These concerns are often considered typical pregnancy discomforts. Even in the early stages of pregnancy, minimal changes in body shape can result in musculoskeletal issues due to progesterone’s hormonal effects on ligaments. As the pregnancy progresses, these conditions become more pronounced. The increasing weight of the growing fetus requires compensation from a woman’s muscles and joints, affecting her center of gravity and leading to various discomforts in the pelvis, back, shoulders, and neck.

Additionally, pressure within the limited physical space can cause discomfort, such as expansion and discomfort in the ribs due to the uterus’s upward push. The loosening of ligament structures in the pelvis and the physical pressure as the baby engages in the pelvis often result in hip and pelvic pain. While some women consider this musculoskeletal pain a minor issue, others experience severe disruption, leading to daily pain, lack of sleep, and restrictions in daily activities.

In Western medical treatment, managing musculoskeletal pain involves physiotherapy, specific exercises, rest advice, and, in severe cases, bed rest, medication, or medical induction.

In the traditional Chinese medicine view, musculoskeletal pain disrupts the flow of Qi or blood in specific channels, which can arise from various factors like wind, cold, damp, heat, overuse, trauma, or internal zangfu (organ) disharmony.