Controlling Back Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy, while being one of the most precious moments of life, can also tend to be uncomfortable for many women, especially when it comes to pain in their lower back and pelvis. In fact, it has been reported that two out of three women suffer from lower back pain while one out of five will experience pelvic pain. This level of pain can affect the woman’s enjoyment of her pregnancy and limit her ability to perform everyday tasks.

Apart from the pain caused by shifts in hormones during pregnancy, another factor that can impact your spinal health is the movement of the growing fetus. There is evidence that shows that the unborn child can, in fact, shift the woman’s center of gravity to the front of her body. This is actually good news. It means the baby is growing, but that doesn’t make your back happy. Usually, this pain starts in the second half of the pregnancy. It can add strain to the lower lumbar and sacroiliac joints causing much discomfort. While painful, there is a helpful solution. Regular chiropractic care can relieve some of the pain.

How can your chiropractor relieve some of this pain? A study in 2014 researched the effects of chiropractic treatment on pregnant women suffering from lower back pain and pelvic pain. It showed that 52% of women felt relief from their pain after one week of chiropractic care, and after six months, 90% reported an improvement in their overall back and pelvic comfort.

Of course, the study also showed that women who had dealt with pain in these areas before pregnancy were more likely to suffer from an increase during that course of time. That means this category of women will especially benefit from chiropractic care, not only throughout the pregnancy, but even for some time afterward.

What can you do? Exercise regularly. This will strengthen your muscles and increase flexibility. Safe exercises during pregnancy include walking, swimming, and stationary cycling. Your chiropractor or physical therapist will be able to recommend stretches and activities that will help. He may also recommend using a cold press or heating pad to relieve pain.

Don’t let lower back pain and pelvic discomfort distract you from this precious experience. Instead, implement the above suggestions and visit your chiropractor for an adjustment and advice to ensure a more comfortable pregnancy.