Hormones can also play a significant part in the pain. One of the many changes that occur in a pregnant woman’s body is an increase in the production of a hormone called Relaxin. The job of this hormone is to “relax” the ligaments or soften them. This allows the pelvis to spread so that the baby can be born. However, while the body is making these positive and necessary preparations, it can also allow bones to shift or move in directions that they shouldn’t. The result is impingement or compression on the nerves exiting the spinal canal, causing the tissues in the area to become irritated and inflamed.
Another effect of the increased production of relaxin is that it can lead to an intrauterine constraint. This condition causes the pelvic bones to become misaligned which obstructs the baby’s natural movement in utero while it develops. This can keep the baby from moving into the birthing position with the head down. As the bones move out of their natural place, it can stress, pull, and twist the attached ligaments. The baby doesn’t have as much space as it should so it can’t move like a normal fetus can. This can also cause breech births. Stress, poor posture, and overexertion can also cause pregnancy back pain.
Why is pregnancy low back pain so difficult to treat and what treatments are available?
Medications given to the mother will cross over the placenta delivering a dose of the medication to the baby. Because of this, pain medications are generally off limits for pregnant women. In order to protect the baby, natural pain control is preferred. This makes chiropractic a preferred treatment for pregnancy low back pain. The chiropractor may perform a spinal subluxation to bring the spine back into alignment and the body back onto balance.He or she may also make some recommendations to help the woman manage her pain on her own, including improving her posture, stretching, and special exercises. Other recommendations may include:
- Not wearing high heels. They put strain on the back when a woman isn’t pregnant. On a pregnant body, the strain is even worse.
- Avoid bending over to pick up things, but instead, squat – or ask for help.
- Sleeping on the left side and use pillows under the belly to support it as well as a pillow between her legs.
- Rest, lots of rest and elevating her feet.
