Back pain and pregnancy
For many women, back
pain and pregnancy go hand in hand and not surprisingly, there are a
number of physical reasons why it occurs. This article will look at
some of them.
1. Hormones. During pregnancy, hormones can soften ligaments causing
more movement in the joints than usual and in some cases, the
ligaments are stretched or strained.
2. Uterus. The growing fetus in the uterus can cause changes in
posture which result in lower back pain. As the entire area
enlarges, pressure is put on the spine and vertebra.
3. Position of fetus. Especially in the later stages of development,
the position of the fetus can compress nerves in the spinal column,
causing back pain.
Once you have determined which of the physical reasons is causing
your back pain, there are some steps you can take to lessen the pain
and in some cases eliminate the problem. The most important thing to
remember is that the body changes during pregnancy and that some
simple strategies can go a long way to keeping those changes in
check.
