Surely every woman who has been pregnant at least once has experienced back pain, especially in the last stages of pregnancy. In general, bearing a child is a very complex process: a woman’s body and all organs are rebuilt and undergo a double load. The digestive, circulatory, respiratory and excretory systems - all of them must now work not only for the woman, but also for her child. This also affected the musculoskeletal system.
Thus, back pain during pregnancy is not an extraordinary, but a completely natural phenomenon. Let's figure out why this happens and what to do if the pain is severe, and a pregnant woman cannot buy traditional painkillers.
From the very first days, a pregnant woman’s body begins to undergo changes that in one way or another prepare her for a future joyful event. During pregnancy, throughout its entire period, nature continuously introduces some corrections, especially regarding hormones:
- So, the hormone produced relaxin relaxes the ligaments of the sacral and even coccygeal joints. This ensures their mobility, which is so necessary during childbirth.
But the stability of the sacral region decreases, and the woman has to strain the muscles of the lower back and abdomen to compensate - During pregnancy estrogen the woman has been reduced for almost the entire period, and progesterone increased - this provides optimal conditions for gestation. The opposite ratio (low progesterone and high estrogen) can cause uterine bleeding and miscarriage)
- Before childbirth, progesterone levels drop sharply and estrogen increases
The elasticity and tone of the uterus, as well as its ability to contract, depend on estrogen. Progesterone ensures the formation of the placenta and the growth of the uterus throughout pregnancy.
Every week the woman gains new kilograms, her stomach becomes rounder and protrudes more and more forward. Starting from about the 14th week, such signs are visible externally, and it is already difficult to hide pregnancy. Gait and posture also change expectant mother: If you notice, they all walk with their heads held high and their shoulders turned back. This type of gait is popularly called “proud.”
In fact, despite the fact that every woman is internally and instinctively, as inherent in nature, proud of her position, the reason for such posture is very prosaic:
The center of gravity of a pregnant woman shifts forward, the angle of inclination of the pelvis increases, which causes lumbar lordosis to increase, and in order to maintain balance, the spine in the thoracic region moves backward along with the shoulders and head
Of course, it is not easy to walk in this position all the time - your back inevitably begins to hurt, especially in the thoracic and lumbar regions.
Thus, the main causes during pregnancy are physiological and are directly related to the situation itself, that is, they are typical for any woman during pregnancy. This:
- Changing natural and shifting its center of gravity
- Increased elasticity of ligaments and mobility of sacral joints
- Reducing the amount of estrogen, the main hormone involved in building normal bone structure
Lack of estrogen causes bone fragility and leads to osteoporosis.
That's why important tips, which I would like to give to expectant mothers, is:
- The first thing to do during pregnancy is to ensure a normal daily intake of calcium, preferably with vitamin D, as one of the most important in the body
- Also, at the same time, you must take folic acid, which is very important for the development of the fetus.
A lack of folic acid may cause your baby to have congenital - During pregnancy, it is also necessary to do daily exercises for expectant mothers. Don't be afraid that this may negatively affect your baby or you:
- Your baby will only benefit from your active activities, as they will improve his blood circulation, nutrition and even mood
- Gymnastics will be beneficial for your back, as it will relieve spasm from the muscles that cause back pain, as well as strengthen the muscular-ligamentous system
Additional causes of pain during pregnancy
There are also individual causes of pain for each woman:
- The presence of dystrophic degenerative processes in the spine even before pregnancy
- Uncomfortable shoes, such as heels that are too high
- Other diseases or pathologies
- The uterus is toned
- Uterine prolapse
If a woman has a lumbosacral hernia, then she needs to double the control over her disease, especially in the second half of pregnancy:
- Be sure to visit an orthopedist
- Do stretching exercises
- Wear a supportive corset
Difficulties of recent months
The last two months before the birth of a baby are the most difficult for a woman:
- The weight of the fetus is already quite decent, and it is putting more and more pressure on her spine. Back pain can become radicular and radiate to the leg, especially when walking
- The uterus begins to descend and put pressure on other pelvic organs, causing the woman to experience symptoms of cystitis
- The load on the kidneys in the third trimester also increases due to the increased volume of fluid circulating through the blood purification system and an increase in fetal waste products.
