Back Pain During Pregnancy

Back pain is a common complaint of pregnant women. Back pain can occur at any time during pregnancy. For many women, back pain interferes with daily activities and the ability to get a good night's sleep.

What causes Back Pain during Pregnancy?

There are many causes of back pain. The most common causes are listed below.

• Extra weight.
  • The weight that you gain while pregnant is necessary for the development of the baby but can wreak havoc on your back muscles.
• Change in center of gravity.
  • As your uterus grows, your center of gravity shifts forward.
  • As your center of gravity shifts forward, your posture and the way you move changes.
  • The changes in your posture and they way you move often lead to backaches and back pain.
• Hormonal changes.
  • During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin causes the ligaments between your pelvic bones to soften and your joints to loosen in preparation for your baby's passage through your pelvis during birth.
  • As the structures that support your pelvic organs soften, you may feel considerable discomfort on either side of your lower back, often with walking, especially up and down stairs.

Can you Reduce Back Pain?

Yes. Talk to your doctor. Ask him to evaluate your posture and recommend exercise that will help reduce your back pain.

Your doctor should be able to demonstrate:

• how to correct your posture while standing, walking and sitting
• exercise techniques to strengthen your muscles.

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