Causes And Risks Factors Of Back Pain During Pregnancy
- Postural Changes. Its not surprise that our bodies change during pregnancy. The belly obviously gets larger, but other things change too. Our pelvis tilts forward more and our feet have to sit wider to improve our support base. Typically our shoulders and upper back round more due to things like growing breasts. This can take a toll on our muscles and lead to back pain.
- Hormonal Changes. While we dont know exactly how much hormones affect back pain, it is true that there are a lot of hormonal changes during pregnancy. Some of those hormonal changes lead to increased laxity or elasticity in the ligaments. This means our muscles have to work harder to maintain support of our spine and pelvis. Hormonal changes can increase constipation during pregnancy which can actually contribute to back pain.
- Position of Baby. This may actually affect pelvic pain more if babys head or foot is sitting in an uncomfortable place. But its possible it could increase back pain.
How To Reduce Back Pain After C
How to Reduce Back Pain after C-section Naturally?
Hello, to all loving and strong mothers, wish you a very happy motherhood journey.in this article, I will explain to you how to reduce your back pain and the reason behind back pain after a c-section.
I know women go through a lot .as a physiotherapist I know what are the management of back pain after a c-section. but after being a mother and going through a c-section. I know its a little tough in the beginning. c-section is a major abdominal surgery .right after surgery we have to feed our baby, have sleepless nights, lift baby and whatnot.
thats why writing this blog so that mothers get educated and live pain-free life.
How To Detect Adhesions After A C
C-sections are one of the most common surgeries. Some women opt for a caesarean section while others may have to undergo this surgery because of some health complications they might be facing while pregnant.
Most c-sections are routine and go as planned. However, many women are unaware of the post-surgical complications that can occur months or even years after a caesarean section.
When the body heals from the procedure, it forms bands of internal scar tissue called adhesions. Adhesions can cause a host of problems if left untreated, including chronic pain, female infertilityand life-threatening bowel obstructions.
Many of us know about the scar that is left after c-section, but you may be surprised to learn that the way your scar looks can be an indication of your internal healing.
Research now suggests that there is a strong correlation between the physical characteristics of an external c-section scar and the adhesions underneath it.
This article explains the symptoms of this conditions after c-sections, prevention tips and best way to treat it.
Recommended Reading: What Is Best For Back Muscle Pain
Ways To Get Relief From Back Pain Post Delivery
Back pain after childbirth ranges from mild to severe, and it differs from person to person. The pain might subside gradually as your body gets back to normal. Meanwhile, you may use these simple tips to relieve the back pain post-pregnancy:
- Lie on your back. Bend the knees and keep your feet flat on the floor.
- Breathe in and let your belly expand.
- Breathe out, keeping your hips on the floor and bring your tailbone towards the belly button. Tighten your buttocks and release.
- Repeat it 8-10 times.
Note: If you have had a C-section, then you may have to wait for at least six weeks before you start with this exercise.
What Is Postpartum Back Pain
Many women experience back stiffness and soreness after giving birth, and it’s normal if you feel like this pain makes taking care of and carrying your newborn around uncomfortable.
Back pain after pregnancy is very common, especially in your lower back. Research suggests that up to as many as twenty percent of women experience this discomfort for three to six months after giving birth. Back pain after you’ve had a c-section is also possible: Since it typically takes longer to recover from a c-section than it does to recover from a vaginal birth, the fact that you might be moving around less could cause your core muscles to weaken.
You may experience tailbone pain after birth, or you may have upper back pain postpartum too, from lifting your baby, leaning over their crib or bassinet, wrestling with the car seat and stroller, and hunching your back while breastfeeding.
You May Like: Who Can I See For Back Pain
Ways To Prevent Back Pain After Delivery
Oct. 17, 2001 — You thought that back pain would go away once you delivered your baby. Well, guess again. It often comes right back, but experts have developed 10 ways to help you prevent the back pain that often comes with being a new mom.
Close to 50% of women have back pain while pregnant, which usually goes away after a week or two — only to return again.
“At first, new moms are lifting seven to 10 pounds 50 times a day, and by 12 months, they likely are chasing and lifting a 17-pound child. Two years later, mothers will be lifting a 25-pound to 30-pound child,” says Alan M. Levine, MD, in a news release. Levine is clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at University of Maryland in Baltimore.
Levine, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, developed 10 back pain prevention tips for new moms and presented them at a meeting of back pain experts.
One important note for women who have had their baby by C-section: You should wait six weeks and get permission from your doctor before you begin exercising, Levine says.
