Back pain is very common during the early stages of pregnancy and is most prevalent during the fifth to seventh months of the pregnancy.
The pain is usually localized to the lower back and spreads to the thighs, legs and buttocks. With day-to-day activities, the pain may even worsen, causing sleepless nights and painful days.
If you had backaches even before pregnancy, chances are, they will worsen during this time.
Almost 50-75 per cent of pregnant women experience aches. In fact, there is a reason for every ache in your body:
- Lower back pain is caused due to instability in the pelvis and the lumbar spine. This pain can be sharp and burning in the lower spine or can even be one-sided. It may also worsen during sleep as a consequence of the expanding uterus.
- Pelvic pain is quite normal during pregnancy as it occurs due to the changes in the pelvic bone to accommodate the growth of the uterus and help during birth.
- Thigh pain in pregnancy can be caused due to the lack of blood supply reaching the thighs. The soft tissues swell up due to the pressure from the growing uterus.
Reasons
There are also a few specific reasons that can contribute to the ache:
- Changes in Weight: During pregnancy, women gain up to 10-15 kilograms. Moreover, as the months pass and the delivery date approaches, the body gradually shifts the weight of the baby onto your pelvic ligaments which adds further aches.
- Hormonal Changes: During pregnancy, the body releases a hormone known as relaxin, which is responsible for relaxing the joint and ligaments. It makes the body softer so that it can easily expand to make room for the baby to grow. Relaxin can also loosen the spinal cord which can cause instability and pain.
- Stress: Emotional stress can also lead to muscle tension in the back. This pain can also cause spasms.
Home remedies
However, there are plenty of remedies that doctors and medical practitioners recommend that can lessen your pain:
1. Exercise
2. Compress
Applying a hot/cold compress to your back can also help. Start by applying a cold compress to the area of pain for 20 to 30 minutes several times a day. After a few days, you can switch to a hot compress with a heating pad/bottle to relieve the pain. Make sure you do not apply heat compress to your abdomen during the pregnancy.
3. Improve your posture
Using proper posture can help reduce backache whilst doing day-to-day activities. Other than sitting up straight, placing pillows or back supports can also improve your posture.
4. Invest in a maternity belt
You can easily find this in a pharmacy or even order online. The maternity belt is like an undergarment that provides support to the pelvic girdle and the lower back making sure they are not very strained.
Consider Counselling:
If your backache is caused mostly due to stress, consider talking to a counsellor about it and they can guide you to taking measures through which you can relax.
Pregnancy is a beautiful yet delicate time in a woman’s life. There are several things you can do to make this time more memorable and less painful.
