When you’re pregnant, your body goes through so many changes – it’s hard to believe it’s really your own body sometimes! One thing many pregnant women are faced with, especially as they reach full-term, is lower back pain. If you’re experiencing pregnancy-related back aches, read our informative guide:

What causes pregnancy back pain?

1.Your growing uterus – As your uterus expands, it stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles. This changes your posture and puts extra strain on your back. If the uterus presses on a nerve, this may also cause pain.

2.Center of gravity – As your uterus and baby grow, they also push your center of gravity forward – again, affecting your posture and the strain on your back.

3.Extra weight – Carrying your extra body weight puts additional stress on your back.

4.Increase of hormones – Pregnancy hormones work to soften the ligaments and joints in the pelvic area in preparation for labor. This means your back will lose some of the essential support it is used to. It can cause pain when sitting, standing or walking for long periods or when you are lifting things or bending over.

5.Multiple babies – Carrying twins or triplets increases the odds of a woman developing back pain – especially because of the extra weight their backs will have to carry.

When should I be worried about back pain?

You should always talk to your physician if you are experiencing any pain, but contact them immediately if any of the following occurs:

-You have severe pain or notice you have lost the feeling in your legs, buttocks or around your pelvic area.

-You have a sudden and continuous lower back pain in the second or third trimester. It could be a sign of preterm labor.

-If your pain in the lower back is accompanied by pain in one or both sides, under the ribs. It could be a sign you have a kidney infection, especially if you have fever, nausea or blood in your urine.

How can I treat my back pain?

-Use ice or heat treatments.
-Visit your maternity store to find braces or support devices that have been developed for pregnant women.
-Sleep on your side and place a pillow between your knees.
-Practice pelvic tilts which help stretch and strengthen your pelvic muscles.
-Visit a licensed healthcare professional such as a chiropractor or massage therapist who is able to carry out prenatal massage.

How can I take care of my back during pregnancy?

-With advice from your physician, take up an exercise routine to help strengthen your core muscles, back and abdomen. Swimming is one great choice as it works on these muscles while taking the strain off your joints and ligaments.
-Squat to pick items up, instead of bending. You should take care when you get out of bed. Bend your knees and hips while you roll to the side and using your arms to push you up.
-Avoid sleeping on your back.
-Wear a support belt under your lower abdomen.
-Get plenty of rest and take things easy. Listen to your body if it finds a particular exercise or activity too strenuous. Avoid activities like vacuuming and mopping which require you to twist and bend at the same time.
- Invest in a good posture and back support that you can place on your office chair or car seat. Adopting good posture practices will help reduce the extra strain placed on your back.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Back Pain blog as the original source).

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.