The left and right bones of your pelvic girdle are joined at the
front by a narrow section of cartilage and ligament. This is
called the pubic symphysis, or symphysis pubis. As the pelvic
bones loosen during pregnancy, the pubic symphysis can
temporarily separate. This is not a dangerous condition. But it
can be painful. You can feel the pubic symphysis by pressing on
your lower front pelvic bone, just above your genital area. Your
health professional can tell when it is separated or misaligned
simply by pressing on it. During pregnancy and after childbirth,
you can realign your pubic symphysis by lying back on your
elbows and squeezing a pillow between your raised knees. This is
likely to temporarily relieve pain and pressure. A separated
pubic symphysis can take 3 to 8 months to heal on its own. For
most women with this condition, pain or discomfort lingers for
about 2 months after childbirth. During childbirth, pressure
from the baby's head can fracture the coccyx, or tailbone. A
fractured coccyx can be qu