Pregnancy Hip Pain: What’s Normal — and What’s Not?

Pregnancy brings many changes to the body, and aches and pains are often part of the journey. As the baby grows, extra weight, shifting posture and hormonal changes place increasing stress on the muscles, joints and ligaments.

While back pain and pelvic discomfort receive a great deal of attention, hip pain is another common complaint that many expectant mothers experience, particularly during the third trimester.

In many cases, pregnancy-related hip pain is a normal response to the body's preparation for childbirth. However, experts say it should never be ignored because, in rare cases, it can signal a more serious condition that requires prompt medical evaluation.

"In our pregnant patients, especially when we're closer to the third trimester, there's a lot of pain they start to experience," says Maria Kyriacou, M.D., a primary care sports medicine physician with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care. "We've talked about the back pain and we talked about pelvic pain — but we also need to talk about hip pain. It's very close to the pelvis, but it's a little different."

Understanding what causes pregnancy-related hip pain—and recognizing when it deserves medical attention—can help women stay healthy throughout pregnancy.

Why Hip Pain Becomes More Common During Pregnancy

As pregnancy progresses, the body's center of gravity shifts forward. To maintain balance, many women unconsciously adjust how they stand and walk. These changes can place additional strain on the hips, lower back and surrounding muscles.

At the same time, several pregnancy hormones help prepare the body for labor by loosening joints and connective tissues.

"When we start to experience hip pain, it could be from laxity of the ligaments because of the estrogen and the 'relaxin' hormone that are being released," Dr. Kyriacou explains in a recent Baptist Health Instagram reel.

What is Relaxin?

Relaxin is a hormone produced during pregnancy that helps prepare the pelvis for childbirth. It loosens ligaments—the strong bands of tissue that connect bones—and allows the joints of the pelvis to become more flexible. While this flexibility is important for delivery, it can also make joints throughout the body less stable.

Combined with rising estrogen levels, relaxin can contribute to:

• Hip soreness
• Groin pain
• A feeling of instability when walking
• Pain when climbing stairs
• Discomfort when rolling over in bed
• Pain after standing for long periods

Although these symptoms can be uncomfortable, they are generally considered a normal part of pregnancy.

Hip Pain Is Different From Pelvic Pain

Because the hip joint sits close to the pelvis, many women have difficulty identifying exactly where their pain is coming from.

Pelvic pain often occurs in the front of the pelvis near the pubic bone or around the sacroiliac joints, where the spine meets the pelvis. Hip pain, on the other hand, usually develops on the outside of the hip, deep in the groin or sometimes in the buttock.

The location of the discomfort can provide important clues about its cause, which is why physicians often ask patients to describe precisely where the pain occurs and what activities make it worse.

Common Causes of Pregnancy Hip Pain

Most pregnancy-related hip pain is caused by normal mechanical and hormonal changes rather than injury.

Some of the most common contributors include:

Ligament laxity

As relaxin loosens connective tissue, the hip joint becomes slightly less stable. Muscles surrounding the joint must work harder to provide support, sometimes leading to soreness and fatigue.

Weight gain

The additional weight of pregnancy increases pressure on the hips and lower extremities, especially during prolonged standing or walking.

Changes in posture

Growing abdominal size changes spinal alignment and alters the way women walk, increasing stress on the hips.

Sleeping position

Many pregnant women sleep on their sides, often placing continuous pressure on one hip throughout the night. This can contribute to soreness, particularly during the third trimester.

Muscle fatigue

As pregnancy progresses, muscles in the hips and buttocks work harder to stabilize the body, making them more susceptible to strain.

What Can Help Relieve Normal Hip Pain?

Although hip pain cannot always be prevented, several simple strategies may help reduce discomfort.

Healthcare providers commonly recommend:

• Gentle daily walking, as tolerated
• Prenatal stretching exercises
• Pregnancy-safe strengthening exercises
• Sleeping with a pillow between the knees
• Wearing supportive footwear
• Avoiding prolonged standing
• Changing positions frequently throughout the day
• Using ice or heat if approved by a healthcare provider

Some women may also benefit from prenatal physical therapy. A physical therapist can teach exercises that strengthen the muscles supporting the hips and pelvis while improving flexibility and posture.

Always consult your obstetrician or healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise program during pregnancy.

When Hip Pain May Be Something More Serious

Although most pregnancy-related hip pain is harmless, physicians emphasize that severe or persistent pain deserves evaluation.

"But there is a rare condition that can occur in pregnant women. It's called transient osteoporosis,” Dr. Kyriacou points out.

What Is Transient Osteoporosis?

Transient osteoporosis is an uncommon condition that causes temporary loss of bone mineral density, most often affecting the hip.

Bone density refers to the amount of minerals—primarily calcium—contained within bones. Calcium helps keep bones strong enough to withstand everyday activities.

During pregnancy, the developing baby requires significant amounts of calcium to build healthy bones and teeth. Most women meet these needs through diet and normal hormonal adaptations without developing bone problems.

However, in rare cases, bone density can decrease substantially. "Essentially, you have significant reduction in the density of your bones because one of the building blocks, calcium, is being released for optimizing the health of your baby," explains Dr. Kyriacou.

Fortunately, transient osteoporosis is temporary and usually improves after pregnancy. However, because weakened bones are more susceptible to fractures, early diagnosis is important.

Symptoms That Should Prompt Medical Evaluation

Normal pregnancy discomfort often improves with rest or changing positions.

More concerning symptoms include:

• Severe pain that develops suddenly
• Pain that continues to worsen
• Difficulty putting weight on one leg
• Limping
• Pain that does not improve with rest
• Hip pain accompanied by swelling, redness or fever
• Pain following even a minor fall

These symptoms do not necessarily mean a woman has transient osteoporosis, but they should be evaluated promptly.

Physicians may recommend imaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can safely evaluate many musculoskeletal conditions during pregnancy when medically indicated. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, MRI uses magnetic fields rather than ionizing radiation.

Don't Ignore Persistent Hip Pain

Many expectant mothers assume pain is simply something they have to endure during pregnancy. While some discomfort is common, experts encourage women to speak up about new or worsening symptoms.

"This doesn't happen to everyone," Dr. Kyriacou says of transient osteoporosis. "But if we do experience any kind of hip pain, it's very important to make sure that you talk to your physician about that and get further studies done in case that is you."

Early evaluation can help determine whether hip pain is simply part of a healthy pregnancy or a sign of a condition requiring treatment.