News about
pregnancy brings a feeling of extreme joy and excitement for a woman.
But, it is also the time when the utmost care is needed by the body.
People are usually aware about the importance of a healthy nutritious
diet during the period of pregnancy. But, another major factor, that
people often either neglect or are unaware of, is spinal health. Back
pain is one of the most common problems that a woman generally suffers
during pregnancy.
During a healthy pregnancy, a woman gains
weight up to 25-30 pounds. The additional weight has to be supported by
the bones, which puts a huge amount of pressure on them, especially the
spine. This results in lower back pain, which is the most frequently
reoccurring pain that a woman experiences during pregnancy. Along with
this, there are many other physical changes too that happen during
pregnancy as the baby grows in the uterus. All these changes put
pressure on the woman’s bones and blood vessels in the pelvic region,
which causes pain.
Almost 50% of women experience some sort of
back pain while being pregnant, especially during the later stages. The
major reason behind this back pain is poor body posture. A lot of women
stay inattentive towards their posture during this sensitive phase of
their life. Due to the bodily changes that occur during pregnancy, the
whole body balance is altered and body’s centre of gravity also shifts
towards front of the pelvis. As a result, body’s posture is also
adversely affected. All this place a lot strain on organs and joints,
which result in severe backache.
Also, as the baby bump increases
with time, a woman’s lower back curvature also increases gradually
which puts additional stress on discs in the lumber region. Maintaining
appropriate posture and doing some light exercises on a daily basis can
be very beneficial for expecting mother in preventing such posture
related back problems.
Pregnancy is an extremely complex body
process with a number of changes occurring simultaneously. Along with
the visible bodily changes, there are several internal processes that
keep on happening. One of these changes is muscle separation. As the
baby grows, the uterus also expands, and this expansion is accompanied
by separation of rectal abdominis muscle that runs from cartilage to the
public bone. This separation further exaggerates the back pain.
Other major changes that occur are the hormonal and the emotional ones,
which directly or indirectly affect our health. During the pregnancy
months, the body keeps on preparing the body for childbirth, for which
it secretes several hormones. But sometimes, these hormones also affect
our joints, which may add on to existing ache. Similarly, stress, which
is again very common in women, especially during the later stages of
pregnancy, can cause contraction of muscles in back and lead to spasms
and pain.
Being a mother is the most special feeling for a woman.
But, continuous back pain can make it a miserable experience.
Therefore, pregnant woman must stay careful about their health and
specially the back health to make this time a joyous and memorable one.
The first and foremost tip to prevent such problems is regular
exercising. Being pregnant doesn’t mean that a woman shall stop moving
her body. Doing safe, simple and light exercises regularly, helps in
strengthening body muscles and increases flexibility. This can help in
making child birth easy. Just make sure to do exercises suggested by a
specialist only and avoid any exercise that involves jerking or bouncing
movements. Along with exercising, always remember to have a good
nutrition rich diet and take plenty of rest also.

Be very careful
about your posture and body movement. Apart from that, never lift any
heavy weight, as it can put excess strain on your joints and can also be
very risky for pregnant women. In case you need to pick up something,
it is better to squat. Bending, in any case, must be avoided. Keep away
from wearing high heels during this time. Even while sleeping, pregnant
women need to be careful about their position. For pregnant women,
sleeping on side is an apt position.
If you are prescribed some
medicines by your doctor, take them religiously. In case of severe or
persistent back pain, do not delay in consulting a doctor.
These
simple care and precautionary tips can be extremely beneficial for the
mother-to-be in staying healthy and having a pleasant pregnancy
experience.