Pregnancy is the most wonderful time for a woman as she awaits the birth of a child and prepares for a new chapter in her life. But there are many physical changes implicated with pregnancy which endures as this new life grows inside her. Such physical changes often result in discomfort - some are minimal but some are quite acute, including the aches and pains associated with a widening frame and growing belly. Subsequently, back pain during pregnancy is most common, with most of the pregnant women reporting discomfort of this kind.
It is not difficult to understand the actual reason of back pain during pregnancy. As the fetus grows inside the womb, the pregnant woman's body weight inevitably increases and her frame shifts to accommodate the space in which the baby resides. For any people who carry extra body weight - and most especially a pregnant woman, back pain is generally part of the consequences. The spines carry the body weight and when that weight is increased the spine have to adjust accordingly. This puts quite a burden on the backs and can result in serious discomfort; nowhere is this more evident than with back pain during pregnancy.
Further, under average circumstances, the strength of the abdominal muscles significantly affects the back muscles and joints. The abdominal core supports the back muscles, lending it a hand in accommodating the weight of the body. In the case of a pregnant woman, the back never grows with the growing abdomen; posture is impacted and the woman's center of gravity is compromised. Back pain during pregnancy can also come from growing breasts which is another consequence of a changing body.
Another type of back pain during pregnancy includes the experiencing of back labor closer to the woman's delivery date which is an incredibly uncomfortable occurrence. These labor pains should be monitored closely by the doctor. While some back labor is considered as false labor, other back pains may be associated with the real thing. So women must be sure to consult their obstetrician if they are experiencing back labor pains. Different doctors suggest different things to combat back pain during pregnancy including the use of a belly belt that helps support the back and the abdomen; light exercises to help strengthen and stretch the back muscles, body pillows used at night that allow women to sleep on their side with support, and pregnancy massage.
The use of painkillers or other medications of any kind is strongly discouraged during pregnancy so it's best to work within these natural approaches. The perfect body posture and proper body mechanics also play an important role in keeping one free of early pregnancy back pain. The right posture of the body for prevention of back pain early pregnancy is standing straight and tall. However, the importance for correct postures is as important in early pregnancy as before that. However, in late pregnancy, as the uterus gets enlarged, one tends to pull back her shoulders to offset the additional weight, which results in a back strain. Women can reduce back pain during later stages of pregnancy in such a position by frequently changing their sitting position and avoiding standing for long periods.
