This article describes about various causes of back pain during pregnancy. The article throws light on how improper sleeping postures which aggravate back pain in pregnant women and lead to some problems later.Linda is happy about the growth of her baby but she is also facing certain problems with the advancement of her pregnancy. She gets back pain nowadays and at times it become unbearable. She got appointment with her doctor to find out the probable reasons of her back pain so that she could get relief immediately.
What Causes Back Problems during Pregnancy?
Physical and hormonal changes keep happening in pregnant women. These changes are the main reasons behind
back problems during
pregnancy. Here are the reasons of back pain in would-be moms.
Hormonal Changes
The body of pregnant women make relaxin hormone which help the ligaments of pelvic areas to relax. This hormone also helps in loosing of joints so that body starts preparing for the birth of child.
Weight Gain
With advancement of pregnancy, size of foetus increases. Increase in body
weight creates pressure on the spine. As the baby grows size of the uterus increases and extra pressure is exerted on the nerves and blood vessels present in the back and pelvic area thereby causing lower back pain very often in pregnant women.
Separation of Muscles
As pregnancy advances, expansion of uterus happens. As a result muscles (rectal abdominis) that originate from rib bone area and reaching into pubic area get separated along the central ridge causing back pain in pregnant women.
Sleeping Posture
With growing baby in the womb, would-be mothers find it difficult to lie down at comfortable position especially during the night. Some feel better when they sleep on their back while other feel comfortable when they take side posture during sleeping. Wrong posture while sleeping is one of the main causes of back pain during pregnancy.
Change in Other Postures
Due to pregnancy, the centre of gravity of would-be mothers changes. Due to this change, would-be mothers adjust their postures and their way of moving change which causes strain on the back thereby causing back pain in pregnant women.
Stress
Due to emotional stresses which are very common during pregnancy muscle tension can happen which may cause back pain in pregnant women.
Wrong Sleeping Posture causing Back Pain in Pregnancy
Not all can sleep on the side during pregnancy period. Many would-be moms are in the habit of sleeping on their back during pregnancy which worsens back pain of would-be moms. Would-be mothers may start practicing sleeping on the side especially on the left side. Doctors advise sleeping on side for the pregnant women because it helps in better circulation of blood and lesser pressure creation on the larger organs of the body.
When to Visit Doctor Due to Back Pain during Pregnancy
Back Pain during pregnancy is very common and it does not require any medical intervention as such. In case any of the following symptoms is experienced then would-be moms should consult the doctor.
- Increase in pain
- Abrupt pain which is very severe
- Rhythmic cramps and pain in back
In a few pregnant women, severe back pain may be the symptom of septic arthritis, pregnancy-related osteoporosis or vertebral osteoarthritis. In some pregnant women, rhythmic back pain may happen due to
preterm labour. So in case of these symptoms happening, pregnant woman must seek immediate advice from the doctor.
Remedies for Back Pain during Pregnancy
Unless prescribed by the doctor, would-be moms should not take any medicine for back pain. Find here some of the safe remedies of back pain during pregnancy:
Exercise: doing regular exercise under expert’s supervision during pregnancy will increase in muscle flexibility and their strengthening. Regular exercise helps in back pain relief. Walking is preferable the best exercise during pregnancy.
Counselling: If back pain is caused due to stress then proper counselling is helpful.
Unless and until there are some serious health issues, back pain in pregnant women goes off with time. Finding out the causes of back pain during pregnancy is important to get it relieved faster.