Pregnancy is the most special time in a woman's life. This process, which is generally a happy process, can also cause severe pain in some women. In particular, lower back pain can start to make life very difficult in the later stages of pregnancy, as the baby grows and women gain weight.
In this article, my dear readers, I would like to give you some information about the occurrence of back pain during pregnancy.
Frequency of Low Back Pain During Pregnancy
The complaint of low back pain during pregnancy is very common; It is quite normal to experience this problem, which is accepted to be seen in approximately 70% of women. Still, back pain during pregnancy continues to be an issue that needs to be taken into consideration and the right precautions should be taken. Pregnancy-induced lower back pain mostly affects the lower back, but it can also be felt in the center of the waist.
There are many factors that trigger the complaint of low back pain during pregnancy, my dear patients, and all these factors that cause low back pain may change during certain periods of pregnancy. For this reason, I would like to explain to you the causes of back pain experienced during pregnancy.
Causes of Low Back Pain During Pregnancy: What Causes Low Back Pain During Pregnancy?
Causes of low back pain experienced at different stages of pregnancy may differ. “Does pregnancy cause back pain?” Although there is no definitive answer to the question, I can give general information about the causes of low back pain that occurs during pregnancy.
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Causes of low back pain in the first 3 months of pregnancy
1. Hormonal Changes: The main factor that causes back pain at the beginning of pregnancy is hormonal changes. After pregnancy occurs, the level of progesterone hormone rises rapidly in the female body, and the rise of this hormone can reduce the stability of the joints by causing the muscles and ligaments in the pelvic area to relax.
2. Stress: Another factor that causes back pain in pregnant women during this period is stress. As a result, although there is endless happiness with the news of pregnancy, the brand new progressive reality of life increases the stress of women. ir. Stress can also cause physical symptoms; It may trigger muscle pain.
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Causes of lower back pain during 3-9 months of pregnancy
During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the uterus begins to expand, the baby grows rapidly, posture disorders occur, and back and waist pain worsen as the mother gains weight.
1. Change in the Center of Gravity: As the baby grows, the women's center of gravity shifts towards the front, the back muscles become strained and pain in the waist area becomes more common.
2. Weight Gain: As the end of pregnancy approaches, weight gain begins. As weight gain increases, women's back pain and joint pain also worsen.
3. Separation of Muscles: In the abdominal area, there are two parallel sections of muscles that connect in the middle of the abdominal area. These muscles keep the spine stable and support the back area. However, in a period such as pregnancy, when the body anatomy changes greatly, as the fetus grows, it causes the abdominal muscles to stretch and even separate. When the muscle structures in the abdominal area separate, the lower back pain, back and pelvic area pain experienced during pregnancy increases.
Yes, my dear readers, I tried to share the most basic information about “causes of lower back pain during pregnancy” for you. Now it's time for suggestions that will increase the comfort of my patients who have back pain problems during pregnancy.
Beware of Vitamin D Deficiency During Pregnancy!
It is very important to protect women's vitamin D levels during pregnancy. Low back pain may occur during pregnancy due to vitamin D deficiency, but this is not the only problem caused by vitamin D deficiency. When vitamin D deficiency occurs, the body's calcium balance will be disrupted, bones may weaken, the possibility of fractures may increase, widespread body pain may occur, loss of balance and falls, etc. Accidents may occur, bones may begin to melt.
What is Good for Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy?
How to relieve lower back pain during pregnancy? There is no definitive answer to the question, because Because not every woman's back pain complaints may be the same. However, in general, I would like to make a few suggestions to relieve or alleviate lower back pain during pregnancy.
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Stretch your waist regularly and carefully.
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Make sure you get enough vitamin D.
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Place a pillow between your legs while sleeping and try to sleep on your side.
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Try to stand upright while sitting and walking to protect the health of your skeletal system. Make sure your feet are slightly elevated while sitting. Keep your head and shoulders upright. If necessary, use orthopedic pillows to support your waist.
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Avoid sudden movements when bending over or when you need to pick up something from the floor. When bending, use your knees, not your waist, and never try to lift very heavy loads alone.
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Although gaining weight may seem inevitable, try not to gain as much weight as you can.
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Do not stand all day long, try to rest whenever possible and be sure to change positions frequently, even when sitting.
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If you have a job that requires you to sit for long hours, do not forget to stand up and take short walks.
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Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
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Drink plenty of water to stay healthy, if you drink enough water you can reduce your risk of inflammation.
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Pay attention to your posture, your center of gravity shifts forward. You may subject your back muscles to more tension than necessary to maintain your balance. To prevent this, I recommend you to do posture exercises.
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When your back pain gets worse, be sure to consult a specialist and get your tests done if necessary.
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By consulting your doctors, you can do exercises suitable for your health during pregnancy. Pilates and yoga exercises accompanied by sports instructors can make you feel much better.
Waist A in Pregnancy When Should Those Who Experience Pain Go to a Doctor?
Low back pain is a very common complaint during pregnancy, and as I emphasized in the previous parts of my article, low back pain can occur for many different reasons. Although it does not generally cause the need to go to a doctor, doctors should be consulted when lower back pain causes certain complaints.
Especially;
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If the back pain becomes very severe,
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If lower back pain lasts longer than 2 weeks,
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If there are cramps that occur at regular intervals and gradually intensify,
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If you experience difficulty and pain while urinating, you should seek medical support without wasting time.
Important: Dear readers, lower back pain during pregnancy is caused by the problem we call "sciatica". It may also occur as . Now we ask you “what is sciatica?” I will give a brief explanation about it.
The thickest and longest nerve in our body is called "sciatica". The sciatic nerve emerges from the last vertebra in the waist and ends just below the knee. The roots of the sciatic nerve in the lumbar region may become stretched and/or compressed during pregnancy as the baby grows. Sciatica can cause pain that starts from the lower back and extends to the feet. Sometimes the pain is so severe that it causes movement limitation in the person. If you feel pain while walking, if you drag your feet on the ground while walking, if there is pain and numbness in your feet, there may be pressure on your sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a problem whose risk increases during pregnancy. It can be seen in anyone, but it is known that it can affect pregnant women more!
Lower Pain Treatment Methods During Pregnancy
>If you have back pain during pregnancy and your life comfort decreases due to this problem, I can say that there are various treatment methods. During pregnancy, you can use painkillers under the supervision of a doctor. If the painkillers you use do not solve your problem, you can resort to injection treatments.
Important: My dear patients, injection treatments are very special approaches that need to be planned carefully. This is about Treatment can only be performed by physicians who have sufficient experience in pain management.
If recommended, you may also need to receive physical therapy support. When this alternative is evaluated, your exercises will be determined by experts based on the course of your pregnancy and the causes of your back pain.
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