Saturday, March 14, 2009

Dealing With Back Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time for a woman as she awaits the
birth of her child and prepares for a new chapter in her life.
But what are implicit with pregnancy are the many physical
changes that the pregnant woman's body endures as this new life
grows inside her. Such changes often result in discomfort – some
minimal and some quite acute – including the aches and pains
associated with a widening frame and growing belly.
Subsequently, back pain during pregnancy is most common, with
nearly 90% of pregnant women reporting discomfort of this kind.

It's not difficult to understand the causes of back pain during
pregnancy. As the fetus grows, the pregnant woman's weight
inevitably increases and her frame shifts to accommodate the
space in which the baby resides. For any person who carries
extra weight – and most especially a pregnant woman – back pain
is generally part of the consequences. Our spines carry our body
weight and when that weight is increased the spine must adjust
accordingly. This puts quite a burden on our backs and can
result in discomfort; nowhere is this more evident than with
back pain during pregnancy.

Further, under normal circumstances, the strength of the
abdominal muscles significantly affects the health of back
muscles. The abdominal core supports the back, lending it a hand
in accommodating the weight of the body. In the case of a
pregnant woman, the back is at the mercy of a growing abdomen;
posture is impacted and the woman's center of gravity is
compromised. Back pain during pregnancy can also result from
growing breasts – another consequence of a changing body.

Another form of back pain during pregnancy includes the
experiencing of back labor closer to the woman's due date - an
incredibly uncomfortable occurrence. These labor pains should be
monitored closely by your doctor. While some back labor is
considered false labor, other pains may be associated with the
real thing. So be sure to consult your obstetrician if you are
experiencing back labor pains.

Different doctors recommend different things to combat back
pain during pregnancy including the use of a "belly belt" that
helps support the abdomen and the back; light exercises to help
strengthen and stretch the back muscles, body pillows used at
night that allow you to sleep on your side with support, and
pregnancy massage. The use of medications of any kind is
strongly discouraged during pregnancy so it's best to work
within these natural approaches.

Back pain during pregnancy doesn't have to stop you in your
tracks. Approach your health as you would during any other time
by consulting your doctor and treating your body well with
plenty of rest, good nutrition, and a pain relief program
specifically designed for you by your medical professional.


About The Author: For easy to understand, in depth information
about back pain visit our ezGuide 2 http://backpain.ezguide2.com

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