Pelvic Pain After Having a Baby? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Updated October 20261 minute read
Pelvic pain after childbirth is common as your body recovers — it can come from the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles, the pelvic joints, healing tissue, or how everything is coordinating again. Most postpartum pelvic pain responds well to pelvic-health physical therapy. It's worth addressing rather than just "waiting it out." Heavy bleeding, fever, severe pain, or signs of infection need prompt contact with your provider.
What this usually means
Most likely causes. Postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, lingering pelvic girdle pain, and healing-related discomfort are common causes of pelvic pain after birth. Less common causes. Infection, a healing complication, or other medical issues can cause pain and need medical evaluation.
What you can try at home
Be patient and gentle with recovery — restful positioning, supported feeding postures, and very gentle breathing and core/pelvic floor connection in the early weeks. Avoid rushing back to high-impact exercise. Postpartum recovery is a great reason to see a pelvic-health PT, who can guide a safe return.
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Tell us what you're dealing with and where you are. We'll send you cash-pay PTs nearby who focus on it, with their prices and first openings. You choose; we don't give medical advice.
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When to see a physical therapist
A pelvic-health PT can assess your recovery, address pain and coordination, and guide a safe return to activity.
Red flags — don't wait
Contact your provider promptly for heavy or increasing bleeding, fever, severe or worsening pain, foul-smelling discharge, or pain/redness/swelling suggesting infection or a clot.
Already seen a doctor, or have imaging? Request a match — free.
If a doctor has checked you out and physical therapy is an option, tell us where you are. We'll send you cash-pay PTs nearby who treat this, with their prices and first openings — bring your results to the first visit. You choose; we don't give medical advice.
We check two or three cash-pay PTs near you. We reply within 1 business day with next steps.
How a PT treats this
Treatment addresses the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles and joints, restores coordination, and guides a graded return to activity.
Frequently asked questions
Some discomfort is common during recovery, but persistent pain is treatable and worth addressing.
Sources (5)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing Postpartum Care. Obstet Gynecol. 2018. — PubMed
- Vleeming A, et al. European guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic girdle pain. Eur Spine J. 2008. — PubMed
- MedlinePlus: Postpartum Care. — NIH/MedlinePlus
- Woodley SJ, et al. Pelvic floor muscle training for preventing and treating urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020. — Cochrane
- Ruchat SM, et al. Impact of exercise on musculoskeletal pain and disability in the postpartum period: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2025. — BJSM
This article is for education only and isn't medical advice. Always talk to a licensed clinician about your specific situation.