How Can Back Pain During Pregnancy Be Treated
Back pain is very common in pregnancy and is usually not serious. While it may not be completely preventable, there are some changes you can make to reduce the severity or frequency of your back pain. Some treatments for back pain include:
While these treatments can help reduce symptoms of back pain, some small changes in your habits can also help prevent triggering or worsening back pain. Some changes are:
- If you need to pick something up from the ground, squat down instead of bending over.
- Avoid wearing high heels or other shoes that do not provide adequate support.
- Avoid sleeping on your back.
- Elevate your feet often, especially when sitting for a prolonged period of time.
- Wear a support belt or support hose, if needed.
Unless you experienced chronic back pain prior to pregnancy, your pain will most likely ease gradually before you give birth.
What Are Some Symptoms Of Back Pain During Pregnancy
The symptoms of back pain during pregnancy are very similar to the symptoms of back pain prior to pregnancy. Some of the symptoms include:
- Pain in the center of your back
- Pain above or at the sides of the waistline
- Pain over the pubic bone
- Pain in the buttocks or thighs
- Pain that can radiate to the legs
- Stiffness or discomfort after sitting or standing for long period of time
When There Is Numbness
Even though the cause of numbness is usually not a more worrisome condition, like preterm labor, it could signify compression of the sciatic nerve or other nerves that connect your spine to the lower body and pelvic area. Sciatic nerve pain is common during pregnancy, and you may be able to find relief by working with a chiropractor or physical therapist to open up the area and keep oxygen-rich blood flowing freely. But if you experience numbness, tingling, or a sharp, shooting pain in your buttocks, legs, or feet, call your doctor to make sure there are no serious conditions.
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Signs Of Miscarriage In Diagnostic Tests
A pregnant person should seek medical attention at the first sign of a suspected miscarriage. The diagnostic tests to confirm a miscarriage and possible treatment options will depend on the type of miscarriage a person is having.
Early miscarriages are most commonly diagnosed using a combination of tests, including:
Causes Of Labor Back Pain
During labor, the most common source of back pain is from the babys head exerting pressure on the lower back, which happens when the babys head is down and facing forward.
Some underlying health conditions, such as scoliosis and exaggerated swayback, or lordosis, may also cause lower back pain during labor.
Having a small waist can exacerbate back pain as this may cause the babys head to exert more pressure on the lower back when giving birth.
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Varicose Veins And Leg Oedema
Varicose veins of the legs are very common in pregnancy due to a combination of factors, including increased volume of circulating blood during pregnancy, and pressure of the pregnant uterus on the larger veins. This increased pressure on the veins can also result in swelling of the legs that can cause pain, feelings of heaviness, cramps and other unusual sensations.
If you have varicose veins, it is recommended that you:
- Wear support stockings.
- Avoid standing for long periods.
- Exercise gently and regularly .
- Lie down to rest with feet elevated, when you can.
- Try massaging your legs.
What Are Some Causes Of Back Pain During Pregnancy
There are several reasons why you may experience back pain during pregnancy. Sone of the most common causes include:
- Weight gain: As you gain weight during pregnancy, the spine has to support that added weight. That change causes lower back pain. The weight of the growing baby and uterus can also put pressure on the blood vessels and nerves in the pelvis and back, causing pain.
- Changes in hormones: During pregnancy, your body releases a hormone called relaxin that allows ligaments in the pelvic area to relax and joints to loosen in preparation for giving birth. The hormone can cause ligaments that support the spine to loosen as well. This, along with the shifting of joints, can lead to instability and pain.
- Changes in posture: Poor posture, excessive standing or sitting, and bending over can trigger or increase your back pain. In addition, while youre pregnant, your center of gravity shifts forward as your uterus and baby grow, causing your posture and the way you move to change. This can result in strain and pain.
- Stress: Stress can cause muscle tension in the back, resulting in back pain or back spasms. You may experience an increase in back pain during stressful periods of your pregnancy.
- Chronic back pain prior to pregnancy.
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Lower Back Pain In Early Pregnancy Why It Happens
Regarding this back pain in early pregnancy, our favourite GP, Dr Philippa Kaye, tells us whats going on: Firstly, the follicle which produced the egg when you ovulated now forms the corpus luteum, which can become a cyst.
It is involved in producing hormones and supporting the embryo as it implants and in the early stages before the placenta takes over.
A corpus luteum cyst can cause pain in the pelvis or in the lower back. Generally no action is needed and it goes away as the placenta takes over.
The hormones of pregnancy kick in early and dont just affect your womb or your breasts, they work everywhere and work to loosen the joints of the pelvis to allow you to deliver the baby later.
And this can mean that you get backache. Stress may also contribute.
Cool It Can Lower Back Pain Be A Sign Of Early Pregnancy
Ice is best in the initial 24 to two days after an injury since it lowers inflammation. Even though the heat feels excellent because it aids conceal the pain and it does assist kick back the muscular tissues, the warm in fact irritates the inflammatory procedures. After two days, you can change to heat if you like. Whether you use warmth or ice take it off after around 20 minutes to provide your skin a remainder. If pain continues, talk with a doctor.
