How Many Inches Do Your Hips Widen During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a time of many changes and often brings about a mixture of emotions. You may feel a bit nervous when you start to see your body change, but it’s all natural! One of the most noticeable physical changes is the widening of your hips. But how many inches can they actually widen during pregnancy? To help ease your mind, let’s take a look at how your hips may change during this special time.

Your Hips May Widen Up To 6 Inches During Pregnancy
Does Widening Hips During Pregnancy Cause Aches?
Stretching To Ease Hip Aches While Pregnant
Is Weight Gain Directly Related to Wider Hips During Pregnancy?
Will My Hips Return to Normal Width After Pregnancy?

Your Hips May Widen Up To 6 Inches During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, many women experience their hips widening by one to two inches. However, some women have reported up to 4 inches of widening.

This is completely normal and is caused by a hormone called relaxin. Relaxin allows your hips to open up so that the baby can pass through during labor.

This widening of the hips is necessary for your body to support the baby, so don’t be alarmed if you experience this during your pregnancy.

Does Widening Hips During Pregnancy Cause Aches?

Yes, it’s normal to experience some discomfort in the hips during pregnancy. As the body prepares for childbirth, the pelvic area and hip joints will start to widen and become more flexible. This can cause achy joints and muscles, but this is only temporary and will go away as soon as your baby is born.

In the meantime, you can try to make yourself more comfortable with some gentle stretching and prenatal yoga. These activities can help to ease the tension in your hips, while also strengthening your muscles and preparing them for labor.

If you’re experiencing pain, however, it’s important to contact your doctor as it could be caused by several other conditions, such as Sacroiliac Joint Pain, which may require treatment.

Stretching To Ease Hip Aches While Pregnant

Stretching can help alleviate aches and pains while pregnant. There are many safe stretches that you can do to help with discomfort.

One great stretch for pregnant women is the Child’s Pose. This stretch is useful for relieving lower back and hip pain. To do this stretch, start by sitting on your heels and then slowly lowering your upper body down to the floor with your feet touching behind you and your knees spread apart.

It’s normal to gain some weight during pregnancy, and it’s common for wide hips to be part of that.

The amount of weight you gain during pregnancy can vary, but the majority of this weight is gained after week 20 of your pregnancy. Much of this weight is due to your baby growing, as well as your body storing fat in preparation for breastfeeding.

Eating a well-balanced diet and staying active is important, but it’s not the time to diet as this can be detrimental to your baby. Weight gain during pregnancy is natural, so don’t worry if your hips are widening!

Will My Hips Return to Normal Width After Pregnancy?

Yes, hips can return to their normal width after pregnancy. It usually takes somewhere between 12 and 16 weeks after giving birth for the hips to go back to their pre-pregnancy size.

However, it’s important to note that some women never fully regain their pre-pregnancy hip size. That said, with proper exercise and stretching, you can help your hips return to their former size.

Additionally, if you’re breastfeeding, you may find that your hips return to their pre-pregnancy size faster, as breastfeeding can help you lose weight more quickly.