Is Back Pain Normal In Pregnancy

Understand And Relieve Common First Trimester Pains

Cramping. The first weeks of pregnancy can usher in a range of ailments including nausea, breast tenderness and spotting. But one of the most common pains is cramping, said Dr. Sherry Ross, an ob-gyn at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Womens Intimate Health. Period.

While these symptoms are uncomfortable, theyre usually a sign that the pregnancy is progressing normally and that the body is preparing for birth and breastfeeding. But cramping that does not subside or is severe can be a sign of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, the latter of which can occur when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, often in a fallopian tube. The egg cant grow properly outside of the uterus and, if left untreated, can rupture other internal organs and cause life-threatening bleeding.

How to relieve it. Before you do anything, call your doctor or midwife. Your practitioner will ask how severe your pain is and, if youre bleeding, by how much. If your symptoms signal an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage, your practitioner may want to see you immediately or send you to the emergency room.

After ruling out anything more serious, try to ease your discomfort by sitting or lying down soaking in a warm bath and staying hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water per day .

How Early Does Back Pain Start In Pregnancy

Studies show that lower back pain usually occurs between the fifth and seventh months of being pregnant, although in some cases it begins as early as eight to 12 weeks. Women with pre-existing lower back problems are at higher risk for back pain, and their back pain can occur earlier in their pregnancy.

Coping With Pregnancy Pains

If you are experiencing sharp or stabbing pain during pregnancy, there are some possible solutions that you can try to alleviate the pain:

• Pregnancy safe stretches
• Experiment with sleeping and sitting positions
• Go on a walk

Again, if the pain becomes too intense or prevents you from doing day-to-day activities, contact your health care provider immediately. Consult with your doctor for more pregnancy-safe pain management ideas.

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So What Can You Do About It

The great news is, there are two exercises you can do right now, in the comfort of your own home, that has the potential to help you tremendously.

The first one is to simply perform the exercise demonstrated in the video above. If youre less than 20 weeks pregnant, its generally safe to lay on your back .

The second thing you can do, is get your Yoga on, and perform this exercise.

Another strategy that has been proven to be helpful in pregnant women is to participate in water aerobics. Studies have shown that women who take part in these classes require less sick leave due to lower back pain during their pregnancy than women who do not .

Finally, you can do some exercises designed to help strengthen you gluteus medium muscle . Were devoting a whole post to this, which is coming soon!

Is Lower Back Pain Normal In Early Pregnancy

Late period, nausea, fatigue, and food cravings are what most women are looking out for as a sign in the early stages of pregnancy. However, lower back pain can be experienced by some women as the first sign of pregnancy, too.

The early signs of pregnancy are mostly similar to what you experience when you are having your period. If back pain is one of them, then be sure you have a higher chance of experiencing it early or throughout your pregnancy.

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When Does Back Pain During Pregnancy Start And End

Unfortunately, back pain can start fairly early on in your pregnancy. Some women experience it in the first trimester, but for many women, back pains starts up around week 18, early in the second trimester. It can persist or sometimes worsen as the second trimester progresses and especially in the third trimester, up until you give birth .

When You Experience Sporadic Pain

Back pain that comes on suddenly and severely — and without an apparent cause — should be examined to rule out the rare but painful conditions of pregnancy-association osteoporosis and arthritis. Also, if you experience back pain following a physical trauma, such as a fall or a car accident, contact your doctor immediately to rule out any serious injury to yourself or the baby.

There is plenty to worry about during pregnancy, but women shouldn’t add back pain in and of itself to their worry list. But neither should they dismiss it as a “normal” part of how the body responds to carrying a child. “Don’t wait until the pain is so severe that you can’t do anything,” says Colleen Fitzgerald, M.D., medical director of the Chronic Pelvic Pain Program at Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Illinois. And “don’t accept that pain is a normal part of pregnancy. Mild to moderate pain that limits function or activity is worth treating and can stop the progression to more severe or even chronic pelvic girdle pain,” Dr. Fitzgerald says. So talk to your doctor for approved pain relief techniques starting them early can help prevent escalating pain and allow you to be active and enjoy your pregnancy.

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Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy

Normal vaginal secretions increase during pregnancy due to greater blood supply and hormones. Normal vaginal discharge is white or clear, isn’t irritating, is odorless, and may look yellow when dry on your underwear or panty liners.

Recommendations:

• Wear low-heeled shoes.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects.
• Squat down with your knees bent when picking things up instead of bending down at the waist.
• Don’t stand on your feet for long periods. If you need to stand for long periods, place one foot on a stool or box for support.
• Sit in a chair with good back support, or place a small pillow behind your lower back. Also, place your feet on a footrest or stool.
• Check that your bed is firm. If needed, put a board between the mattress and box spring.
• Sleep on your left side with a pillow between your legs for support.
• Apply a hot water bottle or heating pad on low setting to your back, take a warm bath or shower, or try massage.
• Perform exercises, as advised by your health care provider, to make your back muscles stronger and help relieve the soreness.
• Maintain good posture. Standing up straight will ease the strain on your back.
• Contact your health care provider if you have a low backache that goes around your stomach and does not go away within one hour after you change position or rest. This might be a sign of premature labor.

