Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy, Tips for Help in Back Pain During Pregnancy

Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy

The good news is, your baby is growing. That's exactly what should be happening -- but it can still be tough on your back.

You've got lots of company -- most pregnant women experience back pain, usually starting in the second half of pregnancy.
Causes of Back Pain in Pregnant Women

Pregnancy back pain typically happens where the pelvis meets your spine, at the sacroiliac joint.

There are many possible reasons why it happens. Here are some of the more likely causes:

1.Weight gain.
During a healthy pregnancy, women typically gain between 25 and 35 pounds. The spine has to support that weight. That can cause lower back pain. The weight of the growing baby and uterus also puts pressure on the blood vessels and nerves in the pelvis and back. 
2.Posture changes.
Pregnancy shifts your center of gravity. As a result, you may gradually -- even without noticing -- begin to adjust your posture and the way you move. This may result in back pain or strain.
3.Hormone changes
During pregnancy, your body makes a hormone called relaxin that allows ligaments in the pelvic area to relax and the joints to become looser in preparation for the birth process. The same hormone can cause ligaments that support the spine to loosen, leading to instability and pain.

You should know that there are things you can do to minimize your back pain. Here's what helps.

1. Meditation to Help in Pregnancy

Unlike yoga or massage, meditation is a technique that you can access at any time, in any place, no appointment necessary. There are numerous ways to practice meditation. One is to simply sit or lie down in a quiet place and focus on breathing mindfully, inhaling and exhaling deeply. You can meditate in silence or listen to calming music or a guided audio program, which can be generic ("imagine a beautiful beach ? ") or pregnancy-specific ("feel waves of love enveloping your growing baby ? "). Meditation has been shown to elicit a biological "relaxation response," which stimulates the brain to control its release of stress hormones. When stress is kept in check, its toxic effects (such as high blood pressure and muscle tension) are reduced. By meditating regularly, you can also increase your pain tolerance level, which can come in handy both when managing back pain and in coping with labor and delivery pain.

2.Exercise to Help in Pregnancy

 Regular exercise strengthens muscles and boosts flexibility. That can ease the stress on your spine. Safe exercises for most pregnant women include walking, swimming, and stationary cycling. Your doctor or physical therapist can recommend exercises to strengthen your back and abdomen.

3.Sleep Support

Sleep can be elusive during pregnancy, especially if your back is hurting, because most women tend to sleep on their sides. Olderman likens the spine in this position to a telephone wire that's hanging between the two poles of your shoulders and your pelvis. "The spine drops down to the bed just like a telephone wire would drop between two poles," he says. To support your back and prevent pain, fold a thick towel lengthwise and place it perpendicular to your body at the point on your waist where your spine is its most "droopy." The towel's length will ensure support without requiring readjustment, even if you roll over during the night. Or try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees to reduce the strain on your pelvis and lower back. Side sleeping is important as the pregnancy develops past the first trimester -- it optimizes blood flow to the baby, Dr. Rosser says. Sleeping flat on your back is not good for you or the baby; it is also very uncomfortable, she adds. Body pillows are helpful for supporting your chest, hips, and lower back. Experts advise sleeping on a firm mattres, and following smart sleep habits such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and relaxing bedtime routine, using your bed only for sleep and sex, avoiding bright screens just before bed, keeping the space cool and dark, and not eating for at least two to three hours before bedtime.

4.Heat and Cold

Applying heat and cold to your back may help. If your health care provider agrees, start by putting cold compresses on the painful area for up to 20 minutes several times a day. After two or three days, switch to heat -- put a heating pad or hot water bottle on the painful area. Be careful not to apply heat to your abdomen during pregnancy.

5.Wear a Maternity Belt

A maternity belt, which you can buy online and in many maternity clothing shops, is a supportive undergarment that helps hold up the belly so the pelvic girdle and lower back aren't too strained. If your belly is protruding forward in a pronounced way, rather than with your weight diffused across your midsection, the belt can act as a substitute for your abdominal core muscles, which can struggle to prevent your lower spine from painfully exaggerating its curvature. Doctors generally advise women to try maternity belts and use them if they work, but the belts should be seen as a complement to other remedies rather than the only treatment for back pain in pregnancy.