Causes and Remedies of Back pain during Pregnancy

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Back pain is a common complaint during pregnancy. And it's no wonder. You're gaining weight. You're walking in a new way. Your hormones are relaxing the joints and ligaments throughout your body.

But you don't have to grin and bear it. Often, you can treat — or prevent — back pain during pregnancy with simple self-care strategies or complementary therapies.

Women who are most at risk for back pain are those who are overweight or had back pain prior to pregnancy. Here is a list of potential causes of back pain or discomfort during pregnancy:

Increase of hormones – hormones released during pregnancy allow ligaments in the pelvic area to soften and the joints to become looser in preparation for the birthing process of your baby; this shift in joints and loosening of ligaments may affect the support your back normally experiences.

Center of gravity – your center of gravity will gradually move forward as your uterus and baby grow, which causes your posture to change.

Additional weight – your developing pregnancy and baby create additional weight that your back must support.

Posture or position – poor posture, excessive standing, and bending over can trigger or escalate the pain you experience in your back.

Stress – stress usually finds the weak spot in the body, and because of the changes in your pelvic area, you may experience an increase in back pain during stressful periods of your pregnancy.

Conservative management of back pain in pregnancy generally includes performance of appropriate exercise and use of proper body mechanics. These efforts promote and support proper posture, which is essential to avoiding unnecessary stress to supporting structures.

Often just one or two visits to a physical therapist experienced in pre/post partum treatment can be very helpful to help minimize or alleviate unwanted back pain during pregnancy. If more extensive treatment is required, a physical therapist should perform an individual evaluation and recommend a treatment program for you.

Typical treatments from your healthcare professional may include

1. Instruction in proper posture while pregnant.

2. Instruction in specific body mechanics for routine activities, such as housework, job, sleeping.

3. Instruction in a home exercise program appropriate for your stage of pregnancy.

4. Self help techniques for pain management and mobilization during pregnancy.

5. Hands-on treatment (such as soft tissue work, gentle mobilization and stabilization exercises) as determined by evaluation by a health care professional.

Remember, while back pain is fairly common during pregnancy, it should definitely not be accepted as just part of the process. To help make your pregnancy as pleasant as possible and facilitate an easier delivery, back pain should always be addressed as quickly as possible and managed throughout your pregnancy.