Tailbone Pain After Childbirth: What Causes It and How to Relieve It
Jen Landry 
Tailbone pain after birth? Learn why it lingers, what’s often missed in treatment, and one gentle move to start finding real relief.
Tailbone pain after childbirth—also called postpartum coccydynia—is a frustrating and often misunderstood issue. For many moms, this pain lingers for months or even years after delivery, especially when sitting for more than a few minutes. If you've tried everything from physical therapy to injections and you're still hurting, you’re not alone.
In this post, we’ll talk about what actually causes postpartum tailbone pain, why traditional treatments may fall short, and one gentle pelvic floor movement that may help relieve pressure.
Why Does Tailbone Pain After Birth Linger?
It’s easy to assume the tailbone pain is caused by a bruise from delivery—and sometimes that’s true. But long-term tailbone pain after childbirth usually involves more than just the coccyx.
Here are three lesser-known but common causes:
1. Pressure from posture and pelvic position
If your pelvis tucks under while sitting, you're likely placing direct pressure on the tailbone. Moms with weak or misfiring core muscles postpartum often sit this way without realizing it, which worsens sitting pain postpartum.
2. Pelvic floor tension
The pelvic floor attaches near the tailbone. If those muscles are tight or uncoordinated—which is common after birth—they can pull on the coccyx, creating discomfort, soreness, or even sharp pain while sitting or moving.
3. SI joint and sacrum imbalances
Pain felt at the tailbone can actually be coming from poor sacrum or SI joint movement. If your deep core system isn’t functioning well (often the case postpartum), your body compensates by creating tension elsewhere, which can contribute to postpartum tailbone pain.
Why Traditional Approaches Often Don’t Work
You may have tried physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, or chiropractic care. But if no one’s looked at how your pelvic floor, breathing, and posture all coordinate together, you might still be stuck.
A proper assessment should include:
- How your pelvic floor engages and releases
- Whether you're over-recruiting muscles when sitting or lifting
- How your breathing impacts pressure on the tailbone
- And how your core recovery postpartum is progressing
Until those factors are addressed, pain relief might be temporary at best.
One Gentle Exercise to Try Now for Tailbone Pain Relief
You don’t need to push through pain. Start here.
Try this:
- Sit on a soft ball (a Pilates ball or rolled towel) under your sit bones—not your tailbone.
- Keep your feet flat and knees bent.
- Gently roll your hips in small circles.
- Breathe slowly and feel how your pelvic floor responds.
This movement helps improve circulation and body awareness and may ease some of the stuck tension around the tailbone.
Final Thoughts
Living with tailbone pain after childbirth doesn’t mean you're broken—and it doesn’t mean surgery is your only option. Often, it's about understanding how the pelvic floor, core, and posture work together.
If you're tired of chasing treatments that don’t work, there is another way. You deserve answers that go beyond symptom management and actually address the root cause.
- ➡️If you’re ready for a personalized plan, feel free to reach out: jen@momsfitlife.com
Categories: : healing after birth, pelvic floor exercises, postpartum recovery