Back Pain in Pregnancy

Many women (about 50-70%) have back pain during pregnancy at any stage of it. Back pain during pregnancy can be both weak and very strong and deliver a lot of unpleasant moments. In most cases, this problem can be solved with the help of fairly simple techniques and certain changes in the lifestyle and habits of a pregnant woman.

In more rare cases, back pain during pregnancy can be a symptom of a serious illness, because if you have severe back pain during pregnancy, you need to urgently go to the doctor for advice to rule out possible serious ailments and prevent possible complications.

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Causes of Back Pain in Pregnancy

The time of back pain during pregnancy varies from case to case: some women experience back pains early in pregnancy, others only in the middle or near the end. Back pain during pregnancy can be caused by many factors. We list some of the most likely causes of back pain in pregnant women:

1. Relaxation and softening of ligaments. The hormone relaxin, which is produced in the body of a woman during pregnancy, relaxes the ligaments and provokes the expansion of the pelvic articulations, preparing the organism of the future mother for childbirth. Although the main goal of this phenomenon is to prepare a pelvis for a pregnant woman to the delivery process, relaxation also affects all other ligaments, in particular, the intervertebral ligaments, which can cause back pain. In addition, relaxin is able to relax the uterine ligaments and because of this causes even greater tension in the spine and nearby muscles.
2. The shift of the center of gravity. In pregnancy, the center of gravity in the woman's body is gradually shifted forward, which forces the woman to change her posture: in order to ensure stability, a pregnant woman has to strain her lower back. Such changes in posture can also cause back pain, because the spinal muscles have not yet mastered the new position of the body.
3. Weight gain. As the fetus develops, the weight of the pregnant woman increases by approximately 8-15 kilograms in just 9 months! As a result, the legs and lower back have a significant load, which is also capable of provoking the occurrence of pain in the back.
4. Incorrect posture, prolonged standing in the vertical position and improper lifting of objects are also capable of causing or exacerbating the existing back pain.
5. Back pain, appearing in the prone position, is associated with the pressure that the uterus exerts on the nerve plexuses and vessels that surround the spine. This kind of pain, as a rule, occurs in the middle of pregnancy and increases its intensity as it develops.

In some cases, back pain during pregnancy (often in the lower back) can be associated with such diseases or complications of pregnancy: pyelonephritis, increased uterine tone or premature birth (the emergence of a threat of miscarriage). Therefore, it is necessary to contact the doctor as soon as possible and undergo a special examination.

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How to relieve back pain in pregnancy

Watch your posture. As the fetus develops, the center of gravity in the body of the pregnant woman moves forward. For this reason, you are not even aware of this, straining your lumbar muscles. To prevent this from happening, you need to watch your posture. For example, when you stand or walk: you need to tighten the buttocks, take your shoulders back and lower them down, stand straight, straightening your spine. This exercise is called the "proud position of a pregnant woman."

Stand and sit properly. Try to always sit in a comfortable chair. Knees should be slightly raised and placed above the level of the waist (with this purpose you need to put a roller under the feet). Back to the waist, you need to put a small pillow, which should fill the bend of the waist, so that the muscles in this area could relax. Change your position often and try not to stand on your feet for a long time. If you have to stand and there is no possibility to sit down, in turn put your feet on a small threshold or a step to remove tension from the waist.

Do the exercises. If you have back pain, exercises that help you perform every day are very helpful. Choose exercises that are not very uncomfortable for you and which you can easily do. There are excellent exercises that are designed specifically for pregnant women (for example, yoga for pregnant women).

Sleep on your side. It is advisable not to sleep on your back, because it can increase back pain. If you need to lie on your back, it is recommended to put a small pillow under your lower back that supports the lumbar spine of the spine. When you lie on your side, you can use a long pillow (there are pillows specially designed for pregnant women, which are then used when feeding the baby's breast), or two ordinary pillows: pinch one of them between the knees, and put the second under the belly. This pose will relieve tension from the spinal muscles and help the whole body to relax and relax.

Have a rest more. Try to get plenty of sleep all the time. If you suffer from insomnia, you should rest during the day.

Correctly lift items. It is a well-known fact that pregnant women are not allowed to lift items with high weight. However, even if you pick up light objects, you need to do this in a way that does not harm the spine. You should bend your knees and do not lean forward with your back straight. If you lift something off the floor, be sure to sit down on your haunches.

Be in shape. It is undesirable to gain weight more than it is recommended (no more than 15 kilograms at the end of pregnancy). Continually exercise and go for walks every day. This will strengthen the muscles of the back and legs.

Wear a special belt. If the stomach is too large or you have poorly developed abdominal muscles, you can purchase a special supporting belt that can partially relieve tension from the muscles of the peritoneum and waist.

Acupuncture, massage and other procedures. From back pain during pregnancy, women are well assisted by physiotherapy. But do not forget that they should be specially trained by this person, and only after permission of the doctor who is watching you. In some cases, such procedures and massage are contraindicated in pregnancy.

Medicines. In pregnancy, it is advisable not to take painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs, which are usually prescribed to relieve back pain. Before taking any medications, be sure to check with your doctor.