Bottom Line:
A woman’s body undergoes many transformations during the nine months or 40 weeks (approximately) of pregnancy. Some of these changes are visible, such as an expanding belling, while others, such as morning sickness, heartburn and backaches, may not be visible but equally well known. Then there are a few body changes that may be unexpected and catch some women by surprise.
Why it matters:
During pregnancy, the hormone Relaxin is produced to help loosen the joints and ligaments of the pelvis to support the mom’s physiology and body during pregnancy and birth. Relaxin not only relaxes those ligaments in the pelvis, but also stretches other joints and ligaments all over the body.
This is one reason pregnant women develop back pain, neck pain, headaches, or even sciatica ( pain that starts in the lower back and pelvis and travels down the leg to the knee or foot.
As those ligaments become looser and the body’s centre of gravity is pulled forward by a growing baby, a woman’s lower back can become over-stressed by these biomechanical changes, resulting in pain. As the lower back has more stress the upper back and neck shift position to adapt to gravity and can cause pain those areas
Relaxin is a hormone produced during pregnancy that relaxes the joints and ligaments to prepare the body for birth.
What’s more, the other joints and ligaments of the body also become “looser” due to Relaxin, which can also leads to changes in the body’s movement patterns.
These changes, while welcomes, often result in low back pain and other joint pain throughout pregnancy.
Action Step:
Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life, and a unique time for her body. The changes that are natural and necessary help guide a successful pregnancy and birth process which can also in some wreak havoc on a woman’s back and joints. If you are or know of someone whom is expecting be it 6 weeks into pregnancy or 25 or postnatal, and you are looking to find natural relief to help your system function at its best, please call. We are happy to evaluate you and work with your birth team to provide non-invasiv, safe, effective care that can help keep you active throughout and stronger postnatally.
Science Source:
Back Pain in Pregnancy. University of Rochester Medical Center. 2020
Dr. Greg Zoldy
