Exercises To Ease Back Pain In Pregnancy
This gentle exercise helps to strengthen stomach muscles, which can ease back pain in pregnancy:
1) Start on all fours with knees under hips, hands under shoulders, fingers facing forwards and stomach muscles lifted to keep your back straight.
2) Pull in your stomach muscles and raise your back up towards the ceiling, letting your head and bum relax downwards gently do not let your elbows lock and only move your back as far as you comfortably can.
3) Hold for a few seconds then slowly return to the box position take care not to hollow your back, it should always return to a straight, neutral position.
4) Do this slowly and rhythmically 10 times, making your muscles work hard and moving your back carefully.
Doing prenatal yoga or aquanatal classes with a qualified instructor can also help build your muscles to better support your back. Ask at your local leisure centre.
A Burning Radiating Pain
Sciatica is a condition that feels like a shooting pain down your lower back and legs. Its caused by a pinched or inflamed sciatic nerve, which runs the length of your lower back, down the leg and into your toes. The pain can range from mild to severe, but it often goes away with treatment.
Most women experience some sort of back pain during their pregnancy .
Its very common in pregnancy and often develops in the third trimester, but it can really occur anytime throughout the pregnancy, says ob/gyn Rebecca Starck, MD.
Strengthening Exercises For Back Pain During Pregnancy
Watch:Video: 3 Easy Exercises for Back Pain in Pregnancy
The strengthening poses can be held for 3 to 10 seconds and repeated 10 to 30 times. Breathe out during the exertion phase of the exercise and inhale as you relax. The following are suggested exercises for each of the major muscle groups mentioned:
- Pelvic Tilts : The simplest way to learn the pelvic tilt is to lie on the back with knees bent, feet resting on the floor. Place your hand in the small of your back, and you will most likely notice a space between your back and the floor. Now try to flatten the lower part of the spine against the floor, so that you feel no space between your back and the floor. The buttocks should be relaxed in order to isolate the abdominals. The pelvic tilt can be performed while lying on your back, standing, on your hands and knees, or sitting.
- Arm and Leg Raises : Kneel on your hands and knees with a straight spine. Do a pelvic tilt to keep your pelvis stable and then lift your right arm and left leg to form a straight line with your spine. Pause in this position and then slowly lower your arm and leg. Alternate lifting the opposite arm and leg. If you have difficulty keeping your balance in this position, modify the exercise by performing only the leg or arm raises separately.
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Avoiding And Easing Back Pain In Pregnancy
Try these tips:
- bend your knees and keep your back straight when you lift or pick something up from the floor
- avoid lifting heavy objects
- move your feet when you turn to avoid twisting your spine
- wear flat shoes to evenly distribute your weight
- try to balance the weight between 2 bags when carrying shopping
- keep your back straight and well supported when sitting look for maternity support pillows
- get enough rest, particularly later in pregnancy
- have a massage or a warm bath
- use a mattress that supports you properly you can put a piece of hardboard under a soft mattress to make it firmer, if necessary
- go to a group or individual back care class
You can take paracetamol to ease back pain while you are pregnant, unless your GP or midwife says not to. Always follow the instructions on the packet.
Find The Proper Shoes
You may be a fashion maven who receives regular compliments on your maternity style, but if you’re wearing high-fashion shoes, you’re not doing your back any favors. “High heels increase the curvature of your back and create pressure” that drives the weight of your pregnancy directly into your lower spine and hip joints, Dr. Rosser says. You may also lose your balance and heels cause you to be less stable.
But walking in flats isn’t the answer either, because they leave your feet, which tend to spread during pregnancy because of hormonal changes, unsupported. Poor foot position can manifest itself as imbalance and pain all the way up your legs and back. To get the best support-and to relieve the most pressure-Dr. Rosser advises a low-heeled shoe that is comfortable with either a built-in arch support or an orthotic insertion. The slight rise of the low heel will help distribute the weight that’s on your legs in a more stable and back-supportive way.
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Contact Your Family Doctor If:
- Your pain worsens or does not go away after 2 weeks. Back pain could be a sign of preterm labor.
- You lose feeling in your back, legs, pelvis, or genital area.
- You have a fever, a burning feeling when you pee, or vaginal bleeding. You may have a urinary tract infection or kidney infection.
