| While lower back pain can be the most common | | | | third trimester, you may want to lie on your |
| type of back pain for pregnant women, many | | | | side. Continue to do strengthening and stretching |
| also find themselves with middle back | | | | exercises for your core muscles at least every |
| discomfort. Back discomfort during pregnancy in | | | | few days throughout the pregnancy. Be sure to |
| general has several causes. Pregnancy hormones | | | | wear comfortable, flat, and cushioned shoes if |
| are among the main culprits in causing back | | | | you are going to be doing a lot of standing and |
| problems. Pregnancy hormones can cause water | | | | walking. If possible, participate in swimming or |
| retention in joints and ligaments, creating | | | | water aerobics to take pressure off your spine. |
| tightening around the joints. The hormone relaxin | | | | Another way to avoid middle back discomfort is |
| actually loosens the pelvis in preparation for | | | | to sleep on your left side. This is the best |
| childbirth. This loosening can cause pain and | | | | position to get blood flow to the baby, and you |
| instability in the pelvic region, extending all across | | | | are unlikely to strain anything further in that |
| the back. Sometimes an abdominal muscle can | | | | position. |
| split, causing even further instability. | | | | If the back discomfort during pregnancy is |
| Just as with lower back pain, middle back | | | | ongoing and severe, it might be a sign of fetal |
| discomfort can be greatly alleviated through | | | | distress. If fever, bleeding or severe cramping |
| correct posture. The most important thing is to | | | | accompanies any sort of back pain, contact your |
| try to avoid arching the back. This is very | | | | doctor immediately. |
| tempting when your stomach seems to be pulling | | | | Besides muscle pains, there are some other things |
| you forward, but do your best to resist, because | | | | that could contribute to middle back discomfort. |
| a lot of back discomfort during pregnancy can be | | | | Constipation, heart and lung problems, or urinary |
| traced to the muscle fatigue caused by incorrect | | | | tract infections could all be potential causes of |
| posture. | | | | back pain. If you do your exercises and get |
| Most middle back discomfort is due to muscle | | | | plenty of rest, and the pain still doesn’t |
| strain and fatigue. This is only made worse by | | | | subside, there is a possibility that it is due to one |
| any motions that involve bending and lifting. Sitting | | | | of these things, and you should contact your |
| or standing for long periods of time can cause | | | | doctor in any case. |
| pain as well. If core muscles are weak, | | | | Back pain can be considered a normal part of |
| discomfort will be even further increased. | | | | pregnancy, but there are things you can do to |
| The best way to deal with back discomfort during | | | | alleviate it. Ideally, you should start strengthening |
| pregnancy is to ideally, start back and | | | | before you become pregnant, then continue to do |
| abdomen-strengthening exercises before | | | | exercises until close to the birth. Try not to |
| becoming pregnant. If you start to feel pain, lie | | | | stand or lift, and get plenty of rest if you’re |
| down in a reclining position for a while. In the | | | | sore. All the pain will be gone after baby is born. |