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Sour Or Metallic Taste
Forum mum sealeyB says she had a really metallic taste in her mouth very soon after ovulation and it didnt go for 2 weeks. And shes definitely not alone in experiencing this early pregnancy symptom.
Experiencing strange tastes, known as dysgeusia, is one of the lesser-known but actually quite common early pregnancy signs, says Dr. Amin Gorgy. And, once again, pregnancy hormones are the culprit.
The metallic taste symptom can vary in its intensity but its definitely sour. Its as if I have sucked 2p pieces! says forum mum-to-be Deli3.
What Causes Low Back Pain Before Periods
If you are close to your period and now experiencing low back hurting or abdominal cramps, its likely your period will start in a few days. These symptoms now occur because of hormone changes before or after ovulation.
Before ovulation , your brains Hypothalamus will coordinate the release of estrogen.
Estrogen helps start the build up of the endometrium that is washed out during previous menses. Other effects of estrogen are increased sexual urge and watery vaginal discharge before ovulation.
After ovulation takes place, estrogen levels drop with increase in progesterone and relaxin.
Progesterone helps thicken the endometrium even more and prepare your womb for your next period or pregnancy.
During this period , changes will begin to occur in your mood, concentration, breast, vaginal discharge and even the way you look.
Progesterone causes your breast to feel heavy and bigger with sometimes pain. Your vaginal discharge that was watery before ovulation , becomes thick and sticky.
This rise is progesterone that occurs after ovulation begins to fall if you dont get pregnant. This sudden drop in estrogen and progesterone is the reason you now have PMS symptoms like sleepless nights, abdominal cramps, fatigue, and a low back pain.
The other hormone, relaxin, which is released after ovulation, reaches its peak the day before your next period.
If you get pregnant, this hormone will continue to rise and prevents contraction of your womb in early pregnancy.
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Spotting Or Light Bleeding
Its not unusual at all to have light spotting or bleeding in early pregnancy in fact, it can occur in around 20% of pregnancies.
Dr Larisa explains the science behind it: This is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy and is usually associated with implantation bleeding when the fertilized egg or embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. The embryo usually implants between 6 to 12 days after conception.
Not all women will get spotting though, so dont worry its not a reflection of how successful the implantation has been!
Forum mum xFran82x says she had implantation bleeding 8 days after ovulating. I had some watery pink discharge when I wiped a few times, she says, and then found 2 dots of brown blood on my pants. I tested the next afternoon and got a faint positive result.
And it was similar for BabyGirlsMummy: I had a regular 28 day cycle and the implantation bleeding was about a week before Id have expected my period. Mine was some pink cervical mucus for a couple of days enough that I needed a panty liner.
If you do bleed, our expert say you should definitely get anything unusual checked out by your doctor. In most cases, spotting is nothing to worry about, says Dr Amin, but it can be a sign of something more serious like an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. If you experience any bleeding thats not normal for you, seek immediate medical attention.
Tender Tingly Darker More Sticky Out Nipples
Your nipples may also change significantly during the early weeks of pregnancy. Your nipples may begin to ache, tingle or protrude more than usual, says midwife Ellie. The areoles the dark circle around your nipple may also become even darker and larger.
Tender nipples were the first sign for Tamarabell on our forum. I started to get a feeling I was pregnant about 1.5 weeks before I was due on, so pretty early, she says. I had really tender nipples and sort of butterflies in my tummy for a few days. My test came up positive the week before I was due. The doctor didnt believe it and made me do another one. I just sort of knew that something was different!
Whod have thought wed ever get excited about sore/dark nipples! adds lynz_81, whos been pregnant before. Be warned: they will only get bigger and darker now!
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Medical Conditions That May Cause Cramping And Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy
While many of the causes for lower back pain during pregnancy can be considered normal, there are a few medical conditions that could lead to lower back pain and/or cramping in early pregnancy. For instance, Dr. Ward explains that certain medical conditions, such as preterm labor and kidney infections, can be perceived as back pain but they should not be ignored.
Dr. Bohn adds that a kidney infection can result from bacteria in a pregnant womans urine that can travel to the kidneys and cause an infection.
This can occur if there is bacteria present in the urinary system that is not treated.
Preterm labor can feel like back pain that is rhythmic, while a kidney infection may feel like pain in either or both sides of the back, along with a fever and chills and sometimes nausea and vomiting. If you experience either of those symptoms, you should call your doctor right away.
Causes Of Back Pain During Early Pregnancy
One of the major culprits of back pain during pregnancy is the action of hormones. The function of these hormones in pregnancy is to prepare the ligaments and joints in your pelvis for childbirth, but they can act on any joint in your body too. Bob explains back pain during early pregnancy is really due to hormonal changes particularly with progesterone and relaxin. Their job is to prepare the pelvic cavity for pregnancy. These hormones help to relax the pelvic muscles and loosen the ligaments and soft tissues, which can lead to the back being overburdened.
