What causes back pain during pregnancy?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Pregnancy is a 40-week workout. You're carrying an increasingly heavy load over all kinds of terrain in all kinds of environments without a break. You're carrying a big load, and your back takes the brunt of the pressure - especially as the weight of the baby and the increased size of your breasts want to pull you forward, putting more pressure on your spine.
Now add in the fact that many pregnant women stop exercising, which means they especially stop doing the core abdominal exercises that help make their internal girdle strong and supportive. And don't forget that all of your tendons and soft tissues are more lax because of relaxin. In addition, your belly moves from flat to convex during pregnancy, which increases the curve of your back, shifts your center of gravity, and causes you to change your sense of balance. It's a perfect storm of back trouble.
Find out more about this book: YOU: Having a Baby: The Owner's Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a 40-week workout. You're carrying an increasingly heavy load over all kinds of terrain in all kinds of environments without a break. You're carrying a big load, and your back takes the brunt of the pressure - especially as the weight... More -
Rick Olderman answered:In most cases, back pain in new or expectant mothers is the result of the changes to the shape of their bodies; those changes consequently alter their movement patterns. This speaks to what I describe as the chronic pain cycle. Changes in muscles, joint motions, and movement habits are interrelated, reinforcing each other and your pain. Anatomical changes in muscles create biomechanical changes in how the joints move. These biomechanical changes alter the way you move, which creates poor movement habits called movement dysfunctions; movement dysfunctions then reinforce the original anatomical and biomechanical changes.
Find out more about this book: Fixing You: Back Pain During Pregnancy: Self-treatment for sciatica, back p...
In most cases, back pain in new or expectant mothers is the result of the changes to the shape of their bodies; those changes consequently alter their movement patterns. This speaks to what I describe as the chronic pain cycle. Changes in... More -
Paula Greer answered:Many factors contribute to the back pain many pregnant women experience.
First and foremost is posture. As the belly gets bigger many pregnant women feel the gravitational pull forward and over compensate with their spine. Slouching and poor posture can definitely lead to back pain. When we are pregnant we are carrying quite a load and posture is essential to avoiding back pain as much as possible.
Another thing that can contribute to back pain is our love for ballet slippers, flip flops and shoes with no good support for our arches which also throws the spine out of alignment.
A third factor that contributes to back pain is the increasing breast size without adequate support from a bra. The bra should fit and support without the use of the straps. If the straps dig down on the top of the shoulder this too can cause back pain.
Proper body mechanics also helps avoid back pain. During pregnancy women often forget and bend over to pick up something from the floor, groceries, or laundry baskets forgetting how their weight is not evenly distributed with the belly pushing out in the front. Squatting and using the legs to pick things up including toddlers at home can go a long way to preventing pain from poor body mechanics.
Another important contributor to back pain is the baby themselves. They often decide to lie on nerves like the sciatica nerve which can cause pain. Unfortunately you can't always get them to cooperate and shift when you want them to but sometimes you can shift your own position to take the pressure off of the offending nerve.
It is important to stay active and keep the muscles that support the back strong during your pregnancy. Becoming a couch potato will increase your likelihood of experiencing back discomfort.
If the back pain is severe and unrelieved by common comfort measures, be sure to discuss with your health care provider.
Many factors contribute to the back pain many pregnant women experience. First and foremost is posture. As the belly gets bigger many pregnant women feel the gravitational pull forward and over compensate with their spine. Slouching and poor posture... More -
Boston Women's Health Book Collective answered:During pregnancy, you will probably feel some discomfort in your back, arms, legs, or joints. Several factors may lead to this discomfort:
- Progesterone - one of the primary hormones of pregnancy - causes your joints and ligaments to loosen. This may cause aching in your hips and knees and even in your pubic bone.
- Your growing belly changes your center of gravity and may pull your neck, shoulders, and back out of alignment.
- The pressure of the growing uterus can constrict the veins and the nerves that go through the pelvis. This can lead to blood pooling in your legs, and to swelling, numbness, tingling, or cramping in your legs and feet.
During pregnancy, you will probably feel some discomfort in your back, arms, legs, or joints. Several factors may lead to this discomfort: Progesterone - one of the primary hormones of pregnancy - causes your joints and ligaments to loosen. This... More