This can lead to pyelonephritis or even symptoms of kidney failure if the woman already had kidney problems before pregnancy
Kidney problems can become an additional source of lower back pain in a pregnant woman
Increased uterine tone
A common problem during pregnancy is increased uterine tone. In general, this phenomenon is dangerous early stages in case of threat of miscarriage. In the future, this does not represent for a woman, besides discomfort, no danger.
What are the reasons for increased uterine tone? Both the simplest and the most scientifically based:
- Your baby just lightly kicked you, checking that you didn’t fall asleep, didn’t forget about him, and are you ready for his imminent birth?
- Stress and bad mood tone not only the “fibers of the soul”, but also the uterus
Therefore, during pregnancy you should always try to remain calm and be in good mood, especially since it is so important for the healthy nervous system of the unborn child - Tension in the abdomen is also transmitted to the muscles of the uterus
- On later false contractions occur (Braxton Hicks syndrome)
In this way, a “dress rehearsal” for future births is carried out.
What medications to use during pregnancy
Expectant mothers often face another problem: they, poor people, cannot use many medications.
So, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs we all know, which we take for back pain, are unacceptable for a pregnant woman. Why?
Because they have a lot of things that are dangerous for ordinary people, and even more so for those in this situation.
But what to do if a woman gets sick during pregnancy or the back pain is unbearable?
For treatment, you can use herbal decoctions and bee products.
Medicine no-shpa-an antispasmodic that can be used in position.
You can use homeopathic medicines, which are also completely harmless.
- A drug Nux Vomica (nux vomica) used:
- For severe back pain, exacerbations of osteochondrosis and hernia, injuries
- Neuralgic problems
- For bowel disorders, such as constipation
- A drug Sepia:
- For lumbago in the back
- For pain that gets worse when bending over
- For aching, dull pain in the lower back and between the shoulder blades
- During depression and emotional distress
If you do everything correctly and follow these simple recommendations, the pregnancy will be easy, and the child will be born healthy and cheerful.
Pregnancy, no matter how desirable it may be, serves as a strong stress factor for the body and puts a huge burden on it. A delicate balance is maintained between this load and the body’s ability to withstand it. Its violation leads to the development of various pathological conditions, for example, the appearance of back pain during pregnancy.
Complaint about back discomfort is one of the most common problems, with which expectant mothers go to the doctor. Especially in late pregnancy.
As a rule, there is no one answer to the question of why your back hurts during pregnancy.
Discomfort is caused not by one, but by a whole complex of factors:
- the pressing effect of the gradually enlarging pregnant uterus;
- shift of the center of gravity;
- weight gain in a pregnant woman.
The uterus itself is a small cavity structure surrounded by other organs. Therefore, any increase in its size will lead to mechanical pressure on neighboring organs, including the musculoskeletal system.
Certain parts of the skeleton are immovable formations (for example, the pelvic bones), which are compressed by the pregnant uterus, which causes pain in the back and lower back.
In a pregnant woman, again due to the growing uterus, there is a change in the usual center of gravity. As a result, significant stress is placed on the lower back and spine. Hypertonicity of the back muscles occurs, nerve processes can be pinched, which leads to pain.
In addition to the uterus, the increased body weight of a pregnant woman, which occurs with increased nutrition and various hormonal changes, can also place stress on the spine. The mechanism of pain for this reason is absolutely the same.
Also, back pain in a pregnant woman can be caused not only by her physiological changes, but also by a number of pathological conditions, which we will talk about later.
It is also interesting that the timing of gestation is absolutely not important for the occurrence of pain. Often back and lower back pain develops in later stages. But even in the early stages of pregnancy, back pain is not uncommon.
