Body aches and discomforts are common throughout pregnancy. Your baby is growing inside your tummy, which puts extra pressure on your joints and muscles, causing pain. Back pain during pregnancy is normal, but it can be exhausting for pregnant women as they cannot carry out their daily routine. Intense back pain that never subsides can be a sign of pregnancy risk. Consult your doctor when you suffer from severe back pain. This article gives a clear overview of the causes and treatment for back pain during pregnancy.
Most pregnant women experience sharp and intense pain in the lower back due to several reasons. You may experience pain in the back in the 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, or 3rd trimester. The physical changes in your body to accommodate the growing fetus may cause back pain. Some experience pain during the fifth and seventh months or in early pregnancy. Factors like weight, posture, and centre of gravity can result in back pain during pregnancy 3rd trimester.
Several reasons contribute to back pain during pregnancy. Know about the potential causes that result in back pain in pregnancy:
Although back pain during pregnancy is normal, it can be dangerous when you experience back pain along with certain symptoms, including intense pain, pain that lasts for 2 weeks, frequent abdominal cramps, vaginal discharge and bleeding, fever, and tingling sensation in legs. When you suffer from severe pain along with any of the above symptoms, it is better to consult your doctor immediately to avoid complications.
At times back pain during pregnancy may increase the chance of dangerous pregnancy complications. Look for other symptoms when you suffer from intense back pain, as it can lead to some adverse complications during pregnancy.
● Urinary Tract Infections: When you suffer from back pain and fever, it may be due to an infection in your bladder or kidney, resulting in a UTI. This is a serious risk, and the condition must be treated with antibiotics as soon as possible.
● Preterm Labour: At times, sharp and intense back pain can be a sign of preterm labour.
● Accidental Fall: As your posture changes due to the weight of the baby, you may lose balance, resulting in accidental falls.
● Sciatica: There are chances for back pain to radiate to the legs, causing numbness and pain in the legs, resulting in sciatica pain, a serious nerve disorder.
So, never ignore the other symptoms when you experience back pain, as it can be due to other medical conditions.
Pain medications prescribed by your doctor can help get rid of back pain during pregnancy. Here are some effective tips for pregnancy back pain relief.
● Good posture: Always make sure you maintain the right posture. This helps to distribute the weight evenly, reducing strain on the lower abdomen and pelvis and relieving back pain.
● Never sleep on your back: Avoid sleeping on your back during pregnancy, as it puts extra pressure on your back.
● Take frequent naps: When suffering from back pain, you may feel better when you get ample rest. This soothes your back, relieving the pain.
● Offer cold and hot packs: Cold and hot packs relax the muscles around your abdomen and back, easing the pain.
● Stretching exercise helps: Practice stretching exercises like standing pelvic tilt and backward stretch to ease back pain.
● Avoid using heeled shoes.
● Do not bend over when you pick things from the floor
● Maintain the right posture
● Keep an eye on your weight gain
Back pain during pregnancy is normal and caused by hormonal changes and the weight of the growing baby. Pregnancy back pain relief strategies like exercise, massage, and hot and cold packs can help relieve back pain. Consult your doctor when you notice unusual symptoms along with back pain, as it can be a sign of serious pregnancy complications.
You can reduce back pain during pregnancy by improving your posture. You can also do so by stretching your body, applying hot or cold packs, and using a maternity belt to provide additional support to your abdomen. You can also utilise prenatal back massages.
Yes, the position of your baby inside your tummy can cause back pain in pregnant women. When the baby’s head is pushing against your lower back or tailbone, you can experience back pain.
Yes, you can give a cold compress on your back to ease back pain during pregnancy.
It is completely normal to have back pain during pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and the growing baby that tries to accommodate your tummy may cause back pain during pregnancy.
