While every pregnant woman would love to have the pregnancy be a breeze from start to finish, this isn’t usually the case. Women especially tend to experience back pain during their pregnancy.
That is why it is in your best interest to see a doctor who specializes in treating and mitigating back pain if you’re pregnant because this type of physician knows how to provide you with an effective treatment that’s safe for both you and your baby.
Let’s talk about what types of back pain you can expect to experience while pregnant, and where you can go for the professional treatment that works.
Why Back Pain Occurs During Pregnancy
Your growing belly alters your center of gravity, and it also stretches out your vulnerable abdominal muscles. This will modify your posture, add more weight to your torso, and thereby put stress on your back. Hormonal changes can cause back pain as well.
In some cases, the back pain may stem from sciatica – a group of nerve-related issues that cause lower back pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling. This is due to the growing baby placing extra pressure on your sciatic nerve, whose base is in the lower back and has a dual extension down each leg all the way to the feet.
The symptoms of sciatica tend to begin in your lower back and extend downward through your buttocks and one leg. It can affect both legs, but that is rare.
Tips for Managing Back Pain at Home
You can take certain steps to minimize your back pain. First, be sure to wear supportive shoes that provide proper arch support, which can help to reduce stress on your back.
Second, you can use a heating pad to facilitate blood flow and to prevent back pain from developing. Be sure that the heating pad is set on a low setting. If you do not have a heating pad, you can use a warm, damp cloth or something similar and place it on your back to provide soothing comfort.
Third, gentle exercises can help to stretch and strengthen your back muscles and to assist with improving your posture. This can help to lessen your back pain during pregnancy. If your doctor has put you on bed rest for the duration of your pregnancy, ask about what types of stretches and exercises you can perform.
Fourth, try not to stay seated for long periods of time. Get up every so often to relieve the pressure on your back. Whenever you sit in a chair, it is a good idea to place a small pillow or a rolled-up towel behind your lower back.
Back Pain Specialist in Delaware
If you are pregnant and you are experiencing pangs of back pain, come and see a medical specialist here at Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact our friendly team today by calling us at (302) 529-8783 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to keeping you as pain-free as possible during this wonderful phase of your life!
