other Ways to Help Manage Hip Pain
In addition to adjusting your sleeping position, gentle movement can help ease hip pain. Prenatal yoga and stretching exercises strengthen the muscles supporting your hips and boost flexibility, which can lower discomfort and help you sleep better. Combining these activities with supportive sleep habits gives you a well-rounded approach to managing hip pain during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Changing your sleeping position is a simple but powerful way to reduce hip pain and sleep better during pregnancy. Sleeping on your left side with the right support can make a real difference. Always talk with your healthcare provider about any ongoing pain or sleep problems to get advice that fits your needs. Remember, small adjustments now can have a big impact on your comfort—helping you enjoy a more restful, healthy pregnancy while supporting your baby’s wellbeing.
References
O’Brien, L. M., & Warland, J. (2014). Typical sleep positions in pregnant women. Early Human Development, 90(6), 315-317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.03.001
Martinez, J., Reddy, N., Mulligan, E. P., Hynan, L. S., & Wells, J. (2019). Sleep quality and nocturnal pain in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Medicine, 98(41), e17464. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000017464
de Sousa, V. P. S., Ribeiro, S. O., de Aquino, C. M. R., & Viana, E. S. R. (2015). Quality of sleep in pregnant woman with low back pain. Fisioterapia Em Movimento, 28(2), 319-326. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-5150.028.002.ao12
Frequently Asked Questions
Hip pain is common in pregnancy due to hormonal, weight, and postural changes, which increase pressure on hip joints and cause loosening of ligaments. This discomfort can disrupt sleep and daily activities. The London Cartilage Clinic regularly sees and successfully manages this condition under the expert guidance of Prof Lee.
Sleeping on your left side with pillow support can significantly reduce hip pain, as this position decreases pressure on hips and improves blood flow. Prof Lee at the London Cartilage Clinic frequently advises this approach and tailors solutions for pregnant women to promote comfort and better sleep throughout their pregnancy journey.
Use a firm pillow between your knees, a cushion under your bump, and another behind your back to maintain proper alignment. These small adjustments, recommended by Prof Lee and the London Cartilage Clinic, provide superior support and bring genuine relief for those struggling with hip pain during pregnancy.
If hip pain continues despite changing sleep positions or interferes with daily life and sleep, consult your healthcare provider or a musculoskeletal expert. The London Cartilage Clinic, led by Prof Lee, offers advanced assessment and targeted treatments with extensive experience supporting pregnant women’s hip health.
With years of specialist experience, Prof Lee at London Cartilage Clinic delivers personalised, evidence-based care for pregnancy-related hip pain. The clinic offers leading techniques, expert clinical guidance, and a caring approach—ensuring both mother and baby’s health and comfort remain the core focus throughout care.
All our treatments are selected to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes and return to the quality of life they deserve. Get in touch if you have any questions.
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