There's a common idea in pregnancy that once your belly gets bigger, the aches, pains, pressure and discomfort are simply part of the deal.

Your back hurts? You're pregnant.

Your hips are sore? You're pregnant.

Your pelvis feels like it's being pulled in seventeen different directions and turning over in bed has somehow become an Olympic sport?

Yep… Pregnant.

And while some discomfort can be a normal part of your body changing during pregnancy, you don't necessarily have to just put up with pain until your baby arrives.

Your body is doing a LOT

Pregnancy places significant physical demands on your body.

Your centre of gravity changes. Your posture and movement patterns adapt. Your pelvis and spine are managing different loads, while your abdomen and ribcage are accommodating a growing baby.

Your muscles and other soft tissues are adapting too.

And then there's the tiny human in there who is moving, stretching and finding their own favourite position.

So yes, it's understandable that things can start to feel a little… crowded.

But pain that is affecting your everyday life is worth talking about.

Where can pregnancy-focused bodywork fit in?

Pregnancy-focused bodywork isn't about forcing your body into a particular position or trying to physically move your baby.

It's about looking at how you're moving, where you're experiencing tension or discomfort, and whether there are areas where movement could be more comfortable.

Depending on your symptoms and stage of pregnancy, treatment may involve areas such as the:

• hips and pelvis
• glutes
• lower back
• ribs
• abdomen
• diaphragm
• surrounding soft tissues.

Treatment should always be adapted to the individual, including their stage of pregnancy, symptoms, comfort and relevant medical history.

Sometimes, helping an area move more comfortably or reducing unnecessary muscle tension can make everyday activities feel easier.

That might mean getting out of the car without doing an entire interpretive dance.

Or rolling over in bed without needing a five-point turning manoeuvre.

Small wins count.

What about baby's position?

This is where things can get interesting.

Your baby's position is influenced by many factors, including your anatomy, the shape and space of your uterus, the placenta, your baby's movements and how much room they have to move.

So no, your baby is not a football that we can simply kick into position with a well-placed massage.

Sadly, there is no “baby — please move over here” button.

Bodywork cannot guarantee or determine a particular foetal position.

What it can do is focus on you — your movement, your comfort and the areas that may be contributing to your symptoms.

Think less: “I'm going to put your baby where they need to be.”

And more: “Let's help you feel as comfortable and mobile as possible while your body gets on with doing what it needs to do.”

You don't get extra points for suffering

One of the biggest things I want pregnant clients to know is this:

You don't get extra points for being uncomfortable.

I see people who have been experiencing pelvic pain, hip pain, lower back pain, pubic discomfort, rib pain or pressure for weeks or even months because they've been told: “That's just pregnancy.”

So they put up with it and hope that once the baby arrives, it will all magically disappear.

Sometimes symptoms improve after birth.

Sometimes they don't.

And while pregnancy is temporary, that doesn't mean you need to spend the whole time feeling miserable.

If pain or discomfort is affecting your:

• sleep
• walking
• exercise
• work
• ability to get in and out of the car
• ability to roll over in bed
• or simply your enjoyment of everyday life,

it's worth talking to an appropriate healthcare professional.

The goal isn't necessarily to make every sensation disappear. Pregnancy involves huge physical changes and some discomfort can be expected.

The goal is to understand what you're experiencing, identify factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and work out what may help you manage them.

You don't have to wait until the last few weeks

You also don't need to wait until you're heavily pregnant and completely over it before asking for some support.

Pregnancy-focused treatment can be adapted throughout pregnancy according to your stage, symptoms and individual circumstances.

Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is simply help you:

• move more comfortably
• manage muscle tension
• understand what's happening in your body
• find comfortable positions
• maintain movement where appropriate.

And if your symptoms suggest that you need assessment or care outside myotherapy, I'll let you know.

Pregnancy isn't something you have to navigate alone.

Pregnancy is temporary. Being miserable doesn't have to be.

Pregnancy is a huge physical change, and your body is doing an incredible amount of work.

But if you're currently putting up with pain because you think it's simply something you have to endure until your baby arrives, you don't have to automatically accept that as your only option.

If you're experiencing pelvic, hip, lower back, pubic or rib discomfort, or you're simply finding that your changing body is making everyday movement harder, a pregnancy-focused assessment may help you understand what's going on and whether there are appropriate ways to make things more manageable.

And if something doesn't feel right, particularly if you have new, severe or concerning symptoms, speak with your GP, midwife or obstetrician.

Because while your body is changing… you still deserve to feel as comfortable as possible along the way.

Written by Haydie, Advanced Myotherapist