Pregnancy Joints

Understanding And Easing Pregnancy Pain

Some women seem to go through pregnancy with little to no problems. However, most women will experience some aches and pains along the way as the baby grows and the body adjusts. Of course, no one likes to be in pain, but thankfully, there are ways to help with the discomfort. To ease the pain and make things more manageable, here are some gentle, practical ideas.

There are some logical, natural reasons for the discomfort of pregnancy. Abdominal muscles are being stretched as the baby grows and develops within the mother. Often, these muscles struggle to maintain usual posture of the body and therefore, the lower back is left to carry much of the weight. Hip, shoulder, neck and abdominal pain can all be caused by this shift in posture.

Discomfort can also be caused by the shift in hormones. A hormone called relaxin relaxes the joints within the pelvis area to help with childbirth. However, the hormone affects all muscles and tissues and therefore, joints in the body become somewhat unstable and more prone to inflammation and pain. Shifting hormones also causes the expectant mother to have emotions that are unusual and unexpected. Some mothers have difficulty processing the fact that they are going to be a mom and this carries its own set of emotional stress.

Expectant mothers experience many other types of pain and discomfort as well. The flux in hormones can cause headaches and migraines. Another common complaint that expectant mothers have is in the lower back and sciatic. The posture shifts due to the expanding abdomen and weight gain, causing more pressure on the lower back. Due to the pressure on the lower back, the sciatica becomes irritated and painful.

Water retention in the hands and feet is common. In the hand, this can affect the nerve supply, causing symptoms of carpal tunnel. The result is tingling, pain and numbness in the fingers and wrists. The most painful places seem to be the pelvis, neck, shoulders, and abdomen. Again, this is usually cuased by the changes in hormone levels and resulting relaxed ligaments.

While it may seem that there are many complaints, most of these conditions are either non-existent or tolerable during the first few months of pregnancy. The most difficult time, of course, is the last three months, during which the baby grows most in size. This puts more pressure on the mother’s body and makes it more difficult to rest and sleep well.

There are many things that a woman can do to help during the rough days of pregnancy. Investing in ergonomic furniture can help expectant mothers to be comfortable at work. Adjustable chairs, desks and other accessories that can be made to fit will help any pregnant mother get comfortable while she works either at the office or at home. In fact there are many different types of ergonomic equipment that can be helpful. Anti-fatigue mats, lumbar supports, and foot rests are a few of the items that an expectant mother might find especially helpful at work.

Due to the high demands on their bodies, pregnant women require extra rest and relaxation. One item that can be particularly helpful is a pregnancy pillow. Gentle exercise such as walking, biking, stretching and swimming can also help give the expectant mother a good night’s rest and help with overall emotional and physical well-being.

Some women opt for acupuncture during pregnancy to get relief from their pain, particularly in the back, hip and pelvic areas. Unlike medications, acupuncture is safe and can help with many pains, including headaches. Acupuncture can also help reduce swelling for expectant mothers.

Chiropractors are often visited by women who are expecting because they are trained in effectively working safely and effectively with pregnancy. Because joints are often out of alignment during pregnancy, which causes much of the discomfort, a chiropractor can make the correct adjustments. The mother can then get some relief from the pain and be able to rest better.

Massage is very helpful as well, because tissue massage is not only healing, but also very therapeutic and relaxing. During the final trimester, the hips, lower back and sciatica can successfully be helped by massage. Along with this, heat can be very helpful to increase circulation, while ice helps reduce acute inflammation. Of course, check with your doctor before trying any type of therapy, especially during pregnancy.

Even with all of these ideas and tools, it's important to have a support system. With the many changes that pregnancy brings, it’s always helpful to be able to talk things out with a spouse, sister, or good friend. Also, having the support of a good doctor can help an expectant mother feel that she has a place to go to ask questions about her changing body. An expectant mom will feel more able to cope when she has supportive people to turn to for advice and some tools to help her deal with her discomfort.

Re: I am 25 weeks pregnant and my joints are killing me. Any suggestions?

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