Back pain during Pregnancy : Reasons & Tips

It is estimated that approximately 50% of all pregnant women will experience some sort of back pain either during their pregnancy or within six months following delivery.In certain cases the patient suffers for many years. During pregnancy, many of the medical treatments for backpain are not available to patients due to a potential negative affect on the developing fetus.

Even if indicated as safe, pain medications don’t address the factors triggering the pain, but rather work only to mask symptoms until our bodies are able to repair themselves.

Reasons for back pain during pregnancy

Worldwide research suggests that prevalence of back pain inpregnant women ranges between 25-90 % with most studies estimating that 50% of pregnant women will suffer from lowerback pain.

According to doctors majority of women suffer from lower back pain in their first pregnancy. This pain is commonly experienced in between fifth and seventh month of pregnancy.

Commonly suggested causes include

• Shifting of the body gravity center anteriorly, increasing the stress on the lower back and increased loading of the spine.
• Associated abdominal and gluteal muscle weakness also increase the load on the spine
• A sedentary lifestyle increases risk of back pain compared to patients who engage in a more active lifestyle.
• Women working in ‘physically demanding’ environment also have a higher risk of developing pain during pregnancy, which suggests that extremes of activity are perhaps not ideal.
• Younger age and multiple previous deliveries also increase the incidence of back pain

Ignoring this pain affects mother’s health

According to experts, post-delivery back pain, either recurrent or continuous, is significantly linked to symptoms during pregnancy. While most low back pain will relieve itself within 6 months of delivery, some will continue to have backpain for longer durations

Tips to control back pain during pregnancy

1. Proper posture while sitting, standing, walking or lying down is essential for the relief of low back pain

2. Please avoid prolonged sitting as this increase the load on your spine

3. Back support while sitting by placing a pillow behind your back to support it

4. Back and pelvic exercises under the supervision of your doctor before and early in pregnancy will help strengthen these muscles, improve your posture and increased your ability to d your daily activity normally

5. Exercises such as Knee pull, straight leg raising, curl up, lateral straight leg raising, and Kegel exercises will help to relieve low back pain in pregnant women.

By : Dr.Gautam Shetty, orthopedic surgeon and Research-Director, Qi Spine Clinic