How to Relieve Back Pain When You Are Pregnant

In approximately 80% of women who are pregnant, back pain is prevalent. About 50 % to 70% of expectant mothers not only suffer from pregnancy sickness and labor pains but also experience the unwelcomed back pain. Generally, back pain first appears in the second half of pregnancy along with the change of your body weights. Back pain in pregnancy is more likely to place more strain on the expectant mothers.

It is good news that there is no need for the pregnancy women to fear about their back pains since it will not last for a long term unless you had chronic backaches before pregnancy. Furthermore, the pain will ease gradually before it extends. At the same time, you can take some measures to treat you low back pain or reduces the its risks of getting worse.

Exercise for Pregnancy in Back Pain.. Doing regular back exercise will not only contribute to strengthen your stiffness muscles and improve the flexibility but also to relieve the extra stress on your spine. According to a 2005 International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, it is showed that pregnancy women will benefit from doing exercises three times a week for 12 weeks during the second half of pregnancy, because it can prevent the low back pain from getting worse. Those exercises may include walking, swimming, and stationary cycling, etc. In addition to these safe exercises, you might as well to do some proper exercise which will strengthen the muscles in you back and abdomen under you doctor or physical therapist’s instruction.

Pregnancy Back Pain Causes and Treatments

About 50 % to 70% of expectant mothers not only suffer from pregnancy sickness and labor pains but also experience the unwelcomed back pain. Generally, back pain first appears in the second half of pregnancy along with the change of your body weights. Back pain in pregnancy is more likely to place more strain on the expectant mothers

The symptoms of the back pain in pregnancy are often described as dull or continuous aches in the lower back. For most women, pain appears in the sacroiliac joint where the pelvis attaches to the spine. In most cases, young mothers, mothers who have had multiple pregnancies, or the expectant mothers who have weak back before, are more likely to suffer from the pain in the lower back. The symptoms often start numbness in the morning and then intensify throughout the whole day.

The reasons for the back pain in pregnancy are numerous and various. Followings are some common but probably causes.

1. Gaining weight. Generally, the weight of a healthy pregnancy will increase about 25 to 35 pounds, and this added weight need the support from the spine. However, the spine may not bear the unexpected weight and then uncomfortable symptoms may occur in the lower back. What’s more, the weights of the baby are growing at the same time, which will not only bring great pressure to the blood vessels but also to the nerves in the pelvis and back.

2. Changing of posture. Your uterus becomes heavier as well as your weight, then the center of body gravity changes at the same time. You may begin to adjust your posture and the way you move and walk gradually. You may not notice these changes at first; however, you cannot avoid the pain or strain it has brought about to you.

3. Changing of hormone. During pregnancy, you body will produce a kind of hormone which known as relaxin because it can relax the ligaments in the pelvic area. If the joints become looser, it will contribute to you birth process. However, this kind of hormone can also cause ligaments that may loose your spine and bring about instability and pain in your back.

4. Muscle separation. Two parallel sheets of muscles, which slipped out from the rib cage to the pubic bone, may separate down along the center seam as the uterus expands. You back pain may get worse when this separation occurs.

5. Emotional stress. You may suffer from back pain or back spasms if you are under great emotional stress. During your pregnancy, you may find that you experience an increase in back pain.

It is good news that there is no need for the pregnancy women to fear about their back pains since it will not last for a long term unless you had chronic backaches before pregnancy. Furthermore, the pain will ease gradually before it extends. At the same time, you can take some measures to treat you low back pain or reduces the its risks of getting worse.

Exercise for Pregnancy in Back Pain.. Doing regular back exercise will not only contribute to strengthen your stiffness muscles and improve the flexibility but also to relieve the extra stress on your spine. According to a 2005 International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, it is showed that pregnancy women will benefit from doing exercises three times a week for 12 weeks during the second half of pregnancy, because it can prevent the low back pain from getting worse. Those exercises may include walking, swimming, and stationary cycling, etc. In addition to these safe exercises, you might as well to do some proper exercise which will strengthen the muscles in you back and abdomen under you doctor or physical therapist’s instruction.

Heat and cold for Pregnancy Back Pain Treatment. Your doctor may suggest you to use heat and cold to relax your muscles and promote blood circulation. Apply a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel into the painful area for about 20 minutes several times a day. After 2 or 3 days, apply a heating pad or hot water bottle to the back area. Do not apply heat to the abdomen if your pregnancy since it may affect you baby if improperly.

Improving your poor posture for Pregnancy in Back Pain. Keep a correct and healthy posture when working, sitting, or sleeping, can contribute to improve you pain. For example, you can ease you stress on your back if you place a pillow between the knees while sleeping; place a rolled-up towel behind you back when sitting. It is also helpful if you wear a support belt.

Counseling. You’d better to seek advices from a counselor if you are under great emotional stress.

Acupuncture. Acupuncture is one of Chinese traditional treatment in which thin needles are inserted into your skin at certain positions. According to clinical research, it is showed that acupuncture is an effective treatment for relieving low back pain during pregnancy. In fact, it has not found why it works on relieving back pain while some experts suspect that acupuncture may cause the body to release painkilling items.

Chiropractic, a kind of massage manipulation based on the application of the non-medical treatment and spinal adjustments to ease the symptoms which are caused by vertebral misalignments. It is a health care and gradually recovery system. During your pregnancy, chiropractic manipulation can be safe if performed properly. However, in case of emergency, you’d better to seek advices from your doctors when you are plan to have a chiropractic manipulation.

Medications are good choices if you do not have any improvements after those non-medication treatments. You doctor may suggest some appropriate medications. Generally, Acetaminophen or Tylenol is a safe medication which adapts to most of pregnancy women. However, aspirin and some anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen are not advisable since these drugs have potential negative effects on pregnancy women. In some cases, according to your symptoms, you doctor may suggest you other safe and effective pain medications or muscle relaxants exercises.

In addition to above medical or non-medical treatments, you can do other things to assure you health.

1. Self-care at home
During your pregnancy, you should pay attention to your daily activities. For example, use your legs to squat rather than bend over your whole body when you need to pick up something. Do not wear high-heeled shoes which may cause you falling down. Do not sleep on your back and try to sleep your left side.

2. Go to visit you doctor.
Generally speaking, back pain is a common and normal symptom during your pregnancy and there is no need for you to fear it or to see doctor. However, if you experience one of following symptoms, you’d better to go to seek your doctor immediately.
● Violent pain
● Increasingly pain or pain arises suddenly
● Intermittent pains

In some rare while emergency cases, the violent back pain may accompany with some related symptoms, such as pregnancy osteoporosis, vertebral osteoarthritis, septic arthritis. You must pay much attention if you are experiencing an intermittent pain, because it may a signal of preterm labor. No matter which above symptoms you are suffering from, you must go to see your doctor for promptly treatments.