Show Sources
Causes Of C Section Back Pain
Experiencing back pain after a C section can be a significant problem if you are still healing from your surgery. However, you would not be expecting back pain and would be hurting in more places than you imagined.
There are several reasons leading to the occurrence of lower back pain after a C section. Here are a few of the causes of pain in your lower and upper back:
- Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes can be one of the reasons if you are searching for C section side effects or back pain online. Being pregnant has several side effects like increasing the size of your stomach and other factors that lead to lower back pain after a C section.
While pregnant, your body releases a particular pregnancy hormone known as relaxin. It helps prepare the body for giving birth and helps loosen the ligaments and the joints so that it becomes easier for you to push out the baby. The hormone is released irrespective of the delivery method you are thinking about undergoing. When your ligaments and joints become loose, it becomes quite easy for you to strain your back, leading to lower or mid-back pain. If you wonder how to reduce back pain after a C section naturally, you will be relieved to know that the joints, muscles and ligaments strengthen in the months after giving birth.
Also Check: Does Indigestion Cause Back Pain
Give Yourself A Massage
Massages have long been used to prevent and reduce the appearance of C-section scars. They increase circulation, bringing fresh blood and nutrients to the suture site. Self-massage can help with tissue healing in the area of your incision and around it. It can help your scar lay flatter and be less sensitive and over time, less painful, notes Dr. Cait.
You’ll want to wait at least two to four weeks before you massage the suture site, sooner if your provider approves it.
These are general goals for scar massage that youll want to run by your provider first, notes Dr. Cait:
- Weeks 2-4: Try to touch your scar
- Weeks 4-8: Massage around your scar
- Weeks 8-12: Massage the middle of your scar
- Weeks 12+: Massage the whole scar including the ends
Massage can get progressively deeper and more mobilizing the further out you get in your healing, Dr. Cait says. For more specific directions seek care from a physical therapist that is certified as a pelvic health specialist or womens health specialist.
Related: 13 incredibly powerful c-section photos
Back And Leg Pain After C
Your legs can also hurt along with your back and this mainly happens due to muscle spasms.
You should rest and relax as much as you can. Try a massage that will release the spasm and make you feel relaxed.
Leg pain can also occur due to nerve damage. You should ask your doctor for advice in case the pain is followed by numbness.
Read Also: How To Cure Severe Back Pain
When To See A Doctor For Back Pain After A C
Although back pain after a C-section is common, dont ignore severe pain. This includes pain that prevents you from sleeping at night or makes it difficult to move or hold your baby.
Your doctor might need to prescribe a stronger pain medication. Depending on the severity of pain, you may need to work with a physical therapist to strengthen your abdominal or back muscles and relieve pain.
Its also important to see a healthcare provider when a fever or numbness accompanies back pain. This could be a sign of neurological complications from anesthesia.
How To Deal With Back Pain After C Section
In case you develop severe back pain following C-section, it is recommended to visit your physician and get a detailed check up so as to rule out any underlying disorder. In some cases, your physician may not be able to find a cause of your pain. In such scenarios you can try certain home remedies. Lets discuss some of these home remedies.
1. Alternate Hot and Cold Remedies
To relieve back pain from C section, you may apply alternate hot and cold remedies to your body. All you require is to lie on an ice pack or heating pad for 20-30 minutes alternatively regularly.
2. Choose the Correct Mattress
Choose a mattress that has even surface and that is not very soft to your spine. Specifically designed mattresses including latex foam, memory foam, inner spring, air etc. are available these days in the market. However, you should take advice from a chiropractor or a doctor before investing in a specifically designed mattress.
3. Exercise for Low Back Pain
4. Take a Hot Bath
You can take a hot bath to relieve low back pain following C-section. Dissolve some Epsom salt in hot water and soak in it. It can relieve all the soreness in your back muscles.
5. Massage
Get yourself a good massage. Though it wouldnt treat the underlying cause of low back pain, but it helps in relaxing and temporarily soothing tense shoulders, pulled muscles and easing low back pain. If you cant pay for a massage at a spa or a massage parlor, you can ask your friend or partner to give you a massage.
You May Like: How Many Sessions Of Acupuncture For Back Pain
How Long Does Back Pain After Pregnancy Pain Last
Postpartum back pain usually gets better within a few months after delivery, though some women may continue to have pain for longer.
If you had back pain before or during pregnancy, you’re more likely to have persistent back pain after giving birth too, especially if your pain was severe or began relatively early on in your pregnancy. Being overweight also increases the risk of chronic back pain.
