Your body goes through so many changes during pregnancy. The uterus moves, abdominal muscles become weak and the center of gravity in the body shifts. Your posture changes, as does the amount of pressure placed on your joints during the day and on your back at night. All this pressure on your joints, muscles and ligaments can lead to pain in a variety of places, including the back. 

With all this loosening, slackening and shifting taking place in the body, back pain during pregnancy seems somewhat inevitable. However, it's important for you for you to understand what each type of back pain means and what you can do to minimize the effects of pregnancy.

Different Types of Pain

Not all back pain is the same. Being able to identify the different types of back pain can help you understand your pain's origins and what to do about your pain. 

• Posterior pelvic pain. Posterior pelvic pain is felt in the buttocks and tops of the thighs. This type of pain is caused by activities like walking and stair climbing. 
• Lumbar pain. This pain will be centered around the bones of the spine where the back curves in at the waist. This is the kind of pain that you experience after heavy lifting. It's worsened by sitting or standing for long periods of time.

Minimizing Back Pain

There are a variety of things you can do to minimize your back pain, including:

• Proper sleep position. Sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs to relieve the pressure on your back
• Squat when lifting. Squatting instead of bending over when lifting a heavy object can help minimize your pain 
• Wear a support belt. Support belts made for pregnant women are designed to help lift and lighten the load in the front of the body
• Swimming. Swimming relieves the pressure on your joints and ligaments while strengthening muscles in the back
• Prenatal yoga. Prenatal yoga can help you cope with pain by improving your balance, strength and flexibility
• Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. This will help you lessen some of the pressure on your lower back
• Avoid movements that make it worse. Finding out what makes your pain worse can help you avoid it
• Improve your posture. Slumping can put more pressure on your joints and muscles

Seek Medical Care

If these exercises and techniques do not lessen your symptoms, it may be time to consult a professional. Here at Capital City Neurosurgery, we're experts in treating back pain with minimally invasive spinal surgery. If you're ready for pain relief in Columbus, Ohio, contact Capital City Neurosurgery for a consultation with Dr. Kiehm today.