Lower Back Pain During Early Pregnancy

Pregnancy also comes with its share of problems, one of them being lower back pain. Almost 50 percent of the pregnant women may experience pain in the lower back region, especially during the first and second term. Some degree of lower back pain during early pregnancy may be noticed either during the day or night. At times, the pain may continue to remain throughout and may be aggravated due to some movement of the body. This condition is also one of the first signs of pregnancy, along with missed period and abdominal cramping. The body undergoes a lot of changes, in terms of physical and hormonal levels, in order to prepare and sustain itself for the growth and development of the baby. One of the changes that the body may observe is backache, which is quite normal. Sometimes, the pain may range from being dull to a sharp pain in the lower back during early pregnancy. Whatever be the degree of pain, it is essential to provide relief and reduce the intensity of the pain and discomfort caused due to this condition.

Causes of Lower Back Pain in Early Pregnancy

There can be several reasons for experiencing lower back pain in the initial stages of pregnancy. Though not always a matter of grave concern, some women may find it to be quite stressful. Given below are some of the causative factors for noticing mild to intense lower back pain:

• One of the common causes of pain in the lower back region, during early pregnancy is increase in body weight. Though beneficial for the baby, additional weight gain can put pressure on the back and lead to backache.
• The body needs to get accustomed to the growing fetus, hence the pelvic region begins to expand. This stretching of the pelvis, also puts a strain on the back, particularly in the lower region, ending up in the person complaining of back pain.
• During pregnancy, there is a surge of hormones in the body. This is because the endocrine glands and the placenta secrete hormones to suffice the body's needs. Relaxin, makes the muscles and the ligaments which support the pelvis to become pliant. This factor may cause discomfort in the back region.
• As the uterus begins to expand with the passage of time to accommodate the growing fetus leading to a shift in the body's center of gravity. The body takes it time to adjusts to this change and resulting posture and the movement may lead to backaches. The discomfort may also increase during activities like climbing stairs, walking briskly etc.
• Stress, both physical and mental, also contributes to noticing lower back pain during early pregnancy.
• In some cases, suffering from urinary tract infections (UTI) which pregnant women are susceptible to, is also a responsible factor for lower backache.

Relieving Lower Back Pain

Severe lower back pain can restrict a mother-to-be, and can also be quite distressing. Little tasks like getting up, bending and even walking may seem to be quite an effort. Here are some guidelines on back pain relief during pregnancy, after consulting a gynecologist, that can help provide relief from this annoying condition.

• The gynecologist may also advise ample rest, to relax the stretching back muscles. Longer period of rest and adequate sleep can help eliminate lower back pain.
• Application of cold or hot packs on the affected portion will help lower back pain considerably. Massaging the region will also reduce the soreness of the muscles.
• Your posture also matters a lot when it comes to relieving backache. Instead of sitting in the same position or standing for a long time, a change in position after regular intervals will lower the pain.
• Mild exercises, like yoga, stretching exercises for the back etc. can be done to reduce lower backache, which may also help strengthening the back muscles. However, these exercises must be done only under the guidance of your gynecologist.
• If the pain intensifies or is persistent, even after following all the guidelines, consult your doctor who may prescribe mild pain killers and even physiotherapy to provide relief from back pain during pregnancy.

This normal phenomenon, though distressing, may subdue as the term progresses. It is also advisable to avoid any strenuous activity during the entire term of pregnancy. It must be noted that with proper rest and exercise this physical discomfort, can be relieved considerably. Wish you a joyful motherhood!