When Does Back Pain Start In Pregnancy

Can Back Pain Indicate Miscarriage

The main symptoms of a miscarriage are vaginal bleeding and pain in the pelvic area. You can experience back pain anytime during pregnancy because it is a side effect of carrying a growing fetus inside your womb. But sometimes back pain can also be a sign of early and late miscarriage.

When the fetus stops growing in the mothers womb during late pregnancy, the muscles in the lower back start working to expel the unborn fetus. As a result, the mother might feel intense pain in her lower back. So if you are feeling any weird sensations immediately go to your doctor.

What Can You Do

Some back pain can be prevented:

• Try using proper body mechanics. For example, if you need to pick something up, squat down, bending at your knees and keeping your back straight. Avoid bending over from your waist.

• Use good posture when sitting or standing and do back-strengthening exercises. Ask your healthcare provider about back exercises that are right for you.

• Avoid activities that strain the back, like lifting and moving heavy objects.

• Wear shoes that provide good support.

• Sleep on your side with pillows between your knees for support.

• Apply heat, cold, or massage to the painful area.

• If you are having discomfort, talk with your healthcare provider. Back pain relief may need rest, supportive garments, or other types of treatment.

Prevention and treatment of back pain are important to avoid injury and to decrease the chance for long-term or chronic back pain. Because back pain in pregnancy can be a symptom of more serious problems, like preterm labor, always talk with your healthcare provider if symptoms are severe or last longer than 2 weeks.

What Causes Back Pain In Pregnancy

Back pain in pregnancy can be caused by a number of things: a previous injury, increased pressure on your back muscles, a compression of the sciatica nerve and even a surge in hormones. Given that so many factors can lead to back pain, its no wonder that back pain is a common problem amongst pregnant people, according to Shah. In fact, research shows that 50 percent of pregnant people report experiencing it at some point in their pregnancy.

All back pain is not created equal, though, and you can experience varying levels of discomfort in different areas of your back. Heres where it may surface during your pregnancy:

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Work With A Physical Therapist

While research provides mixed results when it comes to physical therapy’s effectiveness for reducing back pain in pregnancy, many people find this often-recommended approach helps them manage pain.

“Physical therapists will be able to guide you with specific exercises and therapy individualized to your specific need,” says Shah.

Shah also says physical therapy could help you manage back pain in the fourth trimester, or the three months following delivery.

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 youre pregnant, you are advised not to wait, since UTIs are managed more aggressively during pregnancy to avoid complications. Its best to see your doctor as soon as possible.

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High Heels And Back Pain

Every woman has her favorite pair of high heels that she wants to wear on every great occasion. But the sad truth is, you might have to forget about your favorite heels during pregnancy.

Want to know the reason? Its back pain again.

High heels are specially designed to change your posture. It moves your pelvis forward to give a rounder shape to your back. You are going to gain a lot of weight in pregnancy and a little bit of change in your posture can result in back pain.

If you wear high heels during pregnancy, it puts extra pressure on your pelvis and joints in the back. In pregnancy, the ligaments in the legs and lower back are already weakened. So this pressure results in aches in the joints and ligaments of your pelvic area and lower back. Also, wearing high heels can result in an ache in your upper leg.

But How Does This Pressure Cause Lower Back Pain

Your bodys response to the increase in size of the uterus, and the resultant pressure on the intestine and bladder, is to posteriorly rotate your pelvis. Here is one of our favourite videos for explaining exactly what this means:

In a nutshell, this means that the curve in your lower back actually slightly. Due to the anatomy of the bones in this area, this flattening of the curve results in a slight stretch of the tissues in between these bones. If your body struggles to adapt to this stretch, you can develop lower back pain.

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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 shouldnt 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. Dont wait until the pain is so severe that you cant do anything, says Colleen Fitzgerald, M.D., medical director of the Chronic Pelvic Pain Program at Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Illinois. And dont 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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What Could Be Causing My Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy

The two most likely culprits for back pain during pregnancy are:

• Your growing uterus. As your uterus expands, it shifts your center of gravity and also stretches out your abdominal muscles, affecting your posture and putting strain on your back. It may also cause back pain if it’s pressing on a nerve. Plus, the extra weight you’re carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why your back may feel worse at the end of the day.
• Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and relax the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

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Why Do Feet Swell During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your adrenal glands will excrete more hormones to compensate for the growing fetus. While hormone excretion is great for babies, it is not so great for mama because the body will retain fluids.

The growing fetus also restricts and interferes with blood flow to the lower extremity of a pregnant womans body. As your baby grows, your expanding uterus puts pressure on organs and blood vessels. Restricted blood flow can cause foot cramps, muscle spasms, and fluid retention.

Luckily, this fluid buildup happens leading into the later part of the second trimester and into the third trimester. Knowing what foot conditions might be coming down line leaves time to prepare for comfort nearing the third trimester.

Pressure on blood vessels can lead to other common problems such as leg cramps and varicose veins. Compression socks can help reduce swelling, improve circulation, and prevent varicose veins.

