Back discomfort in pregnancy is a prevalent complaint. Your point of gravity shifts, you put on weight, and your hormones loosen the ligaments in your pelvic joints. All these together cause back pain. With proper care, you can generally avoid or manage back pain during and after pregnancy.
Back Pain During Pregnancy
As their tummies expand and their muscles and spine struggle to support the extra weight, many pregnant women get backaches. The hormone Relaxin, which aids in the body’s preparation for birthing, is also produced during pregnancy. Relaxin has a number of effects on the body, including the loosening of ligaments all around, which makes pregnant women]s joints less stable and more prone to injury, especially to their backs.
Back Pain After Pregnancy
Postpartum, the back pain may still be caused in part by many of the same anatomical and functional problems that caused your back discomfort during pregnancy. Your abdominal muscles were stretched, weakened, and your posture changed during pregnancy, which put stress on your back. Having more weight during (and after) pregnancy puts more strain on your joints as well as your muscles. The ligaments and joints that connect your pelvis to your spine were also made loose by hormonal changes that occurred during pregnancy to prepare your body to give birth.
Over the course of nine months, your body underwent several physical and hormonal changes, and the results of those changes won’t vanish immediately. Additionally, especially if your labor was extensive or difficult, you may have used muscles that you don’t typically utilize during labor and delivery, which could result in some soreness and pain from that.
How to Manage Back Pain During & After Pregnancy
- Improve your sleeping position
With one knee bent, sleep on your side. To make sleeping more comfortable, consider utilizing a pregnant pillow. Alternately, place a pillow between your legs and another beneath your stomach for more support.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects
Lifting anything heavier than a few pounds should be avoided. Be careful when lifting big objects (or small people) if you must. Instead of bending at the waist, squat and lift using your legs, not your back. Instead of bending at the waist.
- Try low-impact exercises
You could find that exercise helps to lessen your back pain. Furthermore, exercise is safe for both you and the baby while you are pregnant.
How Physiomobility Can Help
- Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
A specific kind of physical therapy known as pelvic floor physiotherapy focuses on treating pelvic floor muscles. This entails internal vaginal and/or rectal palpation for the assessment and therapy of the muscles if needed. Your pelvic floor can be prepared for labor and delivery by a properly trained pelvic floor physiotherapist, who can also help you after giving birth to rehabilitate these muscles.
- Prenatal Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
To avoid frequent problems during pregnancy, a physiotherapist can assist you in strengthening your pelvic floor. These include pelvic pressure that is too high, low back pain, and more. As your pregnancy draws to a close, we start to emphasize extending the muscles of the pelvic floor by performing perineal massage.
- Postpartum Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
A pelvic floor physiotherapist will assist you after delivery in strengthening your pelvic floor and reintroducing routine activities and exercise. They will aid in reestablishing the core by searching for a diastasis (separation of the abdominal muscles).
- Chiropractic
Typically, receiving chiropractic care while pregnant is a safe and beneficial practice. Your mobility will improve and the pain will be relieved with chiropractic. A spinal adjustment may be carried out by the chiropractor to realign the spine and restore balance to the body. A chiropractor will educate you on proper posture and positioning and will provide exercises to improve your core strength.
- Massage therapist
Your body’s stress hormones can be reduced with massage, which can also relax and loosen your muscles. Additionally, it can boost lymphatic system performance and promote blood flow, both of which are crucial during pregnancy. Additionally, it reunites your mind and body.
Women are urged to consult a doctor to treat the underlying issue and alleviate the symptoms. After giving birth, pain-free backs enable new mothers to care for their babies more skillfully and enjoy the early stages of motherhood.
References
Hirsch, L. (2021). What can I do to relieve my pregnancy backaches. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/achy-back.html
Levine, H. (2022). Postpartum back pain: How to get relief . https://www.babycenter.com/baby/postpartum-health/postpartum-back-pain-how-to-get-relief_1152191#:~:text=Postpartum%20back%20pain%20is%20very,baby%20may%20also%20cause%20pain.
