It's very common to have back pain or back pain during pregnancy, especially in the early stages. During pregnancy, the body's ligaments become softer and stretch naturally to prepare you for labor. This can strain the joints of the lower back and pelvis, which can lead to back pain. If back pain seems to be related to your stress levels, things like meditation, prenatal yoga, and extra rest can be useful ways to manage your stress levels.
One of the main culprits of back pain during pregnancy is the action of hormones. The function of these hormones during pregnancy is to prepare the ligaments and joints of the pelvis for delivery, but they can also act on any joint in the body. Bob explains that “Back pain during early pregnancy is actually due to hormonal changes, particularly with progesterone and relaxin. Your job is to prepare the pelvic cavity for pregnancy.
These hormones help relax the pelvic muscles and loosen ligaments and soft tissues, which can cause the back to become overloaded. Back pain during pregnancy is very common and affects approximately 50 to 80 percent of pregnant women. You Can Blame Your Growing Uterus for Back Pain. The expanding uterus shifts the center of gravity and stretches and weakens the abdominal muscles.
This changes posture and puts pressure on the back. In addition, the extra weight you carry means that you work your muscles more and increases the strain on your joints. This is why the back may worsen at the end of the day. Back pain during pregnancy can range from mild pain caused by specific activities to acute back pain that can develop into chronic back pain over time.
If you experience abdominal pain during pregnancy, you may wonder if it's round ligament pain and when it might start. If you experience numbness, tingling, or a sharp, throbbing pain in your buttocks, legs, or feet, call your doctor to make sure there are no serious conditions. Women with pre-existing lower back problems or chronic pain are at greater risk for back pain, and their back pain may occur earlier in pregnancy. Bob suggests that “maintaining good posture also helps, as does using heat compresses on the painful area.
You can minimize back pain by avoiding excessive standing, wearing supportive shoes, and focusing on good posture. Because of changes in your pelvic area, you may experience increased back pain during stressful periods of pregnancy. Back pain in early pregnancy can be exacerbated by concerns about the baby and pregnancy and related stress, which can increase muscle tension and cause discomfort. The diagnosis of back pain during pregnancy is based on a review of the patient's medical history, a physical exam, and possibly an MRI, to rule out a herniated disc.
Pregnant women may experience back pain that is localized in the lower back or radiates to the buttocks, thighs, and legs, causing or mimicking sciatica symptoms. It's fair to say that some degree of back pain should be expected during pregnancy, and a saving grace is that the body's natural pain relievers, endorphins, work and help relieve it to a certain extent. About 10 percent of the time, the pain becomes so severe that it can interfere with the ability to work or perform normal activities during pregnancy. If you don't have complications that prevent you from doing so, staying active during pregnancy reduces back pain and increases your ability to do your daily activities.
Women should watch for new, cyclical pain, which could be a sign of uterine contractions along with vaginal bleeding or any change in vaginal discharge that could indicate a placental problem or an early rupture of the waters. Women who are overweight or who have had back pain before becoming pregnant are at increased risk for back pain during pregnancy. .
