The short explanation
Pain in the tailbone, called coccydynia, can happen after a vaginal delivery when the baby's head presses on or bends the tailbone. It is often worse when sitting, especially on hard surfaces, and when getting up from sitting. Many women improve gradually over weeks to months. Sitting on a cushion with a cut-out at the back, leaning forward while sitting, and avoiding long periods of sitting can reduce pressure.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Pain relief suitable for breastfeeding, warm compresses and physiotherapy may help. Persistent cases can be referred to a specialist.
- A difficult or assisted delivery, a large baby or a fall can make tailbone injury more likely.
- If you also have pain with passing stool or trouble controlling stool, mention it, because this can be related to the pelvic floor.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell whether the tailbone is bruised, displaced or fractured. An examination and sometimes an X-ray or scan are needed.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could my tailbone be injured?
- Do I need an X-ray or other test?
- What can help me sit more comfortably?
- Would physiotherapy help?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have heavy bleeding, a high fever with shivering, chest pain, sudden breathlessness, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
Get help the same day
- Get seen the same day if you have fever, severe pain with swelling, or difficulty passing urine or stool.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days if pain is severe or affecting feeding and sleep.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Ask about it at your postnatal check if it is slowly improving.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Postpartum care MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Pelvic floor disorders MedlinePlus (NIH)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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