Good news, you are expecting a bundle of joy! Bad news, you can probably expect some lower back pain during the next forty weeks. However, knowing some of the common reasons women experience lower back pain when pregnant can actually help prevent, or at least lessen the pain.

Spastically, three fourths of all pregnant women will experience back pain at some point during their pregnancy. It helps to know you are not alone in your pain and to know the three main causes for back pain.

The most common reason is bad posture. I know your thinking, "Of course I have bad posture. I have a baby growing inside of me." Well yes. Towards the end of the pregnancy it is almost impossible to have proper body alignment. However, if you see a chiropractor regularly throughout the pregnancy, then the pain can be lessened and sometimes avoided.

Many women believe they can't see a chiropractor or get a massage during pregnancy. This is simply not true. It is true that certain positions will have to be avoided and precautions will have to be taken but it is perfectly safe to see a chiropractor. Just let your chiropractor know you are pregnant and they will guide you safely through your pregnancy.

The next most common reason is the expanding uterus. Again, you already know your uterus is expanding. What that means though is that your abdominal muscles are getting weaker. As they get weaker it puts more strain on your back. Some women find that lying on their back and pulling their legs into their stomach relieves the strain and tension on the back muscles. This is even more reason to schedule a weekly massage. If growing a baby in your womb isn't reason enough to get a massage then an aching back should be!

Finally, if all that wasn't enough, then your hormones work against you too. During pregnancy your body produces a hormone called relaxin. Sounds good right? Well yeah. It actually is. It allows your abdominal muscles to relax enough to stretch and make room for the baby, but in the process it relaxes other muscles causing lower back pain.

There you have it. The joys of pregnancy. It really isn't that bad if you know what to expect. You can even take some preventive measures. Since 75% of women can expect some sort of lower back pain in their pregnancy, it is a good idea to seek preventive treatment. Studies have shown that strengthening the abdominal muscles can make pregnancy easier and more pleasant.

I don't know about you but during pregnancy I have enough going on without worrying about back pain. Personally, I enjoyed my weekly appointment with my massage therapist and chiropractor. I really enjoyed that my massage therapist was part of my chiropractor's office because it was part of my whole body health. This was part of my wellness package and made my entire pregnancy more enjoyable.