Knee pain during pregnancy: what pelvic girdle pain can involve

Written by Dr Sean Leo, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon whose clinical focus is the knee, sports injuries and the lower limb.

Last updated: 9 October 2026.

Pain in the knees can be part of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, but it can also have other causes, so tell your midwife, obstetrician or doctor about it ^[4]. Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a general term for all pain in the pelvis ^[2].

Pregnancy brings many changes in the body ^[1]. Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a general term for all pain in the pelvis ^[2]. This page explains what PGP is, what the guidance suggests and when to tell your midwife, obstetrician or doctor.

• What is pelvic girdle pain?
• What may help with pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy?
• When should I tell someone about knee pain?
• When is urgent help needed?

What is pelvic girdle pain?

The charity NCT says PGP includes pain in the pubic region at the front of the pelvis, the lower back, the hips, the groin, the thighs and the knees ^[2].

Pain in the knees can be part of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, but it can also have other causes, so tell your midwife, obstetrician or doctor about it ^[4].

A Cambridge University Hospitals patient information page says about one in five women will experience PGP in their pregnancy ^[1]. The pain commonly starts later in pregnancy and may range from a mild ache to being so severe it limits daily activities ^[2].

More on how the pain usually changes

Cambridge University Hospitals says having some symptoms does not mean that the pain will get worse as your pregnancy progresses ^[1]. Once they have given birth most women find the symptoms settle ^[1].

What may help with pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy?

• Listen to your body: if an activity hurts you should consider whether you are doing it correctly and whether you should be avoiding it ^[1].
• Cambridge University Hospitals advises that regular breaks can help reduce pain ^[1]. Try to get up every 20 minutes to change position ^[1].
• Sleep lying on one side with pillows between the legs and under the bump ^[2].

Check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.

When should I tell someone about knee pain?

While many people try to push through the discomfort, it is worth telling your midwife, obstetrician or doctor about any pain ^[2]. PGP isn’t something that has to be put up with, and treatment is available ^[2].

The NHS says there are also some times when you have a higher chance of getting DVT (deep vein thrombosis), a blood clot in a vein, and these include when you are pregnant or if you’ve had a baby in the previous 6 weeks ^[3].

One calf or thigh that is newly painful and swollen needs urgent help: the list below says where to go.

When is urgent help needed?

The list below covers the signs that should not wait for a routine appointment.

• Browse the Knee Hub for other knee problems, or more articles.
• Read about when knee pain should be checked.
• Read about other causes of knee pain.

References

1. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) in pregnancy. https://cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/pelvic-girdle-pain-pgp-in-pregnancy
2. NCT. Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy. https://nct.org.uk/information/pregnancy/body-pregnancy/pelvic-girdle-pain-pregnancy
3. NHS. DVT (deep vein thrombosis). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt/ (page last reviewed 30 April 2026).
4. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Pelvic girdle pain and pregnancy (patient information). Published June 2015. https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/pelvic-girdle-pain-and-pregnancy/