If you do have lingering postpartum back pain, its a good idea to mention it to your OB or midwife at your postpartum check-up. They can refer you to a back-pain specialist or a physical therapist, who can teach you exercises to strengthen your core and back muscles.
Practicing Proper Body Mechanics
Keep these tips in mind throughout the day:
- Stand and sit up straight.
- Pay attention to your body position when feeding your baby, whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Choose a comfortable chair with armrests, and use lots of pillows to give extra support to your back and arms. If you’re breastfeeding, consider buying a breastfeeding pillow that goes around your middle. Try a footstool to keep your feet slightly raised off the floor, which can help with proper posture.
- Learn the proper breastfeeding positions: For starters, always bring your baby to your breast, rather than the other way around. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with different breastfeeding positions until you find what’s most comfortable. If you have tense shoulders and upper postpartum back pain, a side-lying position may provide some relief. If you need more help with breastfeeding, a lactation consultant can be a good resource.
- Always bend from your knees, not your waist, and pick up objects from a crouching position to minimize the stress you’re putting on your back.
- Let someone else do the heavy lifting for a while, especially if you’ve had a c-section.
You May Like: What Is The Treatment For Herniated Disc In Lower Back
Neck And Back Pain From Lifting The Baby And Breastfeeding
Motherhood taxes your posture frequently. Lifting the baby, leaning over cribs and bassinets, and wrestling with car seats, strollers, and travel systems all pose challenges. Breastfeeding can also lead to aches and injuries.
In Discoveries: A Real-Life Stress Test: New program addresses postpartum mood disorders
How To Get Rid Of Back Pain After C
An estimated 50,000 women undergo a cesarean section each year in the United States because of medical necessity. But for those tougher cases where surgery was not necessary and the mothers uterus has been helping to naturally push the baby out of the womb, recovering from a C-section can be more difficult than other birth methods. This is because the surgical trauma incurred by a C-section releases an increased amount of stress hormones that can lead to back pain and pelvic pain.
You May Like: What Is Lower Back Pain Caused From
Avoid Prolonged Static Posture
It is important to pay attention to the joints and muscles of your spine and hip. Prevent fatigue and stresses on these joints by following simple tips, such as:
- Avoid excessive sitting or consider using a standing desk while you work. When you sit for a long duration, the pressure on your spinal discs increase. Aim to get up every hour and walk a short distance to take the load off your discs.
When you have a flare-up of symptoms, consider less exertive activities, such as reading a book, listening to music, or crafting. These activities can help divert your mind from the pain and let your back rest at the same time.
Tailbone Pain After C
Your tailbone might get hurt due to the pressure caused during labor. Even with a c-section, you might end up with pain in the coccyx due to contractions and pressure before the surgery.
This pain on the tailbone usually goes away within 2 months. But if the tailbone is fractured due to immense pressure during pushing, this can take longer.
You can try sitting on a donut-shaped pillow and avoid sitting straight on the chair. Youll find that moving around helps. Try to take a walk. Apply ice on the tailbone to reduce inflammation.
You should take over-the-counter painkillers if the pain subsides. Talk to your doctor if you feel like the coccyx is fractured, which is by the way a rare case.
Read Also: How To Stop Lower Back Pain When Walking
What To Eat After C Section
We all know how hard it is to breastfeed well, but did you also realize that a good diet can make or break breastfeeding success? The post-caesarean delivery period should be rich in critical nutrients such as proteins and minerals. A lack of these will cause constipation which leads only complications like pain down below!
How To Prevent The Formation Of C
It is important to learn that all surgeons are aware of the fact that adhesions may result in complications. Therefore, a number of measures adopted by the surgeons aim at minimising the risk of c-section scar adhesions:
- The use of certain medication may reduce the chances of adhesions.
- One of the most effective and best ways to reduce or prevent the risk of bowel adhesions after a C-section or other kinds of complications is by opting for a vaginal delivery if possible.
You can also read on practical ways to overcome adhesions.
I hope you found this helpful and informative!
All the best to you in your journey to overcoming adhesions.
Stay healthy and never give up!
UterineAdhesion.com
You May Like: What Can You Do For Sciatica Back Pain
What If The Back Pain Persists
Suppose you continue to experience severe back pain that wont go away or gradually worsen long after a C-section. It could signify a serious problem such as urinary tract infection or other medical conditions. Its prudent to consult with your doctor and take medications accordingly to relieve the pain.