For some newly expectant mothers, back pain is an early sign of pregnancy. Early pregnancy back pain can be exacerbated by worries about the baby and the pregnancy and related stress which can increase muscle tension and cause discomfort. Other stresses such as family, work or other issues, coupled with the release of progesterone and relaxin which are helping your joints and ligaments get ready for the process of giving birth, are bound to contribute to an aching back.
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What Are The Risk Factors For Lower Back Pain In Pregnancy
- If you have had a history of back pain, or a chronic back condition, youre twice as likely to experience lower back pain during your pregnancy than someone who doesnt.
- Despite the fact that many people think becoming pregnant at an older age will make it harder on your body, it has been shown that pregnant women who are younger than 20 years old are more likely to suffer from lower back pain.
- There also seems to be a need to strike a balance between being sedentary and being very active, especially in your work. Studies have shown that people who are less active have an increased risk of pregnancy-related lower back pain than those who have a more active lifestyle. However, if you could describe your work as mostly active or physically demanding, then youre all at an increased risk of developing pain during pregnancy .
- The other bad news is- if you experience back pain during one pregnancy, it predisposes you to have it in any future preganancy also. In fact, this increases the risk from around 50% in your first pregnancy to around 85% in any later ones.
- On a similar note- the more pregnancies you have, the more likely you are to suffer lower back pain also.
Reasons For Chronic Lower Neck And Back Pain
Pain is thought about chronic as soon as it lasts for more than 3 months and goes beyond the bodys all-natural healing process. Persistent pain in the low back commonly includes a disc trouble, a joint problem, and/or an aggravated nerve root. Common reasons include:
Back herniated disc. The jelly-like facility of a back disc can appear the tough outer layer and irritate a neighboring nerve root. The herniated portion of the disc teems with proteins that create swelling when they reach a nerve origin, and swelling, along with nerve compression, trigger nerve origin pain. The disc wall is likewise richly supplied by nerve fibers, and also a tear with the wall surface can cause severe pain.
Degenerative disc condition. At birth, intervertebral discs have lots of water and at their healthiest. As individuals age with time, discs lose hydration as well as wear down. As the disc sheds hydration, it can not stand up to pressures as well, and also transfers pressure to the disc wall surface that might create rips and cause pain or weakening that can cause a herniation. The disc can likewise break down and add to constriction. Can Lower Back Pain Be A Sign Of Early Pregnancy
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How To Treat Cramping And Lower Back Pain During Early Pregnancy
If youre looking for some relief for your lower back pain during pregnancy, Dr. Ward explains that staying active before, during and after pregnancy is actually key to minimizing pregnancy discomfort.
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Your usual routine may be uncomfortable during pregnancy, so dont hesitate to modify your activities or try new ones, such as swimming or riding a stationary bike, she suggests. Swimming is great because the water is buoyant and creates a feeling of weightlessness, and biking will make your growing belly feel more stable as there isnt as much unsupported stress on the ligaments holding up the uterus.
She also recommends other remedies such as ice packs, heating pads, stretching and relaxation. Massage, topical muscle ointments or occasional Tylenol can also be helpful.
You may also find that using a supportive measure, like belly bands or another pregnancy garment, can help take some of the additional pressure off of your back, and extra pillows at night can offer support to the abdomen, which can take strain off of the back.
And dont overlook the basics, like supportive footwear and proper lifting techniques to minimize back pain. If your back pain is severe, she also notes that physical therapy can be helpful if pain doesnt improve, along with alternative measures like acupuncture and chiropractic techniques, as long as you get a recommendation from your doctor first.
What’s Not A Sign Of Pregnancy
Some of the most Googled questions around early pregnancy symptoms are:
- Early signs of pregnancy discharge.
- White discharge sign of pregnancy.
- Is spotting a sign of pregnancy?
- Pimples sign of pregnancy.
Discharge on its own isn’t an early symptom of pregnancy , but a clear discharge in conjunction with other pregnancy symptoms is possible.
Again, pimples on their own aren’t a sign of pregnancy, but if you are pregnant, your increased levels of progesterone can cause your skin to produce more sebum , which can lead to blocked pores and types of pimples.
As for spotting spotting isn’t an early sign of pregnancy, but if you are pregnant and have spotting, talk to your obstetrician.
Dr Sgroi added, “Spotting in pregnancy is not usual 25 per cent of pregnancies will have an element of spotting early on and that might have nothing to do with the pregnancy and more to do with the cervix bleeding a little bit, but you’d want to tell you doctor if you have any bleeding.”
“Spotting is something we’d be wanting to know about because that could mean a whole range of things not necessarily related to becoming pregnant. We’d be worried about miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy .”
Psst: So, you’re growing a human inside you. Listen to Hello Bump. Post continues after audio.
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