The growing uterus and extra weight pull the body forward. Standing this way can strain the back muscles.
Hormones are released during pregnancy. These make the ligaments soften and stretch. Ligaments are tissues that surround and support the joints.
Joints in the lower back get sore from pressure. This happens to joints in the pelvic area, too. The baby is growing in size and weight.
The baby presses against the tailbone.
Abdominal muscles that support the spine stretch and strain.
Prevention
Do exercises your health care provider tells you to do. Use good posture, too. Keep your spine straight when you are standing. Have a friend check your back for curving: Stand with your heels against a wall. Ask your friend to look at your back. Tell him or her to let you know if it curves. Center your weight over the pelvic area. Be careful when you bend over, too. Bending wrong can give you a backache.
Back Labor
Most women have some back pain during labor. Some women have it through their whole labor. This is called back labor. It is caused by the way the baby is lying. The back of the baby’s head presses against the tailbone. Or it may press slightly to one side of it.
Self-Care for Good Posture
When you stand:
Stand straight.
Tuck in your bottom.
Don’t hollow your back.
Don’t tighten your shoulders or hold them back. Keep them dropped.
If you have to stand for a long time: Stretch your feet and shift your weight. Rest one foot and then the other on a footstool or telephone book.
When you sit:
Sit on a straight chair with a high back.
Rest your back against the chair’s back.
Put a pillow at the small of your back.
Rest one or both feet on a footstool.
Don’t sit too long. It strains your lower back. Get up and walk around.
When you bend:
To pick something up, squat down on your heels and bend your knees. Keep your upper body straight. Don’t lean over from the waist. Use the strength from your legs, not your back.
To do something down low, kneel or squat. Or get down on all fours. That way, you help take the baby’s weight off your spine.
When you lie down or sleep:
Use a firm mattress. If you don’t have one, have someone help you place a board under your mattress. Or have someone put your mattress on the floor.
Lie on your left side with your knees bent. Bend the upper knee more than the lower knee. Leave a lot of space between your legs.
Put a pillow under your upper knee and leg.
Self-Care
Don’t gain too much weight.
Wear shoes with low (but not flat) heels.
On a long car ride, stop every two hours. Get out and walk around.
Don’t take medicine for pain. Ask your health care provider first.
Don’t lift objects over 15 pounds.
Don’t do exercises where you lift both legs at the same time.
Do exercises for stronger back and belly muscles. Ask your health care provider for these.
Do relaxation and deep breathing exercises. Do yoga.
Have someone massage your lower back. Massage won’t cure a backache. It can loosen tight muscles, though.
Apply warm, moist heat to your back. Use a hot water bottle or warm wash cloth.
Ask your health care provider if you should wear a back support girdle, a back brace, or a special elastic sling.
Do an exercise called the “pelvic rock.” This exercise helps your lower back be more flexible. It helps make the muscles in your belly stronger. {Note: Tell your health care provider if you get pain when you do the pelvic rock. Ask for help if you have a problem doing the pelvic rock.}
Self-Care for Back Labor
Don’t lie on your back.
Find a position that tilts the baby’s weight off your spine. Examples: down on all fours, leaning forward, kneeling.
Have someone apply warm, moist heat to your tailbone. Or he or she can use pressure with the palm of the hand. An ice pack may help in late labor.