Features of pain
The range of back pain during pregnancy is wide. This can be either aching pain in the lower back, tailbone, or a kind of “muscle” pain in the back. Also for various terms Pregnancy has its own type of back pain.
In the early stages, most women will feel pain localized in the lower back, possibly of an aching nature. They are similar in nature to the pain that occurs during menstruation.
The cause of the pain syndrome lies, again, in the increasing volume of the uterus, which puts pressure on bladder and intestines. As a result, characteristic complaints appear.
In the later stages, women describe constant pain localized in the lower back and back muscles, like the back pain of a pregnant woman at 25 weeks. The reason is precisely the change in the center of gravity and overload of the lumbar muscles. In addition, pain may disappear when the pregnant woman takes a horizontal position or otherwise reduces the load on the spine.
When is pain normal?
Can my back hurt on its own during pregnancy? No, the presence of any pain syndrome is not normal. Its appearance in a pregnant woman requires close attention and a search for the cause. Prolonged back pain in a pregnant woman can lead to sleep disturbances and insomnia, which can then affect pregnancy and even delivery.
In addition, back pain leads to limited mobility of a pregnant woman and disruption of her lifestyle. This can provoke the development of stress, disruption of the psycho-emotional state and the formation.
There are also a number of pathological conditions during pregnancy, in which the presence of pain in the back and lower back can serve as a kind of “alarming sign”.
When should you sound the alarm?
Such “formidable” conditions are: or the miscarriage itself. Back pain in this case is of a specific nature: nagging and aching pain localized in the lower back. Some women describe the sensations: “like pain during menstruation” or “pain like during contractions.”
This type of pain indicates a possible activation of uterine contractility. Premature activity in the early stages can lead to miscarriage, and in the later stages to premature birth.
If your back hurts this much starting from the 36th week, and especially at 39-40 weeks of pregnancy, you should definitely tell your gynecologist.
In addition, there are a number of conditions that are not associated with pregnancy, but are accompanied by various pain symptoms in the back. The combination of any of these conditions and pregnancy, especially in its later stages, can cause various complications during the birth process, threatening the life and health of the fetus and the mother herself.
These conditions include:
- Kidney diseases. Among them, pyelo- and glomerulonephritis are especially dangerous for a pregnant woman. The combination of these diseases with pregnancy can lead to the development of pre- and eclampsia.
- Pancreatitis.
- Osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, radiculitis.
How to get rid of back pain
Treatment for back pain during pregnancy consists of: various techniques. Medication, which is usually widely used, during pregnancy requires maximum medical supervision and should be significantly limited. This is explained by the fact that some pain medications may have negative impact for the fruit.
Therefore, if a woman has severe back pain during pregnancy and she does not know what to do, first of all she needs to “unload” the spine and reduce the level of load.
As a rule, this method is to wear special ones that support the abdomen. There is also special massage back, designed for pregnant women. Its use relaxes the back muscles and can reduce pain levels.
However, if back pain is not associated with pregnancy, but with pathology of other organs, then further treatment requires a more serious approach and medical supervision and, as a rule, the conditions of a pregnancy pathology department.
Prevention
Prevention of back pain in pregnant women involves prescribing physical therapy, gymnastics or yoga for expectant mothers. This increases the body's ability to resist the physical stress of pregnancy.
Yoga also helps a woman's production the right type breathing, which can then be used by her during the birth process.
In addition to dosed therapeutic physical activity, a pregnant woman should also follow a number of recommendations:
- refusal to wear high-heeled shoes during pregnancy;
- avoiding heavy lifting and excessive physical activity;
- the use of a special orthopedic mattress, which reduces the load on the musculoskeletal system of a pregnant woman;
- periodic change of body position;
- body weight control, excess weight loss.
The syndrome of back pain during pregnancy can be caused by both an enlarged uterus and load on the woman’s spine, and a number of more serious conditions.
