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Pregnancy is a period when the woman’s body undergoes strong transformations , both internal and external. And of course, along with these transformations, some consequences also appear. Back pain is the greatest example of how body changes caused by pregnancy can affect a woman’s health.
Causes of Pregnancy Pain
The main cause of back pain during pregnancy is the enlargement of the belly, which ends up bringing a lot of weight to the woman’s body. The growth of the uterus usually requires a lot of nerves and spine , which ends up forcing the woman’s posture to change, and, consequently, causing her to have back pain.
It is good to remember that this does not necessarily occur with all pregnant women, although it is very common and all women are subject to having this problem, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy . But since back pain in pregnancy is inevitable, you need to know how to deal with this situation.
Types of Back Pain in Pregnancy
Many do not know, but there is only one type of back pain that affects women during pregnancy. There are at least 5 main types of pain that can arise during this period, all of which are caused by different problems and which also require different treatments. The main types are:
- Backache
- Sacral-Iliac Pain
- Sciatica Pain
- Pelvic Pain
- Night Pain
Backache
Low back pain is one of the most common pains in pregnant women and manifests itself because of the excess weight that the body requires from the spine , causing it to force a lot to try to compensate for the woman’s posture. This pain is usually located in the lower back and usually spreads to the legs and part of the muscles of the woman’s back.
Sacral-Iliac Pain
It is a type of pain that is located between the end of the spine and the woman’s pelvis . It is a delicate type of pain that, in many cases, does not cease even after delivery , and can continue with the woman for a while. To avoid further complications with sacroiliac pain, the best thing to do is to rest when you notice signs of it.
Sciatica Pain
It is the famous pain in the sciatic nerve, which ends up affecting a considerable number of pregnant women. The pain is caused by inflammation or pressure and can get worse if the woman makes some kind of effort.
This type of back pain can extend to the entire back of the leg , causing great discomfort. It is also worth remembering that inflammation in the nerve is caused by overusing it with too much weight on someone’s body and has no direct relationship to the baby’s position within the woman’s body.
Pelvic Pain
This is the most common type of back pain in pregnancy and should be treated differently from others. The treatment needs to be accompanied by your doctor so that the pain situation does not get worse and does not lead to other problems. The pain is also felt in the lower back , from the pelvic area, but if it is not well treated, it can even extend to the pubic bone.
Night Pain
Some pregnant women feel pain only at bedtime , caused by fatigue in the muscles that accumulates all the effort made by the back during the whole day. Although it is not the most frequent pain in pregnant women, night pain can significantly affect the lives of some women, but the treatment of this type of pain is usually smooth and effective.
How to Prevent Back Pain
Of course, back pain during pregnancy can appear for a variety of reasons, but that does not mean that there are no ways to prevent it from appearing. Do stretches every day helps the body and spine to prepare for the extra weight your body is gaining.
The practice of yoga or pilates also helps in preventing back pain during pregnancy. Practicing these exercises is not a guarantee that you will not be in pain, but they will certainly make them lighter and that you will be able to deal with them in a better way.
How to relieve back pain in pregnancy?
Since it is almost inevitable that the pains will appear, it is good to know that there are things we can do to get this situation controlled in some way. Some of the main exercises you can do to relieve pain are:
- Trunk elongation
- Posture training
- Pelvic balance
- Walk
- Bodybuilding adapted for pregnant women
- Spine elongation
All of these types of exercise have different functions, but they help to combat the uncomfortable back pain that affects women during pregnancy. Bodybuilding adapted for pregnant women , for example, is a great option to strengthen the muscles and make the pain less.
Walking helps with posture and weight gain control, which makes the body more easily accustomed to the changes. Some of them may work better than others depending on the person who practices them, so it’s good to try them all to find out what types of exercise will work for your situation.
Taking care of the body during pregnancy is more than necessary to maintain your health and, consequently, that of your baby as well. It is important that any discomfort in the back is treated so that the woman does not get complicated and is not in a state where the baby may end up being harmed.
Although this type of pain is very common during pregnancy, many women do not care or think it is a temporary problem, but, as we mentioned earlier, untreated pain can extend after delivery .
So, for both pregnancy and childbirth to be pleasant and without major back pain, it is recommended to do the necessary prevention exercises and treatments for these pains.
See Also: Toothache in Pregnancy, What to Do? How to Relieve?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
