Left Side Back Pain During Pregnancy

Back pain is one of the most common conditions experienced during pregnancy. Nearly all women experience pain or spasms in lower left, right or middle back in pregnancy. The back pain may be felt in the early, middle or even later months of pregnancy. The duration of the pain also differs, and may be experienced for up to 20 weeks. In most of the cases, this is not a cause for worry, however, it is essential to be aware of the causes that lead to this condition. Let us take a look.

Causes of Back Pain on Left Side During Pregnancy
There are two prominent reasons that lead to left or middle back pain in pregnant women. Let us take a look at these causes in detail.

Weight Gain
Weight gain is the major cause of pregnancy back pain, especially in the later phase. The increasing weight of the baby can also lead to weight gain in woman. During pregnancy the weight of a woman can increase a maximum up to 35 pounds (15 kg). This can exert strain on the back and lead to right or left side back pain. On the other hand, due to the increasing size of the uterus, the center of gravity of women changes, which leads to change in posture. This puts further strain on the lower back and hence, leads to lower left back pain and spasms.

Hormonal Changes
In pregnant women, the body releases a hormone known as relaxin which is essential to relax the pelvic muscles for childbirth. The hormone relaxin also acts on the muscles of the back and relaxes them. This affects the support of the back resulting in pain in the back in the left side. These two are the major left side back pain causes.

Apart from the aforementioned causes, stress is also considered as one of the significant causes of right or left side back pain during pregnancy. Women often undergo a lot of emotional stress in pregnancy and may also suffer from mood swings. Back pain can be traced as one of the side effects of stress experienced while pregnant

Treating Back Pain During Pregnancy
Although, as aforementioned, backache in early pregnancy is a common condition, it is better to consult your doctor in order to diagnose the condition. Sometimes, back pain can also be caused due to some disease affecting the bones or the spinal cord and hence, it is better to get the condition diagnosed by the doctor. In most of the cases, medications are not required and one is advised against it. One is rather advised to go for simple home remedies that help in getting rid of back pain fast. In order to get relief from back pain, you should go for pregnancy exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist or a trainer. Secondly, pregnant women should take complete rest and avoid standing or sitting in one position for a long time. You should also sleep on your side with proper back support on a comfortable bed. On the other hand, you can also go for heat or cold packs as they can be effective for lower back pain relief. Rubbing the back or a massage can also help in treating back pain during pregnancy.

Simple home remedies are also useful in treatment of back pain. If not, it is recommended to consult a doctor before going for any pain killers or other medications in pregnancy. Take care!