What Is The Link Between Pregnancy And Back Pain?

back pain advice during pregancy from our stoke on trent chiropractorChoosing to start a family is a big decision yet it is one that should be embraced and celebrated. If you are pregnant and are moving through the different stages of pregnancy then you will have already started experiencing the many changes that come with it. There are many changes that you will welcome such as a glowing complexion and strong hair but there are also the downsides of feeling tired, dealing with morning sickness and perhaps the dreaded lower back pain.

It is important to understand that not everyone suffers with lower back pain during pregnancy. However, if you have suffered from back pain before then there is a greater chance that you will develop it during pregnancy.

At this point, you might be wondering if back pain is something that you have to put up. Fortunately, you do not have to live with it and there are a number of things that can be done in order to reduce and alleviate the symptoms of back pain that is linked to pregnancy.

As an experienced chiropractor operating two well established chiropractic clinics in Stoke on Trent and Newcastle under Lyme I am often asked if chiropractic can help during pregnancy. Chiropractic care is a gentle and safe form of treatment during pregnancy and can be highly beneficial. Chiropractic has been recognised by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

What causes back pain and how can a chiropractor help?

Within the pelvis, there are three joints. At the back, there are the two sacroiliac joints and at the front, there is the pubic symphysis joint. In order for you to give birth, the joints begin to loosen up, enabling them to move more and while that is brilliant for the baby, it is not such good news for mum. These additional movements can lead to lower back pain.

As the baby grows in size, you will grow with it and that alters your posture, something that occurs in most pregnant women. Posture is vital as it ensures that your spine and pelvis move in the correct way. Despite this, as you increase in weight and as your bump grows, your lower back will curve inwards and this puts more pressure on your spinal joints to the point where you can experience pain and discomfort.

By using the services of a chiropractor, they can help your joints to move better as well as release any pressure or tension that has built up in the joints and the muscles. As everyone is different, a consultation will enable them to identify what care will work best for you and that can help you to manage your pain and ensure that you maintain the best possible posture to help ease the pain.

After giving birth

For those women who are experiencing their first pregnancy and have had no history of lower back pain, it is possible that after giving birth there will be no pain or pain that has reduced by a considerable amount. However, just because you feel as though everything is as it should be, particularly as the pain is reduced or completely gone, you should still visit your chiropractor for a re-examination. There is always a risk that should you try to go back to living a normal life after having pregnancy-related back pain that you could find that you suffer from back pain in the future or worse pregnancy-related pain should you have any pregnancies in the future.

If you are suffering from back pain, then it is probably best that you see visit a chiropractor as they will be able to assist you in managing the your lower back pain and will be able to advise on ways to help protect your back.