Therefore, if during pregnancy your lower back suddenly hurts, pulling and cramping pains appear, or acute “colicky” pain in the lower back, an urgent consultation with a doctor is necessary to exclude the threat of miscarriage or concomitant pathology of the pregnant woman.
Useful video: Exercises to relieve back pain during pregnancy
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For any woman, pregnancy is one of the happiest and most exciting periods of life. However, the anticipation of meeting the baby is often overshadowed by discomfort and lower back pain during pregnancy.
As a rule, more than 75% of expectant mothers complain of lower back pain, sometimes they accompany women throughout pregnancy. Typically, such pain is considered normal, since a woman’s body endures a lot physiological changes. However, you should not take them lightly, because this symptom may be a sign of a serious pathology.
Let's take a closer look: what is the cause of such pain, how exactly does the lower back hurt during pregnancy, and how should you react to it.
Let's take a closer look at why the lower back hurts at different weeks during pregnancy.
The period of gestation is characterized by the production of the hormone relaxin, which relaxes the femoral-sacral joints and ligaments. This is due to the need to facilitate the birth of the baby during childbirth.
Weight gain and abdominal growth provoke imbalance, due to which a woman has to constantly pull her shoulders back and bend slightly. As a result, the spine takes on a curved appearance, the muscles are constantly under tension, which provokes pain and discomfort in the lumbar region.
Also, pathologies of the musculoskeletal system previously diagnosed in a woman lead to severe pain in the lower back.
Lower back pain during pregnancy may have the following causes: :
- congenital curvature of the spine;
- lumbar osteochondrosis;
- poorly developed muscles.
Pain in different trimesters of pregnancy
Women often complain that they are only 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 weeks pregnant, but their lower back hurts.
The reason is the restructuring of the woman’s body and change hormonal levels. Ligaments stretch and joints shift to prepare for the stress they will soon have to bear. Therefore, at the beginning of pregnancy, almost all women experience lower back pain.
The second trimester of pregnancy is also often accompanied by lower back pain in the 13th and following weeks. This is primarily due to the growth of the fetus and the increase in the weight of the mother’s tummy.
The center of gravity shifts, and the expectant mother is forced to arch her back more, with the greatest weight falling on the lumbar region. The production of relaxin, which we mentioned above, also increases.
Another cause of lower back pain can be improperly selected shoes. During pregnancy, you need to be as careful as possible when choosing your wardrobe.
Uncomfortable, tight shoes can create pressure on the heel, which often provokes lumbar pain. The same applies to a sedentary lifestyle. Even during such a delicate period, a woman is required to have at least minimal physical activity.
Lower back pain in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy in most cases is not pronounced, while late pregnancy can be accompanied by severe pain.
The greatest peak of complaints about lower back pain occurs at 21, 30, 36 and 40 weeks of pregnancy. The production of relaxin increases significantly, provoking the development of symphysiopathy - an inflammatory process of the symphysis pubis.
In addition to pathology, persistent calcium deficiency develops, since the largest part of it is spent on fetal development. With a combination of such problems, the expectant mother begins to be bothered by lower back pain, often debilitating.
Often, expectant mothers note increased pain when trying to change position.
Experts identify other reasons why pregnancy and lower back pain complement each other:
- The first reason why the lower back hurts during pregnancy is an increase in the load on the group of vertebral muscles and the spine itself. As a rule, increased pain is observed after long walks or minor physical exercise.
- The second is an exacerbation of pathologies of the kidneys or bladder. In this case, the localization of pain is noted not only in the lower back, but also in the groin area. Aching pain in the lumbar region and renal colic are noted.
- Excessive contraction of the uterus is another reason why such pain may occur.
Starting from 38-39 weeks, pregnancy is manifested by increased pain: lower back pain. The expectant mother may notice increased sacral pain associated with the baby's head moving down, which leads to compression of the nerve endings. In the absence of any pathologies, discomfort and pain disappear immediately after childbirth.
Pain in the lumbar region can be a consequence of myositis - hypothermia, during which the muscles become inflamed.
