Tailbone Pain in Pregnancy

Tailbone Pain in Pregnancy

Tailbone pain in pregnancy is felt especially when sitting or when standing up after sitting. As your belly grows, changes in your posture and the way you move affect the load on this area. The pain may get worse with prolonged sitting, and the tailbone may feel tender when pressed. If the pain affects your daily movements or sleep, you can get it assessed.
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What Causes Tailbone Pain in Pregnancy?

Why Does Tailbone Pain Happen in Pregnancy?

Changes in posture and increased load during pregnancy can cause pressure and tenderness around the tailbone (coccyx). The attachment of the pelvic floor muscles to the tailbone, a previous tailbone injury or prolonged sitting can also affect the pain.

Symptoms of Tailbone Pain

The pain usually becomes noticeable when sitting, getting up from a seated position or bending forward. Some people also notice increased tenderness when using the toilet, especially during bowel movements.

Physiotherapy for Tailbone Pain in Pregnancy

A physiotherapy assessment looks at the movements that make the pain worse, how you sit and how your pelvic floor muscles function. Your plan may include individual posture and movement advice, soothing exercises and appropriate manual therapy techniques.

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Common and Treatable

In a study conducted in Turkey, tailbone pain was found in 39 (33%) of 118 third-trimester participants with pelvic girdle pain.

"When I sit, I feel a stabbing pain and pressure in my tailbone."
"My tailbone hurts when I have a bowel movement."
"As my pregnancy has progressed, sitting has become harder for me."
Sirayder U, Acik C. Impact of coccydynia on quality of life, function, and neuromuscular control in women with third trimester pelvic girdle pain: a cross-sectional study. European Spine Journal. 2026;35:4687–4700.

Tailbone Pain in Pregnancy FAQ

Pregnancy and childbirth are among the possible causes of tailbone pain. However, how severe it is and how much it affects your daily life varies from person to person; if it makes sitting, walking or sleeping difficult, you can see your healthcare provider for an assessment.

Sitting for a long time, especially on hard surfaces, as well as getting up and down, bending forward and climbing stairs can make the pain worse. Because the movements that trigger pain vary from person to person, noting when it gets worse helps with the assessment.

Try not to sit in the same position for long, support your lower back when sitting and use a suitable cushion that reduces pressure on your tailbone. Lying on your side can also reduce pressure on the area.

Your physiotherapist finds out when the pain started, which movements make it worse and how it affects your daily life. Your posture, movement and pelvic floor muscles are then assessed to determine suitable exercises and daily-life advice for you.

Some of the pelvic floor muscles attach to the tailbone. In some people, excessive tension in these muscles can affect tenderness in the area; the assessment looks at both the muscles' ability to contract and to relax.

Get an assessment if the pain has lasted for several weeks, is getting worse or limits your daily activities. If tailbone pain comes with a fever or other pain in your abdomen or lower back, you need to see a healthcare provider.

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Author: , Specialist Physiotherapist

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The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor and physiotherapist about your symptoms.

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