Ballet class and hip pain

[WendyMichelle]

I had a baby in February via c-section. Unfortuantely before the baby was born I had a lot of problems with my hips separating in preparation for the birth. Once the baby was born and I got past the post partum period the hip pain was no longer an issue. Until now. I find that sometimes in class, like right in the middle of class, that my hips will start aching that same ache as when I was pregnant. It feels like I just need to sit down and stretch them really good. I stretch very well before class and make sure to spend time on my hips. Has anyone else been through this and how did you handle it? What do I do in the middle of class when I feel like my hips are coming apart and need to be stretched..........just sit down and stretch them? I don't want to be rude to my teachers or classmates. Maybe I should speak to the teacher beforehand and let her know what is going on so that if I do need to stretch she understands?

 

Thanks

Wendy

[Redbookish]

I'd talk to your teacher about it. And I'm sure there are some dancers here experienced in returning to class after pregnancy & birth.

 

Purely anecdotally, I once worked with someone who was a runner. She found that it took up to a year after the birth of each of her two children to feel fully 'normal' when running. She described it as sometimes feeling as if her femur was going to drop out of her hip socket. I guess it's all those hormones softening up the ligaments in preparation for birth!

[Guest Pas de Quoi]

Speaking from experience here - please do get things checked out and keep asking questions if you still have concerns. I was told by my obstetrician that I was just fine and to go back to my life of dancing and teaching. Trust your instincts. You know your body better than anyone else. I wasn't "just fine" and if I had been evaluated further, it may have helped avoid issues I had years later that directly related to my post-pregnancy symptoms.