On last weeks Pregnancy pain in the lower back and lower abdomen. Typically, such signs indicate training contractions, a kind of preparation of the body for labor activity.
In some cases, lower back pain during pregnancy is a sign of neuralgia. The pain syndrome is aching in nature and is accompanied by an unpleasant tingling sensation in the lumbar area.
Exacerbation of pancreatitis often causes pain in the sacral region. This is due to the type of pain syndrome manifested in pathology. The pain is girdling in nature, so it is often localized in the lower back.
Are such pains dangerous?
If a pregnant woman has lower back pain in the first trimester, she should consult her doctor as soon as possible to rule out complications. Severe pain accompanies various pathological processes that pose a danger to the mother and the unborn child.
Aching pain in the lower back and back, which is accompanied by fever or vaginal discharge, also needs to be diagnosed.
It is considered the norm pain syndrome mild degree, not requiring relief with painkillers. All other cases require consultation with a doctor.
Methods of treating pain syndrome
Therapy is prescribed only after determining the cause that led to the appearance of pain in the lumbar region. Aching or dull pain in the lower back during pregnancy is not a reason to prescribe self-medication, which often worsens the course of symptoms.
If we take standard cases, the treatment looks like this:
- pain associated with inflammatory processes in the kidneys or genitourinary system requires treatment of the underlying disease;
- if the lower back hurts severely during pregnancy and this is associated with spinal pathology, the main treatment is bed rest, local therapy with gels with a warming effect and the use of heating pads;
- pain accompanied by spasms in the lower back during pregnancy exclude drug treatment- massage is recommended, but strictly intended for pregnant women;
- An additional way to relieve pain is to wear a special one, and its use should begin in the second trimester;
- Taking calcium D3 significantly reduces the risk of developing symptoms, so doctors recommend starting to take it before planning a pregnancy.
Preventive measures
Of course, no pregnant woman is immune from the appearance of an unpleasant symptom. Nevertheless, there are certain preventive measures that can significantly reduce their occurrence and make pregnancy easier.
- It is advisable to combine the pregnancy planning process with physical activity that helps strengthen the vertebrae, muscles and general health;
- Regardless of the trimester of pregnancy, you should not forget about sports, choose passive exercises - fitness for pregnant women, swimming;
- Be sure to monitor your diet, increase your intake of calcium and magnesium;
- pay attention to your wardrobe, namely shoes, which should be comfortable and made of natural material;
- if the work is sedentary, then be sure to take short breaks every hour and walk for 10–15 minutes;
- during pregnancy, an orthopedic mattress will be a useful purchase, which not only improves sleep, but also serves as a prevention of lower back pain;
- Avoid lifting more than 3 kg.
The period of bearing a child is a very delicate time, so even with minor discomfort you should consult your doctor. Don't forget that lower back pain is not always a harmless sign of pregnancy.
Useful video: Exercises to relieve and prevent lower back pain during pregnancy
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Pregnancy is a special state, both physically and emotionally, and every woman experiences it differently. After conceiving a child, all the organs and ligaments of the expectant mother begin to prepare for childbirth and this affects her well-being.
What are the symptoms of back pain during pregnancy?
The hormone relaxin matures in the placenta and ovaries, which makes the tissue more elastic and loose, that is, the femoral-sacral joints relax. At the same time, a growing belly contributes to imbalance, which leads to flexion of the neck. As a result, the woman becomes like capital letter“G”: the stomach sticks out even more, the spine arches, and the lower back is always tense. This leads to back pain during pregnancy.
Women who suffered from osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine and underdeveloped muscles before pregnancy will have back pain after pregnancy.
Painful sensations in the back in pregnant women appear closer to the fifth month, but if the expectant mother has a sedentary job, then the discomfort will arise much earlier. In the early stages, pain occurs due to a shift in the center of gravity, which is facilitated by a growing belly.
The pain can be caused by inflammation of the kidneys, which is accompanied by additional symptoms: headaches, fevers, swelling, high blood pressure and frequent urination.
