"Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder/hEDS isn’t a weakness. It’s just a different way of being in your body. And when you understand how to work with it, pregnancy and birth can be positive and powerful." - Jilly Clarke

If you're pregnant and living with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), you may already feel like your body doesn’t quite fit the standard mould.

You might be dealing with symptoms that medical professionals brush off. Struggling to deal with every day events that other people seem to cope with easily.

You might be doing your own research because the advice you’re getting doesn’t feel right.

You might be navigating appointments where your real needs are minimised or misunderstood.

This blog is a starting point. A way to bring together what should be widely known, but often isn’t. If you want to go deeper into symptom management, movement strategies, birth planning and postnatal recovery, my Pregnancy and Birth with Hypermobility course is designed specifically for that.

How does Hypermobility (HSD/hEDS) affect pregnancy?

Hypermobility isn’t just about flexibility. In HSD and hEDS, the connective tissue that supports your joints, organs and blood vessels is more elastic and less stable. This can impact nearly every system in the body, especially under the physiological demands of pregnancy.

Hormonal changes like increased relaxin and progesterone can further destabilise joints and amplify systemic symptoms.

According to the Ehlers-Danlos Society and Castori et al. (2012), pregnancy in people with HSD/hEDS commonly involves:

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) or joint instability

Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest

Dizziness, faintness or postural tachycardia

Digestive discomfort, reflux or bloating

Musculoskeletal pain and heightened sensitivity

Delayed recovery after exertion

Despite this, many people are told their symptoms are “normal for pregnancy.” That dismissal not only undermines confidence—it creates risk.

Labour and birth: why it’s different when you're hypermobile - and sometimes more efficient

People with HSD/hEDS are sometimes labelled “high risk” without nuance or clarity, and sometimes overlooked by medical professionals as just "a bit bendy". But the actual evidence points to a more balanced picture.

A review by Hakim & Sahota (2006) and a population-based study by Kulas Søborg et al. (2023) found that while hypermobile people may be more likely to experience obstetric intervention, many go on to have spontaneous, uncomplicated births - particularly when care is adapted to their needs.

There are even potential physiological advantages:

• Greater pelvic mobility may offer more space during descent

• Softer tissue may allow for more efficient dilation and rotation

• Upright or active labour positions can work especially well

• Some people experience shorter labours than average

However, risks do exist:

• Increased sensitivity to pain or overstimulation

• Tearing due to tissue fragility (De Paepe & Malfait, 2006)

• Reduced response to regional anaesthesia in some cases

• Joint instability during unsupported movements or pushing

The takeaway? Your birth experience is not predetermined by your diagnosis—but your preparation needs to reflect your physiology.

How to plan for birth with hypermobility in mind

A well-informed, flexible birth plan can make a huge difference to the pregnancy and birth experience of those with Hypermobile Spectrum Disorders or Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Consider including:

• A note on joint instability and your preferred labour positions (e.g. supported kneeling, upright, or water immersion)

• Your previous experience with pain relief, anaesthetics, or mobility challenges

• A request for continuity of care where possible (to avoid re-explaining symptoms)

• A need for extra time and communication between procedures or decisions

• Partner support roles: spotting fatigue, helping with comfort, advocating when needed

Personalising your birth plan means creating the safest, most supportive path for your unique body.

Physical and emotional preparation during pregnancy

People with HSD/hEDS are often told to “stay active” in every day life, and particularly during pregnancy. Staying mobile can be incredibly helpful, to stop muscles and joints getting stiff, to hold themselves against the instability that pregnancy brings.

But vague advice can be unhelpful or even harmful if people don't understand their own body. What you need is movement that protects joints, builds functional strength, and supports nervous system regulation.

In my work with hypermobile clients, I often recommend:

• Joint-stabilising movement such as adapted pregnancy yoga or guided physio

• Pacing strategies that prevent burnout and symptom flares

• Breathwork and body awareness for pain management and calm

• Partner preparation to ensure shared knowledge and support in birth

Preparation shouldn’t mean pushing harder. It should mean working smarter - with your body, not against it.

Recovery after birth with HSD/hEDS

This is often the most overlooked phase of care for hypermobile people.

Malfait et al. (2017) and the Ehlers-Danlos Society recommend a slower, joint-safe approach to postnatal recovery—especially in the first 6–12 weeks. Many people find that sleep deprivation, feeding positions, and repetitive lifting can quickly trigger fatigue, pain, or autonomic symptoms.

You might need:

More time lying down or reclined

Extra support for feeding and resting positions

Gentle, progressive reintroduction of movement

Clarity about pacing, rest, and recognising signs of dysregulation

Postnatal recovery isn’t about getting “back to normal.” It’s about supporting your body in a way that respects what it’s just done—and what it needs to heal.

Why holistic preparation works best with HSD/hEDS

There’s no universal prescription for hypermobile pregnancy—but a joined-up, holistic approach is often the most effective.

That means:

Movement strategies that stabilise and strengthen

Nervous system support that builds confidence

Practical tools for appointments, advocacy and pacing

Flexible but informed recovery plans

Professionals who listen, adapt, and trust your insight

You may also benefit from personalised nutritional advice, especially if digestion is affected—but this should be explored with a qualified nutritionist or dietitian.

Holistic isn’t about going “alternative.” It’s about taking your whole body, whole experience, and whole nervous system into account.

Your body is not a problem

If you’ve ever felt like your needs were too complicated, too hard to explain, or simply brushed off then you’re not alone. It can be self-preservation to keep quiet in the fact of new, or worsening symptoms, for fear of the same thing happening again.

“People with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos often face years of misdiagnosis or dismissal, with significant impact on their quality of life.” — Rombaut et al. (2011)

But your experience matters. Your instincts are valid. And with the right preparation and support, your pregnancy and birth can feel informed, supported, and even empowering.

Want expert-led support tailored to your experience as someone with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder or hEDS?

My Pregnancy and Birth with Hypermobility course is the first of its kind—built specifically for people with HSD or hEDS who want clear, evidence-based guidance through pregnancy, labour, and postnatal recovery.

Inside, we’ll cover:

• How to move, breathe and rest in ways that support your joints

• How to advocate for your care without burnout

• How to prepare for a birth that works with your physiology - not against it

• How to recover at your own pace, with compassion and clarity

🔗 Explore the course and enrol here

Because “you’re fine” is not the same as being supported.

And you deserve more than reassurance—you deserve a plan that works.

You don’t need to do this alone.

And you never were meant to.

Refresher Antenatal Course in person

Refresher Antenatal Course online

Birth Partner course (included in our Antenatal course)

Antenatal Course in person

Antenatal Course online