Where does back pain occur in pregnancy?
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Oh, your aching back! Here's what causes stiffness and back pain during pregnancy, and how you can cope with it during pregnancy. Back to Top In This Article
If pregnancy is becoming a pain in your back, you’re not alone — back pain is one of the most common symptoms among the expecting set. What is back pain during pregnancy?Back pain during pregnancy typically takes the form of aches, stiffness and soreness in the upper or lower back and hips that can sometimes extend into the legs and buttocks. When does back pain during pregnancy start and end?Unfortunately, back pain can start fairly early on in your pregnancy. Some women experience it in the first trimester, but for many women, back pain starts up around week 18, early in the second trimester. It can persist or sometimes worsen as the second trimester progresses and especially in the third trimester, up until you give birth (when it's sometimes replaced by postpartum back pain!). What causes back pain during pregnancy?Throughout your pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin is released, causing the ligaments of the otherwise stable joints in your pelvis to loosen up in order to allow easier passage of your baby during delivery. Add to that the weight of your growing uterus, and your balance gets thrown off as your center of gravity shifts forward. In turn, your
lower back curves more than usual to accommodate the load — resulting in strained muscles and, you guessed it, soreness, stiffness and pain. Is pregnancy back pain the same as sciatica?It can be. If you’re feeling sharp, shooting pain that starts in your back or buttocks and radiates down your legs, you may be experiencing sciatica. The good news about back pain during pregnancy is that it's usually as resolvable as it is common. Plus, there are many ways to relieve it — so if one solution doesn’t work, another probably will. Continue Reading Below Read This NextTreatments for back pain during pregnancyTry the following remedies to relieve your pregnancy backaches:
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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Which side is back pain in early pregnancy?Symptoms. Lumbar pain during pregnancy is generally located at and above the waist in the center of the back, and it may be concurrent with pain that radiates into the woman's leg or foot. Posterior pelvic pain (in the back of the pelvis) is four times more prevalent than lumbar pain in pregnancy.
Can back pain be signs of pregnancy?For some newly expectant mothers, back pain is an early sign of pregnancy. Early pregnancy back pain can be exacerbated by worries about the baby and the pregnancy and related stress which can increase muscle tension and cause discomfort.
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