Walking for a long time and sitting in one place also causes severe back pain.
Very often during pregnancy, symphysitis develops - this is a complication in which stretching of the pubic cartilage tissue occurs under the influence of relaxin. Symphysitis occurs when there is a lack of calcium in the body and with a hereditary predisposition.
At the same time, the abdomen becomes very elastic and therefore doctors recommend wearing a bandage that will prevent stretching of muscles and ligaments.
Answering the question “ Why do expectant mothers experience back pain during pregnancy?", the following factors must be taken into account:
- problem with the spine before pregnancy;
- wearing high heels during pregnancy;
- hormonal changes in the pregnant woman’s body;
- uterine tone and threat of miscarriage;
- false contractions in later stages;
- the center of gravity has moved with an increase in body weight;
- stress;
- poor physical fitness;
- lack of calcium in the body of a pregnant woman.
Lower back pain as a symptom of miscarriage
The biggest threat is pain that comes in waves and looks like contractions. If at the same time there is bloody discharge from the vagina, you should immediately consult a doctor, as this may be a signal of a possible miscarriage.
Discomfort in the area of the sacral bones may also indicate a threat of miscarriage. Sometimes these pains are accompanied by frequent urination and severe pain in the lower abdomen. With their appearance, the pregnant woman urgently needs to lie down, take valerian, no-shpu and put suppositories with papaverine. If these pains do not stop or recur, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Eliminate back pain
If you experience severe back pain during pregnancy, you should take the following measures:
- try to eat less so as not to gain weight, that is, there should be proper nutrition containing vitamins, minerals and calcium;
- do not walk in heels and wear shoes only while sitting;
- do not stand still for a long time;
- sit on a chair with an orthopedic back so that you can lean on it and relieve tension from your lower back;
- when sitting, do not cross your legs, because at the same time, blood circulation is disrupted and the pelvis bends forward;
- every half hour of sitting, take a break - walk around, stretch your legs, do simple gymnastics;
- sleep on a hard mattress;
- you need to get up, placing your two legs on the edge of the bed and lowering them to the floor;
- do quiet exercises;
- visit a massage therapist;
- You must eat yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, meat and fish;
- relax in a warm bath with essential oils.
What kind of back pain after pregnancy?
Often, the problem of back pain does not disappear with delivery. Why does a new mother suffer from back pain after the birth of her baby?
The reason may be:
- great physical activity - mother very often carries her baby in her arms;
- displacement of the spinal axis;
- stretched pelvic muscles during childbirth;
- scoliosis before pregnancy;
- C-section.
If after childbirth your back still hurts a lot, and there is also a suspicion of kidney pathology, then you need to conduct an ultrasound examination and get them tested. general analysis urine. If after passing a general clinical urine test you find a large number of leukocytes and erythrocytes, then you will probably be offered a urine test with high sensitivity.
If the result shows elevated white blood cells, this will indicate pyelonephritis, and if the red blood cells are high, this will indicate glomerulonephritis. It is also necessary to take an x-ray of the hip joints and conduct a neurological examination for osteochondrosis.
How to reduce the stress on your back after childbirth?
You also need to follow the rules, thanks to which you can avoid back pain. Firstly, when you pick up a child in your arms, you first need to sit down, bend your knees, keep your back straight and lift the baby not with your back, but with your legs.
Secondly, adjust the height of the crib according to your height. When bathing your baby, place the bathtub on a stand so as not to put any strain on your back. Thirdly, carry your baby in a kangaroo or sling, choosing the most comfortable model.
Most pregnant women experience pain in the lower back. Typically, back pain during pregnancy is safe for the fetus and mother, but is a characteristic consequence of organic changes in the pregnant woman. For some during this period, discomfort appears against the background of existing hidden pathologies, but most often the reasons are related to the stress caused by the interesting position.
There are quite a few factors that cause painful discomfort.