- You have an injury or trauma that results in back pain.
Think About Your Posture
When youre standing up, keep your head up and your shoulders back as much as you can.
When sitting on a chair, try to keep:
- your hips level with or slightly higher than your knees
- your bottom at the back of the chair
- your back supported by the chair
- your feet resting flat on the floor.
If you work in an office, the top of your computer screen should be set up just below eye level. Your keyboard should be at a comfortable height so your forearms are flat. Try to get up regularly so you dont get stiff.
Try not to slump when youre sitting on the sofa. Use cushions to support your back and have your feet resting on the floor. It may help to lie on your side if you are watching TV or relaxing.
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Focus On Your Posture
As your uterus expands, the way you stand and walk may change. Your body is naturally accommodating for the shift in your center of gravity and the laxity of your ligaments. At night, you may be most comfortable sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs. Also, your lower back might curve more inward while your pelvis tips forward. To straighten up, work on regularly strengthening your pelvic floor and core muscles.
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Tips For Getting In And Out Of Bed With Back Pain
- Try to avoid lying flat for long periods of time. Its better for your back and your baby to lie on your side.
- You may find it more comfortable to have a pillow under your bump or between your knees to support your back. This can help you sleep better, too.
- Some women find pregnancy pillows can help, but they can be pricey. You may find a normal pillow does the trick.
- If you are getting pain in your hip from lying on your side, it may help to place a duvet under your sheet or use a memory-foam topper for a softer mattress.
Getting in and out of bed can get more difficult as your bump gets bigger. To take the strain off your back, try rolling onto your side moving your shoulders, hips and knees at the same time. Let your legs ease off the edge of the bed and put your feet on the floor. At the same time, use your arms to push yourself up to a sitting position.
Doing this all as one movement can be more comfortable. Try the movement backwards to get back into bed.
Treatment For Early Back Pain During Pregnancy
No matter what stage of your pregnancy youre in, there are ways to treat back pain. You probably wont be able to prevent it completely, but you can help to minimize the pain.
Follow these tips for reducing back pain throughout your pregnancy.
If your back pain seems to be linked to your stress levels, things like meditation, prenatal yoga, and extra rest can all be helpful ways to manage your stress levels.
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Stretches For Sciatic Nerve Pain
Light back stretching is a great way to relieve sciatic nerve pain. If youre further along in your pregnancy, remember to avoid any stretches that involve lying on your backthis causes your uterus to press against a large vein that leads to your heart, which can make you feel lightheaded or weak.
Seated Piriformis Stretch
The piriformis muscle is deep in your glutes, and spasms in these muscles can lead to sciatica pain.
- Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground
- Lift your left leg, and place your left ankle on your right knee
- Lean forward slowly, keeping your back straight
- Youll start to feel the stretch in your lower back and glutes
- Hold the stretch for 30 seconds
- Repeat with your right leg
Childs Pose
This yoga pose is popular for a reasonits meant to be restful and restorative, as well as to give your back and thigh muscles a good stretch. Prenatal yoga in general is an excellent, low impact way for you to stay active, and relieve pain, while pregnant.
- Kneel on a soft surface, like carpet or a yoga mat
- Touch your big toes together and spread your knees apart to make room for your belly
- Keep your back straight, and rest your forehead on the floor
- Reach your arms out straight, past your head, while you inhale
- Sit back on your legs, bringing your bottom towards your heels, while you exhale
- Keep taking deep breaths, stretching your arms farther forward with each breath
- Walk your hands back slowly to return to a kneeling position
Standing Hamstring Stretch
Possible Causes Of A Sharp Pain During Pregnancy
One of the most common sharp pains that women report is a stabbing pain in and around the uterus, stomach or groin area. While this can be uncomfortable, in many cases it can be explained by normal changes that occur during pregnancy.Some common causes include:
- Constipation
- Round Ligament Pain Round ligament pain can occur during the second trimester and can cause a sharp pain in the abdomen on either or both sides. The pain is caused by the stretching of the ligament that supports the uterus as the uterus grows.
Although the above conditions are part of normal pregnancy, they typically dont cause sharp pain. If the sharp pain you are experiencing is localized on one side, it could be indicative of an ectopic pregnancy. This is a serious condition and requires urgent medical attention.A pending miscarriage can also result in a sharp pain from the cramping. This raises concerns for expecting mothers who want to know the difference between normal cramping associated with the expanding uterus and cramping from a pending miscarriage.Contacting your healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms is always the right choice.
