What causes back pain during pregnancy?

Many people will experience back pain after becoming pregnant. This is a normal phenomenon, especially in the middle and late stages of pregnancy. It is mainly because during pregnancy, the woman's uterus becomes larger and presses on other parts of the body. Women do not need to worry too much about this. Below, we will introduce in detail the specific causes and treatment methods of back pain in women during pregnancy!

1. Why does my back hurt during pregnancy?

There are two main causes of back pain during pregnancy:

① The uterus needs to expand space

As the fetus grows, the woman's abdomen stretches to accommodate the enlarged uterus.

Because the abdominal muscles are stretched far beyond their normal stretch during pregnancy, they lose their normal role in maintaining body posture.

Therefore, the back has to bear more weight and pressure to maintain body posture.

② Secretion of relaxing hormone

During pregnancy, the concentration of relaxin in the pregnant woman's body is 10 times that of a non-pregnant woman.

Relaxin functions by relaxing the joints in the pelvis so that there is room for the baby to pass through the birth canal.

However, relaxin may also cause looseness in other joints in the body, leading to inflammation and pain.

2. Three characteristics of back pain

If you have the following three characteristics, you are likely to become a pregnant mother who is prone to back pain, so you must pay special attention:

1. Have a history of back pain

Pregnant women who have a history of back pain before pregnancy are more likely to experience back pain, and the back pain period will be longer and the pain will be more severe. If you have back pain during pregnancy, you are more likely to have back pain during your next pregnancy.

2. Working or staying in a fixed position for too long

Physical work, such as frequently lifting heavy objects, bending forward or twisting the waist, can easily cause back injuries in pregnant women.

In addition, long working hours in a fixed posture without being able to rest can also easily cause back pain in pregnant women.

3. Sacroiliac joint disease

Pregnancy can aggravate sacroiliac joint relaxation, and sacroiliac joint disease can also aggravate back pain in pregnant women. Among pregnant women with severe back pain, about two-thirds have sacroiliac joint lesions and their back pain symptoms last longer.

Such pain is indeed uncomfortable. Since pregnant women should not take medicine casually, when back pain really requires medication, in addition to oral medications, applying plasters is another good option.

3. What to do if you have back pain during pregnancy

Compression symptoms will appear in the middle and late stages of pregnancy, and low back pain is more common with a posterior uterus. Guidance: In the current situation, it is recommended to do an electrocardiogram and color Doppler ultrasound of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen and kidneys to rule out organic diseases such as pancreatitis, kidney stones, etc. If you do not have any organic disease, pay attention to rest, avoid overwork, and lie on your left side.