If you experience back pain while pregnant, it might give you some peace of mind to know that you are not alone. Almost every woman experiences back pain while pregnant. There are a number of reasons for this back pain. For one thing, immediately upon a baby�s conception, the mother�s uterus begins to expand and hormone levels change. These major changes are the number one reason women experience back pain while pregnant.
There are other reasons for back pain during pregnancy as well. The growing uterus will gradually change the expectant mother�s centre of gravity and sometimes it grows large enough and shifts in position enough that it ends up pinching a nerve. The expanding uterus also stretches and weakens the muscles in the mother�s abdomen as well as changing her posture. A change in posture will always put strain on the muscles in the back. Other reasons for experiencing back pain while pregnant are weight gain, which will cause stress to the muscles and joints. Hormonal changes are also a leading cause of back pain. An expectant mother�s body will begin producing copious amounts of progesterone. Progesterone softens the ligaments and discs in a woman�s back. These ligaments and discs support the woman�s upper body. Hormonal changes will also loosen the joints where the ligaments attach the spine to the pelvic bone. This can cause feelings of instability as the expectant mother goes about her day.
It is more than possible to avoid back pain while pregnant. If you are pregnant you will want to develop an easy exercise routine that you can follow throughout your pregnancy. This needn�t be a complicated exercise routine. Simply going for a regular walk along with some stretching and muscle strengthening exercises will more than suffice. Many of the muscle strengthening programs like yoga and tai-chi have developed programs specifically for women who are pregnant. As your baby grows remember to keep your shoulders parallel to your ears and your bottom tucked in. You will also want to stick to comfortable shoes. You can wear high heels again when your child is a little bit older. A simple web search will locate some for you. Remember to also practice proper posture and get plenty of rest. It takes a lot of energy to grow a person and pushing yourself isn�t good for you, your back or your growing baby. Resting for a short period every day is just as important as making sure to exercise a little bit every day. You don�t have to sleep necessarily, but lying down on your side with a pillow between your knees is a great way to rest your back muscles and support your growing body and baby.
Obviously if you experience back pain while pregnant your first call should be to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to tell you whether what you are feeling is simple muscle strain or something more serious. Your doctor will also be able to provide you with steps to take that will ensure the pain subsides.
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #1
Back pain is one of the most common forms of bodily pain. It is estimated that eight in ten people will be affected by back pain. Amazingly, back pain is one of the easiest injuries to prevent. |
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #2
Believe it or not, cigarette smoking can increase a person�s risk of developing lower back pain and sciatica. What�s more, smoking can prolong the healing process which means that back injuries, surgery and bones will cause pain for a longer period of time. |
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #3
The best thing a person can do to keep his or her back healthy is to get regular exercise. In addition to a few muscle specific exercises that can be found by way of a simple web search, it has been proven that exercises geared toward balance and strength (like yoga) can help a person decrease his or her risk of falling and causing injury to the back muscles. |
