Butt Pain During Pregnancy: The Causes And Reasons Behind It

While everybody talks about the happiness that comes with pregnancy, nobody discusses the discomforts and unpleasant, painful situations that come with it. It comes with a lot of abdominal discomfort, back pain, and butt pain as well. Shocked? Well, dont be. This is something that happens to a lot of women during pregnancy.

As you progress through the weeks, some common conditions would arise. You might develop sciatica, and that could bring you a lot of discomfort. The pain could even extend to your butt as well. But there are a few steps that you can take depending on the reason behind your butt pain during pregnancy. But before that, it is better to know the reasons.

Causes Of Butt Pain During Pregnancy

Butt pain during pregnancy can have various reasons behind it. It could happen because of hemorrhoids as well. The pain can also radiate from your lower back to your butt. Let’s get into detail and check the causes behind butt pain during pregnancy.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen, enlarged veins in the rectum or the anus. Pregnant women are prone to experience hemorrhoids because the uterus creates a little more pressure on the rectum and anus. If you are standing for a long time for whatever possible you have, the pain might get worse.

Hemorrhoids can cause certain other symptoms as well, like:

• Pain in the anus
• Itching sensation around the anus
• Bleeding during bowel movement
• Growth of a tender lump in the anus.

Contractions/Labor Pains

Each woman has a different experience when it comes to contractions. Some women face back cramping, some face abdominal cramping, and some face cramping that extends to their butt. The nature and intensity of the pain can vary as well. Some people feel a throbbing pain, pressure, or shooting pains, while others might experience cramps.

Braxton hicks contractions also cause discomfort, but they are mostly not painful. Contractions often come with other symptoms associated with them, like:

• Brown or blood-like discharge from the vagina
• Abdomen pain and lower back pain
• Water breaking

Pelvic Girdle Pain

Pelvic girdle pain affects 1 out of every 5 pregnant women. This happens when the added weight of the baby and other pregnancy-related movements in the pelvis start adding up, ultimately causing pelvic pain. 

Pelvic girdle pain can come with other added symptoms as well, like:

• Difficulty in walking
• Pain during sex
• Pain while walking
• A grinding or clicking in the pelvic region
• When putting the weight on one leg, there is extreme pain
• Finding it difficult to lie on one side for a long time.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a condition that develops when there is pressure on the sciatic nerve that goes through the butt all the way down to the leg. Pregnancy can make the nerve inflamed or irritated in some way. The expanding uterus sometimes puts extra pressure on the sciatic nerve.

By the time you reach the third trimester, the position of the baby starts to change and might rest on the nerve that is placed directly on the butt region. This can also be another reason for butt pain. You might also feel a bit of a burning sensation in your leg, back, and buttocks. It has also been reported that some feel pain that extends down the leg.

Sciatica Treatment

Your butt pain during pregnancy can be due to sciatica or pelvic pain. If this is happening because of sciatica, then here’s the way to follow the treatment –

• You can take over-the-counter pain-relieving medicines like acetaminophen. This will help you cure the discomfort you have due to sciatica. 
• Next, you can take a warm bath or a shower to give your muscles a soothing feeling. 
• You can wear a supportive pelvic belt to reduce the pressure on the lower back and your pelvis. These belts help you reduce pressure on your pelvic area, helping you go through the day without discomfort.

When To See A Doctor

No matter what the reason is, butt pain is something that can be quite taxing and stop you from doing your daily chores comfortably. But do not ignore it and consult a doctor if you have the following symptoms.

• If the pain is extreme and getting you ill.
• If you are experiencing blood loss.
• If you experience fluid gushing out of your vagina or your water breaks.
• If you are losing control over your bowels or bladder.
• If the pain is not reducing at all.

Medical Treatments

Almost 14% of women take opioid pain medication when they are pregnant. Back pain is the most common reason why doctors prescribe this. Taking them for a week or less reduces the pain.

But if nothing is working for you, any home remedies or any over-the-counter drugs, then doctors would prescribe some other medications. But it is best not to take a lot of medicines during pregnancy. All these medicines could have a negative effect on your baby’s development and growth.

Home Remedies

Home remedies would mostly work if you are having pain because of hemorrhoids. You can try the following things to reduce some discomfort.

• Having a sitz bath could help. Just fill it with warm water, and just sit and soak in it. This way, you will not have to draw a bath.
• Put a few drops of witch hazel in a sanitary napkin and then wear it. This would help in reducing the inflammation. For better comfort, freeze them before using.
• Do not sit or stand for a long period of time. This will put a lot of pressure on your anus. And even when you are lying, try doing that on your side, this will help reduce the pressure.
• Drinking a lot of fluids would also help. This reduces the risk of constipation, which makes it difficult to pass stool.
• Eat food that is rich in fiber. Eat food like fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods.

Is Anus Pain Causing Butt Pain During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy can cause anus pain. So, if you are having butt pain, it’s best to check whether it’s anus pain or not. During pregnancy, your anus gets enlarged, putting pressure on your anus and making it feel pain.

This type of pain is more visible when you are in your third trimester. In this phase, your baby has grown larger than before. The pressure it causes on the anus is more prominent in this phase. So, yes, you can experience anus pain during pregnancy causing butt pain during pregnancy. 

When to See a Doctor?

Seek medical treatment if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms alongside butt pain during pregnancy –

• It seems impossible to walk, pass waste, sit, or stand because of the anus pain. 
• There’s blood in your stool.
• You have a severe level of dehydration.
• You also have a high fever.
• It’s become difficult to pass stool or eat.

Tips to Prevent Anus Pain

If anus pain is causing this discomfort during pregnancy, then the best way to deal with it would be through the following steps –

• Keep your body hydrated. Drink 64 ounces of water on a daily basis to reduce the chances of dehydration.
• Sit in a healthy and good posture. Keep the knees bent at a 90-degree angle to reduce chances for any type of pain. 
• Walk for 30 to 50 minutes per day. It can help you reduce the long-term pressure you have on your pelvis and help you release pressure. 
• Don’t try to strain when trying to pass stool. 
• Eat a healthy diet. Ensure you eat lots of healthy food, including fiber-rich options. This way, you can reduce the chances of having constipation. 
• Wear cotton-made dresses. This will reduce the chances of building up moisture and sweat on your body, leading to irritation. 
• Instead of using rough toilet paper, you can consider using moist wipes and jets of water.

Wrapping Up!

Mostly, butt pain during pregnancy is not a major cause of concern. Home remedies can help a lot during this time and can relieve pain that is caused by hemorrhoids and the extra weight you are carrying during pregnancy.

But if you are unable to understand the reason that is causing you pain, then it is best to consult a doctor and get everything checked out. If it is necessary to get to a doctor if you are experiencing the pain suddenly or if the intensity has suddenly increased.

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