BACKGROUND:
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) affects up to 50% of women during pregnancy. While many recover postpartum, approximately 7–8.5% continue to experience PGP two years after childbirth. However, the long-term predictors of PGP two years postpartum remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES:
To investigate factors associated with PGP in late pregnancy and two years postpartum, with a focus on physical health, emotional responses, and trust in healthcare.

METHODS:
Data were drawn from the Swedish Pregnancy Panel and the Swedish Pregnancy Register. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine predictors of PGP at both time points.

RESULTS:
Of 1,229 respondents, 34.0% (n = 418) reported PGP at week 36 but not two years postpartum, 32.2% (n = 396) reported PGP at both time points, and 11.9% (n = 146) reported no PGP at week 36 but PGP at two years postpartum. Predictors for PGP at week 36 included reduced physical activity (OR = 0.81, CI: 0.73–0.90), poorer sleep quality (OR = 0.69, CI: 0.62–0.77), younger age (OR = 0.89, CI: 0.84–0.94), multiparity (OR = 0.40, CI: 0.25–0.63), and higher birthweight (OR = 1.53, CI: 1.06–2.19). Postpartum, 19% reported quite/very severe PGP. Predictors included PGP during pregnancy (OR = 1.39, CI: 1.06–1.82), ongoing worry (OR = 1.25, CI: 1.09–1.42), poorer physical health (OR = 0.70, CI: 0.54–0.91), and lower trust in healthcare (OR = 0.70, CI: 0.55–0.90).

CONCLUSIONS:
Postpartum PGP was more common than previously reported and linked to both physical and psychosocial factors. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both physical and emotional dimensions in the management of PGP. Notably, trust in healthcare emerged as a key predictor of long-term outcomes, emphasising the need for healthcare systems to foster strong patient-provider relationships and provide woman-centred care.

KEY MESSAGE:
Healthcare providers—especially midwives— should support multiparous women with quite/severe PGP in accessing early postpartum care. Pregnancy - complications