Continued

What Causes Spine Pain During Pregnancy

The cause of pregnancy-related back pain is likely related to a combination of mechanical, metabolic, circulatory, and psychosocial contributing factors. However, most of the causes can be grouped into the following areas:

• Weight gain: Women typically gain between 20 and 40 pounds throughout pregnancy, which puts additional pressure on the spine. This added pressure may result in lower back pain.
• Shift in center of gravity: As you gain weight and your belly grows, your ability to maintain proper posture becomes challenged. Posture changes from pregnancy have been connected to lordosis and herniated discs, which may contribute to low back pain.
• Hormonal changes: While most women start experiencing back pain between during the fifth and seventh months, some report back pain in the first trimester. Since the baby isnt large enough to cause any physical stress to the spine, it may be hormonal changes causing pain. Pregnant women produce relaxin, a hormone that relaxes spinal and pelvic ligaments and joints to facilitate childbirth. Relaxin may cause some spinal instability, and this can cause low back pain. In fact, certain hormones produced during pregnancy can cause sacroiliac joint dysfunction, a condition that causes low back pain.
• Increased stress: Pregnancy is an exciting and special time for many women, but it can also be stressful. Stress can worsen back painor even cause it. Finding ways to manage stress during pregnancy may help ease your pain.

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Causes Of Back Pain In The First Trimester

The most common cause of back pain in the first trimester and throughout the pregnancy is hormones. The hormones also contribute a lot to other symptoms experienced in the early stages of pregnancy.

1. Relaxin Hormone

During pregnancy, your body releases hormones that help ligaments and joints in your pelvis to soften and loosen. These hormones are essential for the delivery of the baby later in your pregnancy. But the hormones also move throughout your entire body affecting all your joints. In early pregnancy, this softening and loosening will directly impact your back. Youll feel this in the form of aches and pain in your back.

Progesterone hormone prepares the uterus lining for egg implantation and may be responsible for pregnancy in the first place.

Progesterone also acts as a muscle relaxant preventing contraction of the uterus until labor time. The side effects of progesterone are constipation and mood swings.

Estrogen hormone helps to regulate progesterone while maintaining the endometrial lining. It is responsible for the development of the baby as it promotes an increase in blood flow.

Estrogen causes increased urination as the kidney is at work, processing the extra fluid, and the uterus puts pressure on your bladder. Another side effect of estrogen is a stuffy nose because it may cause swelling on the mucous membrane and nasal passages.

The high levels of hCG indicate that the placenta is being created but can cause nausea in most expectant women.

2. Stress

Unusual Symptoms Of Lower Back Pain In Early Pregnancy

When you have back pain that is accompanied by the below symptoms, it may mean you are having a miscarriage.

• Fading Pregnancy Symptoms When you can no longer feel the early signs of pregnancy symptoms, it may mean you are no longer pregnant.
• Spotting When you have spotting for more than three days with a combination of other symptoms, such as lower back pain and cramps, there might be a need for alarm.
• Abdominal Cramping This is a sign that you are pregnant, but it could also be a sign of preterm labor. Therefore, it needs to be monitored because mild cramps in the abdomen are often the most missed signals for miscarriages. Abdominal cramping affects the lower back and lower abdominal area. The discomfort might prompt you to take medication to reduce the pain. This may not be such a good idea if you arent sure whats causing the problem. The drug might end up aggravating the situation or induce a miscarriage if you were not already going through one.

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How Do I Know If I Have A Uti

• you have to pee a lot
• you feel pain or burning during urination
• your urine is cloudy or blood-tinged
• your lower back or pelvic area hurts
• you experience fever, nausea, or vomiting

A UTI might resolve itself within a couple of days, but it can usually be quickly and easily treated with pregnancy-safe antibiotics. When you’re pregnant, you are advised not to wait, since UTIs are managed more aggressively during pregnancy to avoid complications. It’s best to see your doctor as soon as possible.

Bleeding And Swollen Gums

Discomfort

The increase in your volume of circulation and supply of certain hormones might cause tenderness, swelling and bleeding of your gums.

Recommendations

• Take proper care of your teeth and gums. Brush and floss regularly.
• Get a dental checkup early in your pregnancy to make sure your teeth and mouth are healthy. See your dentist if you have a problem.

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See A Physical Therapist

If your pain is severe or other interventions are not quite doing the trick, a physical therapist may be able to help. Our goal is to reduce muscle tension while preserving muscle strength and correcting the instability that causes the pain.

We will create a personalized plan for you that may include stretching and breathing exercises that can help relax the pelvic floor muscles and improve their length. We may fit you for a belt or brace to help stabilize the pelvis. Therapy may also include manipulation of the tailbone and myofascial release of the pelvic floor muscles that anchor onto the tailbone, from both internally and externally, which can further reduce muscle tension and pain.

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Frequently Asked Questionsexpand All

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Causes Of Back Pain In Pregnancy

There are several physiologic changes that occur in a pregnant body that can explain the increased chance of developing back pain. The most notable is the weight gain that occurs during pregnancy which is typically 25-35 pounds, with at least half of that weight gain occurring in the abdominal region. The weight change also shifts the posture of the spine and changes your body’s center of gravity.

The second major change that occurs is hormonal. These hormone levels that are raised increase the laxity of joints and ligaments in the body. One of these important hormones, called relaxin, has been shown to correlate with symptoms of back pain. Studies have found that women with the highest levels of relaxin often have the most significant back pain.

Frequency And When It Presents

Research shows that around 50% of people who are pregnant will experience low back pain during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. Low back pain during pregnancy can be mild or associated with specific activities. For some people, it can be chronicthat is, pain is persistent and lasts more than three months.

One-third of pregnant people will suffer from severe low back pain that reduces their quality of life, while 10% report that low back pain affects their daily routine and ability to work. For most people, low back pain starts between the fifth and seventh months of pregnancy, but for some, low back pain may occur earlier.

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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 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.

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