Really strange sensations in my tailbone

[Anonymous]

I am 39 weeks and for the past week or so I have been experiencing a pins and needles sensation in my tailbone and spinal column. Additionally, throughout the pregnancy, my tailbone has felt sore or bruised. I am very worried about this and whether there are implications for labor and/or the epidural that I was hoping to get.

Anyone else experience this? Around 20-25 weeks, I was having sharp pain in the tailbone area that went away with stretching and yoga but have done NOTHING since about week 32/33.

I appreciate any feedback/experiences you can share that are similar...

[Anonymous]

I also had/have tailbone issues. During 1st pregnancy, I had discomfort in the tailbone area beginning early in the 2nd tri, but it never worsened. I believe my pre-natal yoga class and the fact that I was running/walking a lot helped keep it in control. Now, with 2nd pregnancy, my tailbone began hurting during the 1st tri --It's not chronic; It comes and goes. The discomfort, however, is more intense than anything I felt during 1st pregnancy. I'm trying to take frequent stretch breaks since sitting in a chair seems to aggravate it. Certainly let your OB know you have this issue; perhaps s/he can suggest some ways (e.g., stretches, positions) to relieve the pain so it won't interfere with labor and delivery. I believe tailbone pain is a common issue that arises during pregnancy; however, none of my friends who've had babies seem to have experienced it. Best wishes as you get ready to deliver your baby!

[Anonymous]

If the baby is pushing against your tailbone, that would explain it.

It may also be that the curve in your birth canal is closer to your tailbone than other women.

I don't want to panic you unnecessarily, because some women only have pain while they're pregnant, and then are fine after delivery.... but for others, this can be a precursor to a "fractured tailbone" that occurs during labor. A "fractured tailbone" (I've had two, unfortunately) is actually a dislocation... not usually a broken bone.

It is an awful experience, but if it happens to you, come back to this board and ask for advice. My experience is that doctors (both OBs and orthopedic doctors) are incredibly unhelpful with this. I had MANY MANY tell me "sorry, there's just nothing we can do".

While in some sense that is correct, through trial and error (I tried chiropracters, heat therapy, medication, physical therapy) I found that I COULD help myself some. It still took me 3-4 months after delivery before I could sit normally again... but thankfully I'm all better now.

Good luck to you. It may just be that the baby has his head or foot wedged down there... tell him to get off!

(You can ask your doctor, but I would think it wouldn't have any bearing on your ability to get an epidural)

[Anonymous]

Seeing a chiropractor may help. Also regarding a "fractured tailbone" - you may want to be sure to talk to your doctor/midwife about pushing in a position where you are NOT on your tailbone (ie squatting or on hands and knees) to potentially avoid this problem. When the baby's head comes through the birth canal, the tailbone moves back to allow for the baby's head to come through. If you are in the standard hospital pushing position (sitting or lying back) the tailbone is compressed so when it naturally tries to move back the weight of your body and the baby's head stops it, potentially causing this painful condition. I know that for me throughout pregnancy whenever I sit in a position that puts pressure on my tailbone I feel pain, so during labor I am definitely planning to choose positions where I am NOT on my tailbone to help avoid this pain and possible complication.

[Anonymous]

I am the PP. I also want to recommend my chiropractor - Mariella Young, who is very skilled at working with pregnant women. Her phone number is 301-770-9601 and she does take insurance.

[Anonymous]

Also to keep in mind during labor - the baby may be posterior which mean the largest part of its head is presenting first and may be causing the pressure on your tailbone. If you go into labor and have A LOT of back pain this is probably the case. Have the nurse/midwife/OB get you into positions that try to turn the baby to a better position for delivery.

With my first I had a lot of back pain and tailbone pain at the end of the pregnancy. I then had a lot of back pain during labor. Being a first timer I did think anything about it. The nurse never bothered to check and it wasn't discovered that the baby was posterior until I was trying to push him out and he was already engaged in the birth canal. I ended up with a c-section which I think I could have avoided if measurers were taken during labor to try and get the baby to turn over. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone for the input. Although the dislocated tailbone sounds scary, I now have some ideas now going into labor about how to possibly avoid this and I will make sure they know the position of the baby...they have not given me any feedback on the position except "head down." At times, it has already felt that my tailbone was dislocated, so I have a feeling I am at risk with this...thanks again!