Lower Back Pain in Early Pregnancy

During pregnancy, women may feel different kind of symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, missed period, and even lower back pain. Pain in the lower back occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy for about 80% of expecting women. Usually, aside from missing one's period, a woman can determine that she is pregnant if she is experiencing regular pains in the back.

Lower back pain in early pregnancy can be caused by many factors. Some of the causes of this back pain are as follows:

• Stretching of the ligaments - a woman's body needs to prepare and stretch itself along the abdominal area for pregnancy. Due to this, pregnant women may feel pains in the lower part of their back.

• Extra weight - during pregnancy, a woman may gain extra weight. Because of that, and along with the weight of the developing fetus, the spinal column cannot support the weight well.

• Posture - as the tummy of a pregnant woman swells, she has the tendency to bend backwards, resulting to pain in her lower back.

• Center of gravity - the woman's body starts to move forward due to the swelling of the uterus.

• Stress - pregnancy is really a stressful time for a woman, both physically and mentally. Because of that, the pelvis weakens and back pain results.

• Hormones - hormones are very much active during pregnancy. Progesterone, a hormone produced by women, may soften the pelvic ligaments and causes back pain.

• Urinary tract infections - UTI can be a cause of back pains, and during pregnancy, women are more prone to have UTI.

Pregnant women should not worry if ever they are experiencing back pain. It is a normal phase of pregnancy. Although there are no ways for them to stop occurring, there are still measures that will help the pain to be bearable. A pregnant woman can do these following steps to minimize the pain they will experience in their lower backs:

• First of all, it is important for a pregnant woman to do exercises during their pregnancy. Try doing back exercises to help lessen the pains in your back. You can do walking, pelvic rocking, stretching, and other back exercises.

• Drink lots of fluid to help ease the pain caused by UTI.

• Take a lot of rest. Pregnant women need a lot of rest, to gain more strength and energy for both her and the baby's health.

• When lying down, placing a pillow on your lower back can help ease the lower the pain in early pregnancy.

• Stop wearing heels and high-heeled shoes during pregnancy. Just wear flats and comfortable footwear to help you achieve more balance.

The mentioned tips above are just some of the remedies and preventive measures that a pregnant woman can do to lessen the discomfort experienced brought about by lower back pain. It is normal for women to experience several uncomfortable and even painful symptoms during pregnancy. These things cannot be avoided, but by doing preventive measures, can make them bearable. Pregnancy is a critical period for every woman, so utmost care must be observed to ensure the safety and health of both mother and child.