- Back pain during pregnancy is caused by hormonal changes and overstretching of muscle tissue. The relaxin hormone is activated, which expands the intervertebral ligamentous tissues and immobile joint structures. This is why your back hurts during pregnancy. Such pain goes away around the middle of the term. As the fetus grows, the muscle fibers of the peritoneum weaken and stretch, causing the spinal muscles to begin to function under strain, which provokes myalgia.
- Posture disorders. Since the center of gravity changes, the pregnant woman has to stick her stomach out a little. In this case, the balance is disturbed, the vertebral structures bend, which provokes severe pain.
- If a woman prefers high heels, this also increases the load on the spinal structures, which causes painful symptoms. Therefore, pregnant women are not recommended to wear heels.
- Pain can also be caused by prolonged walking, sitting or standing.
- Nagging pain in the shoulder blade area may occur due to excessive muscle strain, but after a short warm-up or massage the pain will disappear.
- An increase in the weight and size of the uterus is also accompanied by painful symptoms, which is why many people experience back pain during pregnancy. The enlarged uterus puts pressure on the vascular structures and nerve-radicular vertebral endings, and excess weight becomes a factor of overstrain of the lower back and limbs.
- If before conception there were musculoskeletal disorders, it’s not uncommon for your back to hurt during pregnancy. Various vertebral pathologies such as radiculitis or osteochondrosis often worsen during pregnancy, mainly in the early stages of pregnancy.
Myalgia in the lower back occurs much more often at the beginning of pregnancy than in the 2nd or 3rd trimester. In the first trimester, the female body undergoes a hormonal revolution, progesterone increases, which leads to softening of the vertebral discs. Changes also affect joint structures. Such large-scale changes cause back pain during pregnancy. The changes also affect the uterine body, which causes tension in its ligamentous apparatus, which provokes the occurrence of pronounced pain at any stage of pregnancy, especially in the lower back and abdomen.
In addition, there is a decrease in immunity in the first trimester, which is also considered normal. It’s just that nature takes precautions so that the mother’s body does not reject ovum, the immune status at the beginning of pregnancy decreases slightly. But with a decrease in immunity, it is quite natural that chronic and hidden pathologies such as pyelonephritis will worsen. With this pathology, a pregnant woman may experience pain in the back on the left or on the right, depending on the affected kidney. Such inflammation requires mandatory treatment, because the kidney bears considerable responsibility for maintaining fetal life.
Second trimester
Back pain during pregnancy in the second trimester is usually associated with an increase in fetal weight. Nature dictates that as weight increases, the load on the spine and limbs is redistributed. The back may hurt in such a situation due to the shift in the center of gravity, which causes intense work of skeletal muscle tissue.
Simultaneously with the growth of the fetus, there is an increase in uterine body, which causes compression of the nerve endings located along the spinal column. As a result, the pregnant woman's lower back ache and her back strains. Usually these are the main reasons that can provoke painful sensations.
In the later stages
In the third trimester, the baby becomes too large, leaving no room at all for intraorganic structures, which is why they experience constant pressure from the fetus. The child puts especially strong pressure on the kidney organs and bladder. The load increases on the entire spine, so the shoulder blade area may ache painfully during pregnancy.
Along with this, the body prepares for labor - the pelvic bones gradually begin to expand, which often causes back pain in pregnant women. At about 28 weeks, back pain appears, caused by overstretching and excessive weakening of the muscle tissue of the peritoneum. Such back pain during pregnancy can radiate to the limbs, and after a long period of standing or walking it can intensify. Such pain lasts until delivery.
Also, pain in the later stages can be explained by false or training contractions, which are also called precursors. They also prepare a woman for an important event and feel like an unexpectedly increased tone. About a quarter of patients experience aching pain; in the rest, preparation of the uterus occurs painlessly or with minor discomfort in the abdomen and lower back.
If pain is normal
Carrying a baby is a responsible and very important matter, requiring appropriate preparation. Therefore, all areas of the female body undergo a lot of changes.
