As your pregnancy progresses, it is normal to start experiencing back pain as your body starts to prepare for labor and your belly gets bigger. This causes more strain on the joints and results in back pain during pregnancy.
Here are some of the reasons why pregnancy causes back pain:
Weight gain
As your baby grows, your body starts to put on more weight. In fact, most women typically gain between 10-12.5 kg during pregnancy. Because the spine has to support this extra weight, many women experience lower back pain during pregnancy.
Change in posture
Because pregnancy changes a person’s center of gravity and posture, the way you move will start to change. This can cause strain on the back as well as back pain during pregnancy.
Hormonal changes
It’s no secret that women undergo a lot of hormonal changes during pregnancy. One of the pregnancy hormones your body creates is relaxin. This hormone helps ligaments in the pelvic area to relax and the joints to soften to prepare the body for labor. Because this hormone can also help the spine to loosen, it can cause instability and back pain.
Muscle separation
As a result of the uterus expanding, muscles that run from the rib cage to the pubic bone can separate causing back pain during pregnancy.
How to relieve back pain during pregnancy with exercises and stretches:
Stretches to relieve back pain
Lower back pain relief exercises
Upper back pain relief exercises and stretches
Exercises to reduce backaches and pelvic pain
Further reading:
- Benefits of Kegel Exercise During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Week By Week: Week 1 to 9
- Rahet Bally Fitness: Home Workouts Every Mama Can Do
Sources used in this article:
- Back pain in pregnancy – NHS
- Back pain in pregnancy – WebMD
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