Back pain is both common and normal in pregnancy. In some cases, back pain may continue after your baby is born.
Factors Contributing To Back Pain:
- Hormonal changes, which contribute to the loosening of ligaments in your body
- Change in posture, slouching, center of gravity and body weight
- Increased abdomen size
- Increased breast size
Common Types Of Back Pain:
- Shooting buttocks pain: Due to an uneven pelvis. This will occur when getting out of bed, walking or stair climbing
- Shooting groin pain: Increases with walking, getting out of bed and rolling in bed
- Dull ache along waist and back: You may become more aware of this at the end of the day
- Dull ache between shoulder blades: Due to slouching, sitting too long, not wearing a good support bra or poor positioning with breastfeeding
Comfort Measures For Back Pain In Pregnancy:
- Heat: To help loosen tight, achy muscles
- Ice: To reduce sharp pain
- Warm compress
- Slush Ice Pack: One-gallon Ziploc bag, 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 3 cups of water. Zip close and freeze overnight
- Pregnancy/Postpartum Massage
- Swimming
- Exercises recommended by your physician
- Acupuncture
- Warm bath
- Chiropractor, who is certified for pregnancy
- Massage: Certified pregnancy massage is offered at WomanCare
Warning Signs:
Pain associated with:
- Spotting, bleeding
- Leakage of fluid from vagina
- Decreased/absent fetal movement
- Hard, tender uterus
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Urinary symptoms: frequency, painful urination and/or blood in urine
- Fever
