Caring for Your Back During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting time filled with many physical and emotional changes. Keeping the mother's body healthy and physically fit is essential to the health of the developing child, preparing for labor, and decreasing the probability of complications later in pregnancy. Many things can be safely done nutritionally and preventatively before and during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, many women report an increase in lower back pain. The broad ligament, which supports the uterus anteriorly, attaches on the lumber spine of the lower back. As the uterus expands with the growing baby, additional stress and pressure is exerted on the lower back. This discomfort or pain can sometimes become so severe that it is sometimes called "back labor".

Here are some excellent tips to care for the lower back during pregnancy:

1. Sleep on your side with a pillow in between your legs. Avoid sleeping on your back as this position places the weight of the baby and placenta upon your lower back and kidneys - increasing one's swelling and backaches.
2. Strengthen your lower back muscles by properly exercising your lower back muscles. Prenatal Pilates and Prenatal Yoga are excellent exercising options during pregnancy.
3. Avoid lifting any heavy objects.
4. When reaching for objects on the floor, SQUAT! This maneuver removes any additional stress that may be placed upon your back by leaning over and also serves to prepare for labor and delivery.
5. Strengthen abdominal muscles prior to pregnancy and then properly strengthen them during pregnancy. Performing crunches is contraindicated. Instead, strengthen the abdominal muscles while on hands and knees. Prenatal Pilates and Prenatal Yoga are excellent choices of exercise to help strengthen the abdominal muscles. Toned abdominal muscles will make labor much easier.
6. Perform Kegel's. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic diaphragm. A strong pelvic diaphragm relieves pressure from the lower back and prepares the musculature for delivery. A proper Kegel is a contraction of the pelvic muscles that would stop a steady flow of urine.

In addition to these tips, pursuing chiropractic care when pregnant is safe and very effective. Gentle techniques are utilized to assist the mother in decreasing discomfort as well as preparing her body for labor and delivery. In addition to lower back pain, a pregnant mother may experience a decrease in energy, loose joints, fatigued ligaments, nausea, and extreme mood swings. Nutrition and homeopathy - Liga PN (NutriWest), Pain Relief (NET), and ER 911(NET) - are excellent choices recommended for such complaints with no side effects!

Enjoy being pregnant and the miracle growing within you!