Hip pain during pregnancy

By trimester

Weeks 1–13

1st trimester

In one study of 184 women, about 10% reported first-trimester hip pain. Hormonal and mechanical changes may contribute, but the source does not establish relaxin as the cause of an individual person’s pain.

Weeks 14–27

2nd trimester

The same study reported hip pain in about 17% of participants during the second trimester. Increasing mechanical load is one possible contributor; the figures describe that hospital sample rather than a universal pregnancy rate.

Weeks 28–birth

3rd trimester

About 30% reported hip pain in the third trimester of that study. Severe or sudden hip pain with difficulty bearing weight needs urgent assessment, because rare conditions such as transient osteoporosis require a different plan from positional discomfort.

What does the evidence show for hip pain?

• A descriptive study of 184 women reported hip pain in 32% overall, with about 10%, 17%, and 30% affected in the first, second, and third trimesters. The single-hospital sample and lack of definitive testing limit how broadly these figures can be applied. 1
• Rising relaxin loosens spinal and pelvic ligaments to help prepare the body for childbirth, and researchers propose this laxity may contribute to joint instability and pain, though they note the human evidence directly tying relaxin levels to pain intensity is still inconsistent and low quality. 2
• Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, a related but distinct condition centered on the pelvic ring, affects an estimated 16% to 25% of pregnant women and can radiate across the hip joint and into the thighs. 3
• A small trial of a specialized mattress and pillow for pelvic girdle pain found lower nightly posterior pain and longer sleep than standard care alone. High dropout and reports of discomfort limit certainty; fewer awakenings were not a significant between-group finding. 4
• A review of pregnancy-related hip conditions describes transient osteoporosis as an uncommon cause of sudden, severe hip pain, often in the third trimester. Difficulty bearing weight is a reason for assessment, and MRI helps distinguish possible causes. 5

When should I call my provider about hip pain?

Seek urgent medical assessment for sudden or severe hip pain, inability to bear weight, fever with a painful joint, or pain after a fall or injury. Avoid forcing painful walking while arranging care. Persistent or worsening pain also deserves a clinical review. Rare conditions, including transient osteoporosis or a fracture, require assessment rather than a same-week wait to see whether positioning helps. None of these lists replace your own judgment: if this symptom worries you, that on its own is enough reason to check in with your healthcare provider.