Back Pain in Pregnancy

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

05 May 2006 09:47 AM

Back pain is a common complaint among pregnant women. Nearly half will experience this problem to some degree. Pain results from ligaments stretching and from weight gain. The extra weight combined with a shift in your center of gravity strains the muscles of the lower back. There are some things you can do to relieve the discomfort.

Exercise is a great way to strengthen the back muscles. Prenatal yoga strengthens the muscles and improves balance. Swimming is good for relieving the pain, as well as stretching and toning the muscles of the lower back. The natural buoyancy of the water is an added benefit.

Prenatal massage is great for sore muscles. Massage is safe and effective after the first trimester. If you have back problems, consider weekly sessions. It's important to find a massage therapist who is experienced in prenatal massage. Ask your doctor, midwife, pregnant friends or new mothers for a recommendation.

Avoid excessive weight gain to prevent lower back problems. Stay within the recommended limits for gaining weight. Gaining too much weight puts more strain on the muscles, which contributes to back pain. I'm now pregnant with our fourth baby. I gained the most with our second and had more back pain with that baby than with any of the others.

Your sleeping position can either contribute to or help relieve back pain. The best sleep position is on the left side. Use either a body pillow or a few regular pillows under the abdomen and between the knees. This gives good support and relieves strain on the muscles.

Lifting your toddler or other objects can add strain to the back. Don't bend and lift with the back muscles. Instead, squat and use your legs for lifting. Avoid lifting very heavy objects or older children. This will increase the strain on your muscles and increase back pain.

Support belts are made for pregnant women. They are adjustable to fit as you grow. Belts are available at most maternity stores and on the internet. They reduce strain on the back muscles and help relieve pain. In addition, they help improve the posture. This is important, since poor posture can add to back pain.

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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Heather Long (16954) 05 May 2006 10:33 AM

You know, back pain is normal during pregnancy. When I started suffering from it, I couldn't describe to my OB the excruciating agony of getting up or sitting down. Getting out of the bed in the morning required help and I could barely sit at my desk it hurt so bad. My OB finally sent me to see a physical therapist although she told me over and over, back pain was normal. The therapist discovered that the left side of my pelvis was dislocated. My left leg was actually longer than my right and the baby was pushing the joint out -- that's why I was in such horrible pain. She relocated it and the relief was so profound that I nearly wept on the spot. I had to have it relocated three times over the next couple of months. Last year, when my sister in law started complaining of similar pain, I sent her to a physical therapist and what do you know -- she had a dislocated pelvis too -- while back pain might be normal, it might also be the sign of something a lot worse!

dpenna (542) 02 Aug 2006 04:22 PM

I also want to add that I agree that excrutiating back pain during pregnancy may be a sign of a bigger problem. There is a disorder caused by many things, one of them pregnancy, called Sacroilitis, or Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction. My frist pregnancy started the process, halfway during my second I had to be put on pain killers it was so bad. I know have a permanent disability that is hard to live with. The only thing I could recommend to try to help this is to wear level shoes and get your back adjusted often. Having one leg slightly longer than the other can be the cause of a hip dislocation or damage to the sacral joint. Great article!