Pregnancy Waddle: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

The pregnancy waddle is not a medical term but rather a description of how many pregnant people walk during pregnancy due to the extra weight they carry in front of their bodies. The waddle is a relatively apparent motion that often causes people to look like they are walking on their tiptoes or bending at an unnatural angle when standing still can result in less discomfort and better posture.

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What causes the pregnancy waddle?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as the waddle can be caused by various factors, including the baby's position, the amount of fluid retention, and the widening of the pelvic bones.

During the second trimester of pregnancy, a pregnant person's body produces relaxin. This aptly-named hormone helps "relax" the body during late pregnancy in preparation for childbirth. It helps to relax the joints and ligaments in your pelvis, allowing it to widen. A wider pelvis makes for easier labor and delivery but can also impact how you walk. 

As your baby bump grows and your body expands, your center of gravity is thrown off, and you may start to arch your back and tilt your pelvis, causing you to lean and waddle while walking. Research even supports that these measured postural changes during pregnancy are due to increased abdominal size.

Other causes of waddling gait

• Infant hip dysplasia
• Young age
• Muscular dystrophy
• Spinal muscular atrophy

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What are the symptoms of the pregnancy waddle?

Although it does not affect all pregnancies equally – some have little effect while others look very obvious - there definitely will be some symptoms that pregnant people can look out for.

Symptoms of the pregnancy waddle may include:

• Difficulty walking or standing up straight
• Pain in the hips, back, or legs
• A feeling of instability or unsteadiness when walking
• A general feeling of being unbalanced.

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When do you start waddling when pregnant?

So, sometime around the second or third week of pregnancy, you may notice a change in your gait. Suddenly you'll be aware of a slight waddle developing, especially when you walk or stand up after sitting for a while. This waddle is caused by the widening of your pelvic bones and the fluid retention that comes with early pregnancy.

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How can the pregnancy waddle be treated?

Again, there is no definitive answer to this question. Some ways you could alleviate any problems with your walking have been discussed below.

• Try to walk as much as possible: this will help keep your muscles strong and can also help with the swelling caused by the pregnancy.
• When standing, put one foot in front of the other and push off with the back foot to help you stay upright.
• When walking, swing your arms as you would typically do to help keep your balance.
• Make sure that you are wearing comfortable shoes that provide good support.

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How to prevent pregnancy waddling

There are a few things that pregnant people can do to help prevent the development of the pregnancy waddle. Firstly, staying active and moving is essential, as this will help keep your muscles strong. Secondly, make sure that you are wearing comfortable shoes with good support. Thirdly, try to maintain good physical posture, and lastly, when standing or walking, put one foot in front of the other and push off with the back foot to help you stay upright.

The pregnancy waddle is one such challenge, but with some understanding and simple solutions, it can be helped to ease. Remember to talk to your doctor if you have any walking problems.