Back Pain During Pregnancy
Back Pain in Woman
When pregnant you can typically assume that you are going to have some back pain. The added weight from your baby is causing stress on your back. The last trimester is especially taxing on the mothers back. Some things might help to alleviate the pain or at least bring down how intense it is. Hopefully a tip you find might be able to completely eradicate the pain and make your pregnancy that much more comfortable.
What Causes Back Pain During Pregnancy?
Expecting mothers are subject to pain as a direct result of the baby. The extra weight gain that the mother can not avoid causes stress on the back and spine causing the pain. During pregnancy a woman can gain anywhere between twenty-five and thirty-five pounds during what gets considered a healthy pregnancy. The spine is left to try to support all this extra weight. The uterus which has recently expanded also put pressure on nerves and blood vessels in the back and pelvic regions. Changes in a woman's body gradually changes her posture. This shifts her center of gravity resulting in some more back pain from stress on the back. Even hormone changes in the pregnant woman's body contribute to back pain. Relaxin gets released helping ligaments in the pelvic area to relax. The birthing process is easier with looser joints but the ligaments that support the spine loosen as well that ends up causing back pain. Even emotional stress can cause back muscles to tense up leading to back spasms and back pain.
How to Reduce Back Pain During Pregnancy
If you have suffered with back pain prior to getting pregnant, it is hard to find something to lessen the pain, but for the rest of the pregnant population there is something that can help. Strengthening muscles in the back and spine by participating in physician approved regular exercise. Working on your flexibility will also help to reduce back pain down the line. You will always want to check with your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program while pregnant. Most women try to take part in walking, riding on a stationary bicycle, or swimming while pregnant, and by relieving the stress on your back, the pain will disappear.
Positive Changes
By improving posture a woman can help treat her own back pain during pregnancy. The spine becomes strained when an individual slouches. While pregnant using the proper posture when you are sitting, standing, sleeping, walking and working are all a big part of having a healthy spine through your pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend a support belt or a hot or cold compress to the back area. Avoid putting any heat to the stomach area when you are pregnant. Upon approval of your physician, put a cold compress on the area you are feeling pain for up to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, for two to three days. Then repeat the process again with heat. Approve any treatments involving using heat or cold by your doctor.
Other Sources of Relief
There are other sources of relief from back pain for many pregnant women. The use of massages to relieve tension that has built up around the spine area is one option. Some choose to use acupuncture, a Chinese medical procedure. You will always want to talk to your doctor first about any choices you make. If your doctor approves, there massage therapists experienced in working with pregnancy clients specifically. A chiropractor may also be able to treat by manipulating the spine to relieve some of the pain.
Anything that you do to your body that might affect your child needs discussed with your doctor first to make sure that it is safe. Double check with them to make sure your baby will stay healthy.
What Causes Back Pain During Pregnancy?
Expecting mothers are subject to pain as a direct result of the baby. The extra weight gain that the mother can not avoid causes stress on the back and spine causing the pain. During pregnancy a woman can gain anywhere between twenty-five and thirty-five pounds during what gets considered a healthy pregnancy. The spine is left to try to support all this extra weight. The uterus which has recently expanded also put pressure on nerves and blood vessels in the back and pelvic regions. Changes in a woman's body gradually changes her posture. This shifts her center of gravity resulting in some more back pain from stress on the back. Even hormone changes in the pregnant woman's body contribute to back pain. Relaxin gets released helping ligaments in the pelvic area to relax. The birthing process is easier with looser joints but the ligaments that support the spine loosen as well that ends up causing back pain. Even emotional stress can cause back muscles to tense up leading to back spasms and back pain.
How to Reduce Back Pain During Pregnancy
If you have suffered with back pain prior to getting pregnant, it is hard to find something to lessen the pain, but for the rest of the pregnant population there is something that can help. Strengthening muscles in the back and spine by participating in physician approved regular exercise. Working on your flexibility will also help to reduce back pain down the line. You will always want to check with your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program while pregnant. Most women try to take part in walking, riding on a stationary bicycle, or swimming while pregnant, and by relieving the stress on your back, the pain will disappear.
Positive Changes
By improving posture a woman can help treat her own back pain during pregnancy. The spine becomes strained when an individual slouches. While pregnant using the proper posture when you are sitting, standing, sleeping, walking and working are all a big part of having a healthy spine through your pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend a support belt or a hot or cold compress to the back area. Avoid putting any heat to the stomach area when you are pregnant. Upon approval of your physician, put a cold compress on the area you are feeling pain for up to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, for two to three days. Then repeat the process again with heat. Approve any treatments involving using heat or cold by your doctor.
Other Sources of Relief
There are other sources of relief from back pain for many pregnant women. The use of massages to relieve tension that has built up around the spine area is one option. Some choose to use acupuncture, a Chinese medical procedure. You will always want to talk to your doctor first about any choices you make. If your doctor approves, there massage therapists experienced in working with pregnancy clients specifically. A chiropractor may also be able to treat by manipulating the spine to relieve some of the pain.
Anything that you do to your body that might affect your child needs discussed with your doctor first to make sure that it is safe. Double check with them to make sure your baby will stay healthy.