If the pain has become too intense, then you need to contact the LCD, as they can be real contractions.
When the cause is chronic pathologies
Discussed above physiological reasons back pain syndrome in pregnant women, they are safe and considered normal. The same cannot be said about pain of pathological origin, caused by pathologies of other organs and requiring urgent medical intervention. Sometimes intense painful sensations appear against the background of renal pathologies. With an inflammatory renal process, a pregnant woman experiences aching pain. Renal colic is characterized by cramping pain that cannot be relieved. In this case, the urine acquires a cloudy structure, and sometimes contains inclusions of blood. Against the background of pyelonephritis, the lower back is pulled, and pronounced hyperthermia is observed.
If a pregnant woman suffers from muscle inflammation, which usually occurs after a long stay in drafts or hypothermia, then the pain syndrome manifests itself so acutely that it makes it difficult motor activity. One of the rare diseases during pregnancy is pancreatitis, which is an inflammatory lesion of the pancreas. The pain is very intense, acute, encircling, and is localized in the upper abdomen and lumbar area. Often accompanied by upset stool and vomiting reaction, low blood pressure. Occurs after abuse of excessively fatty foods, meat dishes, bile flow disorders, stressful conditions, etc.
Neurological pathologies such as intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, or radiculitis often worsen in patients. The woman notes that her back hurts a lot during pregnancy, and the pain is shooting, often radiating to the limbs, increasing in intensity after a long walk. If there is a real threat, such as miscarriage or premature delivery, then the painful discomfort is cramping in nature, localized above the pubis and in the lower back, sometimes accompanied by bleeding.
Prevention of spinal lumbar pain in pregnant women
When your back hurts during pregnancy, a woman often doesn’t know what to do. It is better to take care of such a problem in advance rather than look for ways to eliminate it. Exercises to relieve stress on the back are excellent. preventive measure. They will help strengthen the back muscle tissue, preparing them for the upcoming loads. Such exercises are included in the complex of gymnastic elements for pregnant women. Strengthened muscles will ensure the absence of painful heaviness in the lower back in the later stages, maintain posture and make childbirth easy and safe.
A woman can sign up for courses for pregnant women, or do gymnastics with a fitball at home. Water aerobics is incredibly useful, for which you need to go to the pool. These simple measures will prevent your back from getting sick when the baby in your belly becomes very large.
Good preventive effect provides back massage, but it is performed carefully and limitedly. If a pregnant woman learns how to perform massage correctly, then during labor pains this skill will serve as a good weapon against pain. A prenatal bandage belt will also help to avoid back pain. It will relieve stress from the back and abdominal muscles, support the fetus and help it take the correct position in the uterine cavity.
How to eliminate painful sensations
There is no need to worry about how to relieve back pain. Certain recommendations will help with this.
- Control your posture. Sit in a comfortable chair with your knees higher than your lower back. To eliminate tension, it is recommended to place a cushion under the lower back. If a pregnant woman has to stand for a long time (for example, in line to see a gynecologist), then she needs to periodically change her position, placing one leg slightly higher than the other. During pregnancy, you will have to remove your heels and walk with correct posture.
- You should only sleep on your side, because sleeping on your stomach is physically impossible, and on your back it can cause increased pain. Pay attention to the special pillow designed for pregnant women. It can be squeezed between the legs, thereby relaxing the back muscles.
- Get plenty of rest. Daytime nap never hurts, especially if you have insomnia at night.
- Avoid excessive weight gain. It is considered normal if a woman has accumulated no more than 15 kg by the time she gives birth. Walk more. Strong muscles will make labor easier.
- A special bandage belt that performs a supporting function will also help relieve pain in the back. It is recommended to wear such a device if you have a large belly and weakened abdominal muscles.
Pregnant women face a lot of restrictions. One of these is lifting heavy objects. And even light things should be lifted correctly - never lean forward with a straight back, be sure to bend your knees. It would be even better if you squat down and only then pick up the desired object.
