Having a baby may be a great experience for both the mother and the father. This can be a life changing event for the both of them. Having created a new life and soon adding a member to their family can be a very exciting moment for them. The happy moments may be complete, aside for the fact that the mother may experience a lot of discomforts. Lower and upper back pain can be felt by the mother while the pregnancy is progressing. Resolving these discomforts can help the mother conserve energy that she may use when the time for delivering the baby comes.
Back pains increases when in the later stage of pregnancy. This is because the uterus or the womb has achieved its maximum expansion to accommodate the growing fetus. The growth of the uterus places pressure on the back of the mother. This compresses the bones that can be found on the back. Bone compression on the back can increase the occurrence of lower and upper back pain.
During the expansion of the womb, the ribs are also made to expand. Since the ribs are attached to the vertebral column or your back bone, this can add up to the discomfort. The diaphragm may even be compressed upward because of the growing size of the uterus. This may make it more difficult to breathe for the mother. Compression on the diaphragm will also make it hard for the mother to lie on her back. It is more advisable for her to rest or sleep in a semi sitting position with pillows on her back. This can help her breathe more efficiently at night. Increase in breast size may also be expected in a pregnant woman as she starts to lactate. This can give pressure to the back as the breast would tend to pull her forward because of its weight.
In trying to deal with back pains during pregnancy, it is advisable to practice stretching exercises. You can follow simple stretching steps like stretching your arms upward. This can help take the pressure away from the ribs helping ease the discomfort on the back. When the breast increases and becomes heavy, wearing a supportive bra can help you carry the load. The better the bra can help support the breast lessens the stress it can give to your back.
There are other exercises and stretching practices that can be used by a pregnant woman. But asking your physician if this can be safe should be kept in mind.
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