Backbone Pain During Pregnancy

Backbone pain is a common complaint during pregnancy but it must not be accepted as a part of pregnancy process. It must be addressed as soon as possible and must be taken care of throughout the pregnancy. If left unattended, the problem of back pain can adversely affect your daily lifestyle during and after pregnancy.

Causes of Backbone Pain during Pregnancy

Hormonal changes and growing uterus are the main reasons for back pain.

• The abdominal muscles are weakened during pregnancy as the uterus is stretched out during pregnancy. Besides this the extra weight that you are carrying during pregnancy puts additional strain on your muscles and joints, this leads to back pain during pregnancy.
• Hormonal change is one of the main causes of backbone pain during pregnancy. Hormonal changes loosen the joints and connecting ligaments of pelvic bone and spine. This lead to back pain while walking, bending and changing postures.
• When the baby grows the centre of gravity is shifted a little forward, in order to adjust with the change and balance your body you start leaning back. This posture strain the back muscles and contributes to the backbone pain during pregnancy.

Kind of Backbone Pain during Pregnancy

Two main types of back pain are experienced by pregnant women. These are:

• Lumbar pain:  As a symptom of pregnancy, lumbar pain is felt in lumbar vertebrae area of the lower back. It is like a usual back pain that you may have experienced even before you were pregnant. Sitting and standing for longer durations can worsen the lumber pain.
• Posterior pelvic pain:  It is felt deep inside the buttock and sometimes at both the sides and back of your thighs. Posterior pelvic pain gets triggered during the movements such as walking, lifting something and climbing stairs. Pain over pubic bone is also reported by women with posterior pelvic pain.

Dealing with Backbone Pain during Pregnancy

• Try to maintain a good posture and don’t stand for long. Stand straight, keep your shoulders back and relaxed, hold your chest high and avoid crossing your knees while sitting.
• You can even put a small pillow behind your back while sitting and choose comfortable chair for sitting.
• Ensure that you wear comfortable and low-heel shoe for reducing strain on your spine.
• Sleeping on your side with a pillow between the legs helps to relieve back pain.
• Daily walk of 20 to 30 minutes is the best exercise for back pain relief during pregnancy.

Read more articles on Problems During Pregnancy