Pregnancy is a gift which is cherished and celebrated; but it comes with its own set of concerns. Issues such as nausea, fatigue, swollen feet, and irregular sleep are common. However, one of the most sidelined issue women face during pregnancy is back pain.

Back pain can be caused by many changes such as changing posture due to belly growth, hormones, sitting and sleeping positions. Read on to know the causes for back pain during different trimesters:

Back Pain in the First trimester

Progesterone is a kind of hormone which helps in relaxing the muscles and ligaments near the pelvis. This hormone increases rapidly during the first trimester. As a result of this, it has an effect on the stability and alignment of joints – which can cause postural changes leading to back pain.

The next hormone is relaxin that helps egg to implant in uterus walls and prevents contractions in early stages of pregnancy. It is also helpful in softening relaxing the ligaments as the labor time comes nearer. But it also has a direct effect on the ligaments to stabilize the spine as per the bodily changes. Due to this, it may cause posture instability, leading to pain in the lower back.

Back Pain in Second and Third Trimesters

Till the second trimester sets in, the body is quite adapted to new postural changes. However, each trimester brings its own set of barriers, which the mommy-to-be and baby has to cross. Since the fetus grows rapidly during this time, causes like weight gain, muscle separation, and postural changes further add to back pain.

Other causes are –

Resting Backwards – As the fetus grows, it takes the required space in the womb. Some women may lean backwards to take support in sitting or standing. This creates a pressure on the back and may lead to increased back pain.

Weight Gain – Gaining weight during pregnancy is common. However, it does have any effect on the posture of the women. Increased weight gain creates pressure on the back; resulting in pain in the lower back or center.

Muscle Separation – Abdomen has two muscles to support the back. In the time of pregnancy as the fetus grows, it creates saturation and pressure of the muscles to separate to have space for its own. This may sometimes cause the muscle to separate hence, back pain.

Doctors have recognized stress also as a major cause of back pain. It is a time of celebration however it increases stress on the expecting mother as well. The stress could be due to changing tastes, mood swings, weight gain, and uncertainty related to health.

Therefore, it is essential for the expecting mother to remain calm as much as possible. It is also essential to take care of your posture.

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