Pregnant and Worried About Back Pain
Having back pain while pregnant is very common and finding ways to deal with it can be very difficult. Carrying groceries, doing household chores and computer work all increase the pain. You may have already tried swimming, stretching and sitting against a heating pad almost every night without lasting results. Finding no relief makes you feel helpless and worried about whether you will be able to endure the pain until the end of your pregnancy. It feels like this pain will just never go away.
In this article I will explain how the pains you are experiencing – or will experience – are caused by the many changes that occur in your body during pregnancy. Understanding what is happening will immediately give you a greater sense of control of your situation. I will also share with you how massage can be very effective in easing your body through these changes in a way that will allow you to stay active and comfortable all the way to your baby's birth; a beautiful thing.
Why your back hurts?
Pregnancy is a magical time of growth and change. As you enter your second trimester, you not only start to look pregnant, but also feel the fetus move and kick for the first time. As your uterus expands and gets heavier, your center of gravity shifts forward and there is a greater strain on your weight bearing joints, particularly pelvis. The normal spinal curve is increased and your lower back muscles are compressed. Relaxin, the hormone secreted by ovaries softens the pelvic joints in preparation for labor.
Your body is working very hard to hold you upright in this misaligned posture, causing the muscles to become stiff and sore. The abdominal muscles stretch, weaken, lose tone and during the last trimester, separate. Your body retains fluid, which makes muscle stiffness even worse.
To make room for the growing uterus, your rib cage expands as much as 2 to 3 inches. This expansion often creates a strain in mid back, which you feel as discomfort or even pain just below your bra line.
The uterus is supported by eight ligaments that stretch as the uterus grows, often causing pain in different places. Pain from two of these ligaments is often described as a "stitch" on one side. This discomfort can radiate as far as anterior thigh. Pain in the broad ligaments can be felt in the low back and is often masked as sciatica.
Discomfort from another two ligaments is often felt as a dull pain in the lower back.
If nothing is done, this pain stays with you and only gets worse as your pregnancy progresses making it very hard for you to move around comfortably. The worst thing about this is feeling that the pain has control over you. You don't know what to do to ease the pain and to relieve the aching q.
How can Pregnancy Massage help you get moving again, reduce pain and sometimes get rid of it altogether?
Pregnancy Massage is a natural, safe, drug-free method for alleviating back pain during pregnancy. It was developed to support and respect the physiological systems that are strained and working overtime to grow unborn baby.
My daughter gave birth to the most adorable little girl, named Mia, just three weeks ago. During her pregnancy she experienced fatigue that often made her leave her office earlier. She also experienced low back pain and edema. Sometimes it got so bad that she could barely walk. I had a privilege to be there for her, not only as her mother, but also as a knowledgeable professional who knew what caused her pain and what to do to help her during this very difficult time. As I would work on her sore spots to provide her with relief, we both found that she had more mobility and flexibility. Sometimes, just a light pressure on her swollen feet would reduce the swelling and bring her relief. My daughter would very often dose off on the massage table because her body felt very comfortable being supported with pillows and bolsters.
Skillfully applied, using a gentle pressure that's comfortable for you, massage can quickly relieve the pressure and pain.
By releasing the tension that has built up in your back and along your spine, a massage can break the cycle of pain and help you feel more comfortable in your own body.
You will be able to go on with your daily activities with more ease and comfort.
Loving, nurturing and individualized touch given by qualified practitioner can help you achieve a sense of peace during this unsettling time. Worries, anxiety and pain can turn into feeling of joy and eager anticipation.
