As co-host of The Unplanned Podcast, Abby Howard is used to opening up about the highs and lows of pregnancy and parenthood. But something Howard said during a recent episode seems to have struck a chord with other moms after she called out a strange-but-true pregnancy symptom that rarely gets talked about: pregnancy butt.
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Howard, who's currently pregnant with her second, says her butt looks noticeably different
"My booty disappeared during pregnancy," she told her husband and co-host Matt Howard during episode two of the podcast. "It's a thing, it's called 'pregnancy butt' or something. Your pelvic floor is under so much strain that, like, your butt cheeks have to, like, tighten in support down there."
"It just left the chat," Howard quipped. "It still hasn't returned to the chat."
In the comments, several other moms quickly agreed
"I feel this!!" wrote one mom. "I just had my second babe almost 2 months ago, and cannot wait to get my butt back."
"'It left the chat' made me laugh out loud," another added.
"Lmao what if you have none to start with?" one mom asked.
Howard isn't the first mama to call this out
Over on TikTok, many moms have shared their own experiences with "pregnancy butt" and how the surprise symptom left them kind of shocked.
@nattiejopo Anyone else have this pregnancy problem? #pregnancytiktok #pregnancybutt #pregnancysymptoms #momsoftiktok #pregnancyproblems #fyp ♬ original sound – Taylor Dean
"Anyone else have this pregnancy problem?" @nattiejopo asked after posting a TikTok about her "shrinking" butt during pregnancy.
"Omg same thing happened to mine!!" wrote one mom.
"Mine too!!" said another.
"Omg sooo true and not immediately after I gave birth I was as flat as a pancake still and it was hurting so much too for some reason," someone else shared.
@heezy.peezy #pregnancybutt #postpartum #postpartumweightloss #fitmama ♬ original sound – Donjeebus
At the same time, other moms say they've had the opposite problem
"Umm mine got bigger," one mom on TikTok shared. "I wish it got smaller."
"Mine is growing just like my belly," said another.
@travelmapamundiblog Anyone else with this pregnancy problem? #pregnancyhumor #pregnancy #pregnancytiktok #pregnantlife #pregnant #pregnancyjourney #pregnancysymptoms #pregnancyproblems #pregnancybutt #relatable #relatablepregnancy #fyp #foryourpage #momsoftiktok #momtok #momtobe #firsttimemom #thirdtrimester ♬ original sound – Taylor Dean
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While it may not be an official medical term, "pregnancy butt" does seem to be real
You might have even heard about it before under a similar but different name: "mom butt."
According to Healthline, a lot of it has to do with the changes your body goes through while pregnant.
"Pregnant women tend to tuck their butts under, jut their hips forward, and sway their upper back backward to accommodate their growing belly. This results in muscular and postural imbalances that can contribute to mom butt," according to Healthline.
@brookesobasic Women are power #women #moms #mamatok #fyp #pregnant #pregnancy #babydue #breastfeeding #love #bekind #pregnancybutt #belly #bigbellygoddess ♬ Resonance – Home
Some say there's also another factor at play: Your body needs energy to produce nutrient-dense breast milk, and literally burns fat stored in your butt to build up its supply, since it's rich in Omega-3s.
Pretty wild, huh?
The good news is, this doesn't have to be a forever thing
Since a lot of this is tied to pelvic floor strength, fitness experts recommend that moms-to-be stay on top of their pelvic health by doing targeted exercises like Kegels, squats, and floor stretches.
Trust us, this won't just come in handy in the flat butt department — it will also help you during labor and delivery as well as postpartum, when peeing while sneezing can become a serious issue.
