Back pain is common in pregnancy. Somewhere between a half and three quarters of pregnant women have it at some stage. However, there is plenty you can do to ease the discomfort and prevent it from turning into a long-term problem.
There are two types of back pain in pregnancy
True back pain occurs when ligaments, muscles, discs and joints become strained. Poor posture, bad lifting technique, weak or tight muscles or injury can cause the strain. If you suffer from this, you are likely to have had it before becoming pregnant. Your back may get more painful towards the end of the day or if you have been on your feet for a long time. This is because your muscles get tired and your ligaments stretch slightly from the weight of your body and baby.
Pelvic girdle pain occurs as a result of pregnancy and needs to be managed very differently to back pain. Standard treatments for back pain usually don’t work for PGP and can even make the pain worse.
Can I prevent back pain?
Back pain can be helped by making sure that you are as fit as possible before becoming pregnant. If you are already pregnant, it is not too late to work on your fitness. Weekly exercise may reduce your chances of suffering back pain.
A moderate back strength-training program is also safe to undertake during pregnancy and may help to prevent back pain.
If you are not used to taking exercise, start slowly. Checking your posture, avoiding heavy lifting and following some simple back care advice can also help to prevent problems developing.
What can I do to ease my back pain?
Exercises
Pelvic floor, tummy and stabilisation exercises can help to reduce the strain on your pelvis. Get down onto your hands and knees and level your back so that it is roughly flat. Breathe in and then, as you breathe out, squeeze in your pelvic floor muscles and pull your belly button in and up. Keep squeezing for between five and 10 seconds without holding your breath and without moving your back. Relax the muscles slowly at the end of the exercise.
Massage
This soothes tired, aching muscles. Lean forwards over the back of a chair or lie on your side. Have your back massaged on the muscles either side of the spine and around the lower back.
Good posture
If you have pain over your tailbone (coccyx), try not to slump when sitting and arch your back as much as is comfortable. Try sitting on a soft or wedge-shaped cushion.
Swimming
find out if your local pool holds aqua-natal classes. Exercising in water can help to ease back pain during pregnancy.
Maternity pillows
Sleeping on your side with a wedge-shaped pillow under your tummy may help.
Heat and water
A warm bath, a hot pack or a warm jet of water from a showerhead can ease discomfort.
If you have a little one on the way and are feeling the strain (or even if you’re not) – why don’t you pop into the clinic and see if Jeremy can help ease the pain and prevent it from developing into a long term problem?
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