Weight Gain In Pregnancy

In a healthy pregnancy, your baby is not the only one who is gaining weight. Your body is also changing as your baby and uterus grow inside you. A woman can gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. This increase in weight puts pressure on the blood vessels and nerves in the pelvis and back.

Your baby and the extra weight also lead to an increased burden on your spine. Your back is now supporting this increased weight. This can strain the muscles and cause lower back pain.

Women who are already overweight before pregnancy, are at higher risk of back pain during pregnancy.

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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.

Lower Back And Abdominal Pain With Cramping

Sudden onset of severe abdominal pain and cramping may indicate a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. In this condition, the egg fertilizes and grows in a place other than the uterus, most commonly inside the fallopian tube, which ruptures due to the growing size of the fertilized egg.7

The symptoms of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy may also include severe lower back and/or groin pain. This condition is a medical emergency and must be treated with surgical intervention on an urgent basis.

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Ice And Heat Treatments

Icing aching feet can help reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain. An ice bath is the easiest way to ice feet. But, if you cant tolerate that much cold, an ice pack also works well. If muscle soreness is more of an issue, heat may be a better choice. Soak your feet in a warm foot bath or use microwavable heat packs.

In the case of foot pain that isnt helped by the above suggestions, its a good idea to consult with a podiatrist. This type of medical specialist can diagnose and treat severe foot pain conditions with treatments such as orthotics, splints, pregnancy-safe medications, and other treatment modalities.

What Causes Lower Ovulation Back Pain

First of all, most women will not have any form of back or abdominal pain while ovulating. So, if you feel pain in your left or right side of your back, it may or may not be due to ovulation.

Having said that, 1 in 5 women will feel ovulation back pain and its nothing serious. Ovulation back pain occurs because of changes in your ovaries around the time of ovulation.

Like most women with a 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation period will occur about a week after the end of your menstrual period

Before this time, and just after the end of your period, follicle stimulating hormones and estrogen cause the growth of 16 to 20 ovarian follicles in your ovary.

These follicles will increase in size until only one follicle gets bigger than others and contains the egg that will be expelled during ovulation.

Abdominal and back pain before ovulation occurs because of expansion and stretching of your ovaries and follicles.

During and after ovulation, you may also feel a sudden sharp pain in the back. This pain occurs because of fluid and blood that irritates the lower abdomen and your back.

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Is Back Pain Normal At 4 Weeks Pregnant

For the majority of women, back discomfort is a natural, albeit inconvenient, component of the pregnant experience.Back discomfort is frequently associated with an increase in hormones and stress during the first trimester of pregnancy.If youve had back pain before getting pregnant, or if youre overweight, you may be at a higher chance of experiencing it throughout your pregnancy, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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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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.

What Can I Do To Relieve Lower Back Pain

Exercise

When your back hurts, you may feel more like curling up in bed than exercising, but don’t take to your bed for long periods. Bedrest is generally not helpful for lower back pain in the long run and may even make you feel worse. Exercise may actually be just what you need.

Check with your provider before beginning an exercise program because in some situations, you may have to limit your activity or skip exercise altogether. If you get the go-ahead to work out, consider:

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting out, you’ll most likely have to modify your workout to accommodate your pregnancy. If you’re new to exercise, check out our exercise suggestions for beginners. And be sure to follow guidelines for exercising safely during pregnancy, such as avoiding lying flat on your back and being careful when you change positions or get up from the floor.

Always listen to your body, and don’t do anything that hurts. Finally, watch for warning signs that you may be overdoing things or developing a problem that needs medical attention.

Pay attention to your posture

Take care of yourself

Taking steps to ease soreness and tension and generally taking care of yourself is always a good idea. At the very least, you’ll feel better temporarily. Here are some measures to try:

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Area And Quality Of Pain

The localization of pain is deep. Itâs even possible that localization of the pain changes over time. Pelvic girdle pain has been described as âstabbingââ , pain in the lower back as a âdull acheââ and the pain in the thoracic spine is rather âburningââ. Other pain-descriptions are: shooting pain, feeling of oppression and a sharp twinge.Pregnancy-related low back pain is characterized by a dull pain and is more pronounced in forward flexion with associated restriction in spine movement and palpation of the erector spinae muscles exacerbates pain.

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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Hormonal Changes During Pregnancy

When you become pregnant, your body acts differently. It releases several hormones to prepare you for a healthy pregnancy. These pregnancy hormones also have different side effects.

To prepare you for delivery, the body releases a hormone called relaxin. The relaxin hormone softens and loses the joints and ligaments in your pelvis. Not only this, but they also affect other joints of your body. This softening of joints can cause serious back pain even during the first trimester. But it can help you to deliver your baby safely.

Can Stress Cause Back Pain In The First Trimester

When you are in your first trimester of pregnancy, this softening and loosening might have a direct influence on your lower back. This will frequently manifest itself in the form of aches and pains. Stress may cause back discomfort in anybody, whether or not they are expecting a child. Muscle soreness and stiffness are exacerbated by stress, particularly in places where there is weakness.

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