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Here Bodytonic Clinic Share Their Top 13 Ways That Women Can Alleviate The Symptoms Of Pregnancy
It is very common for pregnant women to experience back pain, especially during the early trimesters of their pregnancy. In fact, 50% of women will experience back pain during pregnancy, in some capacity. Unfortunately, back pain can be very irritating and uncomfortable to deal with, especially whilst managing your other pregnancy symptoms too. To help you through this time, Bodytonic Clinic has brought you their top tips for dealing with back pain through your pregnancy.
Wear A Maternity Belt
A maternity belt, which you can buy online and in many maternity clothing shops, is a supportive undergarment that helps hold up the belly so the pelvic girdle and lower back aren’t too strained. If your belly is protruding forward in a pronounced way, rather than with your weight diffused across your midsection, the belt can act as a substitute for your abdominal core muscles, which can struggle to prevent your lower spine from painfully exaggerating its curvature. Doctors generally advise women to try maternity belts and use them if they work, but the belts should be seen as a complement to other remedies rather than the only pregnancy back pain relief strategy.
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Why Do I Have Back Pain
During pregnancy your ligaments loosen up and stretch to get your body ready for labour. This puts strain on your joints, which can cause back pain.
Pregnancy also affects your posture . When youre pregnant, the natural curve in your spine increases because its trying to cope with the extra weight of your baby bump. This can cause pain.
Many women say the pain is worse in the evening and after 28 weeks of pregnancy .
Some women with lower back pain also have pelvic girdle pain , which is a common condition in pregnancy. It describes the pain caused by the pelvic joints getting stiff or less stable during pregnancy.
Back problems can affect your sleep and make it harder to go about your everyday life. But there are a few things you can do to help ease the pain, sleep better and stay strong throughout your pregnancy.
Book A Physical Therapy Appointment
Physical therapists, in addition to treating acute injuries, help pregnant women work through back pain by manipulating joints, muscles, and nerve pressure points and providing exercises that expectant moms can continue at home. Rick Olderman, M.S.P.T., a Denver-based physical therapist and the author of Fixing You: Back Pain During Pregnancy, says that one of his goals is to educate patients by “teaching them how to walk, sit, stand, bend forward, lie down, and exercise” in a healthy, back-supporting way.
One thing he does is placing tape on the backs of pregnant women’s knees to “remind them to unlock their knees,” a habit that can put pressure on the large muscles of the legs and hip joints and the back, he says. Because women’s joints become lax as a result of hormonal changes, Olderman also helps show women the importance of limiting their joints’ ranges of motion to about 75 percent. “It may feel good to stretch, but the tissue stress becomes greater,” he says, and can actually exacerbate pain. Some health insurance plans cover physical therapy, which is not always the case with other complementary therapies.
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Remedies For Severe Back Pain During Pregnancy
There is no need to suffer unnecessarily during pregnancy.
Learning to manage pain and comfort during those 9 months can make it a more enjoyable process.
It may not take it away completely, but it will help to ease the pain or at the very least keep it to a minimum.Below are a few helpful practices.
1. The right shoes
Pregnancy is the time to take a break from those high heels.
Of course, its perfectly okay to occasionally use a pair of heels on a night out or during the beginning stages of pregnancy when your body hasnt gained too much weight just yet.
One of the main reasons you want to stay away from high heels is the fact that they cause a further shift in your center of gravity. This can cause unnecessary severe back pain, and may even cause you to fall.
Wearing the right shoes can make a huge difference in the comfort of your entire body. Eliminating unnecessary back pain, offering you safe passage. Try to find a pair of comfortable low-heel shoes, with a good arch for support.
2. Sleep Support
Sleeping with a pillow between your legs can feel like heaven after a long day. It takes pressure off the back, and in between the hips.
You may find this as comfortable as I did and continue to sleep with a pillow well after pregnancy.
3. Gentle Stretches
Practicing gentle back stretches on a regular basis can strengthen your back, as well as ease back pains during pregnancy.
4. Get a Massage
5. Physical Activity
6. Prenatal Yoga
7. Use heating pads
10. Sleep On Your Side
