Daily life
Back pain in pregnancy often comes from body changes you can ease
Backache is one of the most common pregnancy problems, especially in the later months [1]. Severe pain, pain that lasts more than two weeks, or pain with a fever needs a call to your ob-gyn [1].
Key points
- Your growing uterus shifts your center of gravity and weakens your stomach muscles, which strains your back [1].
- Pregnancy hormones loosen the joints of your pelvis, and that can cause pain too [1].
- Supportive shoes, careful lifting, side sleeping, heat or cold, and gentle exercise may ease the pain [1].
- Pelvic belts and physical therapy are among the options your provider may suggest [1][2].
- Back pain with fever, burning during urination or vaginal bleeding needs a call to your ob-gyn [1].
Your growing uterus and loosening joints strain your back
Backache is one of the most common pregnancy problems, especially in the later months [1]. It usually goes away after the baby is born, but for many women it lingers for months afterward [1].
Several changes in your body work together to cause it [1].
- Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches and weakens your abdominal muscles, which changes your posture and strains your back [1].
- The extra weight you carry means more work for your muscles and more stress on your joints, so your back may feel worse at the end of the day [1].
- A pregnancy hormone relaxes the ligaments in your pelvic joints to prepare for birth. Ligaments are bands of tissue that connect bones. If the joints become too flexible, back pain can occur [1].
Your abdominal muscles help support your spine. Because they stretch and weaken in pregnancy, you may also be more likely to hurt your back during exercise [1].
Pelvic girdle pain and lower back pain are two different problems
Back pain in pregnancy can show up in the lower spine or around the pelvis. Pelvic girdle pain is more common than lumbar (lower spine) pain, and it causes greater disability [2].
A provider can often tell them apart from a detailed history that covers where the pain is, how strong it is, how much it limits you, and what brings it on [2].
Good posture and gentle exercise can ease pregnancy back pain
These steps may prevent or ease the pain [1].
- Wear low-heeled shoes with good arch support, such as walking or athletic shoes. Avoid high heels, which tilt your body forward and strain your lower back [1].
- Sit in chairs with good back support, or tuck a small pillow behind your lower back [1].
- If you must stand for a long time, rest one foot on a stool or a box [1].
- Lift by squatting, bending your knees and keeping your back straight. Do not bend at the waist [1].
- Sleep on your side later in pregnancy with one or both knees bent. A pillow between your knees and another under your belly may help [1].
- Try an abdominal support garment, which takes the weight of your belly off your back muscles [1].
- Use a heating pad or warm water bottle on sore muscles, set to the lowest temperature and wrapped in a towel to prevent burns. Cold compresses can also help. Limit how long you use either [1].
Exercise can strengthen and stretch the muscles that support your back and legs, promote good posture, and help ease pain [1]. Walking is generally safe and is great for the back [1]. Water exercise can be especially helpful because the water supports your weight [1].
Before you start
Talk with your ob-gyn or other obstetric care provider before starting or changing an exercise program. Exercise should not cause pain, and if it does, stop [1].
Physical therapists and support belts may help once other causes are ruled out
If your provider rules out other causes of the pain, such as preterm labor or a urinary tract infection, you may be referred to a rehabilitation specialist or a physical therapist [1]. You may also be advised to use a maternity girdle or brace [1].
A medical journal review lists other options that have been shown to be safe and effective in pregnancy [2].
- Pelvic belts [2].
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, a treatment that sends mild electrical pulses through the skin [2].
- Spinal manipulative therapy, acupuncture, and yoga as a complementary therapy [2].
For pelvic girdle pain after delivery, there is evidence that stabilizing exercises have a beneficial effect [2].
When to get care
Certain back pain signs in pregnancy need a call to your ob-gyn
Back pain can be a symptom of preterm labor, which means labor before 37 weeks, or of a urinary tract infection [1]. Your provider will want to rule out other causes of the pain [1].
Call your doctor, meaning your ob-gyn or other obstetric care provider, if you have the following [1].
Also call your doctor if back pain comes with any of these [1].
You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury [3].
If you think you may have a medical emergency in the United States, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Sources
- Back Pain During Pregnancy acog.org
- Musculoskeletal symptoms and orthopaedic complications in pregnancy: pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches and modern management Postgraduate medical journal
- Back Pain medlineplus.gov
Not medical advice. This page is general education written from the sources above. It cannot diagnose a condition or replace a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you may be having an emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department.