7 Common Pregnancy Body Aches You Don't Want

Pregnant ladies, body aches are perfectly normal and at some point during your pregnancy you are bound to experience them!

But this doesn’t mean that you have to accept them.

Feel good about yourself again and give yourself an energy boost and read on to find how you can remedy 7 common pregnancy body aches nobody wants!

Lower Back Pain in Pregnancy

Causes:

An increase in the ‘pregnancy hormone’ relaxin will loosen and open up certain joints and ligaments. As your baby grows, your centre of gravity shifts which can change your posture and increase lower back discomfort. Stress can also accumulate in weakened areas of the body, increasing back pain.

Symptoms:

Postural changes
Difficulty getting up and sitting down
Extra stiffness in the lower back region after waking up

How to ease:

Elevate your feet while sleeping
Sleep on your side and not on your back
Avoid high heels or shoes that have inadequate support
Use a pregnancy support belt to help lift your belly and ease the stress off your back

Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy

Causes:

Common causes include growth of the uterus and foetus, pressure of the baby’s weight, inflammation due to movement of specific joints during pregnancy and secretion of relaxin.

Symptoms:

Pain across the pubic bone at the front and centre, roughly at the same level as the hips
Pain across one or both sides of the lower back
Pain in the perineum region (between the vagina and anus)
Pain spreading down to the thighs
Pain that gets worse when getting out of a car, turning over in bed, walking or going up/down the stairs

How to ease:

Always sit down when getting dressed
Sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs
Don’t lift or push heavy objects
Perform exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor, back, abdominal and hip muscles
Use a pelvic support belt if necessary

Upper Back and Neck Pain in Pregnancy

Causes:

Hormonal changes, getting accustomed to a different sleeping position, excessive pressure on the upper back muscles due to a growing abdomen and reduced mobility, etc.

Symptoms:

Aches and stiffness in the neck and upper back muscles
Sharp and burning pain when trying to move your neck
A reduced range of motion in the upper back and shoulders as well as neck
Weakness in the upper back and neck muscles

How to ease:

Perform specific stretches to improve flexibility and mobility in the neck/upper back muscles
Hydrotherapy – alternate between hot and cold showers to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation
Have the area massaged
When sitting, avoid slouching and keep your head and neck straight

Shoulder Pain in Pregnancy

Causes:

The loosening up of certain hormones during pregnancy combined with changes in walking, standing, sitting and sleeping posture can cause discomfort and shoulder pain in early pregnancy.

Symptoms:

Muscle stiffness in the shoulders or between the shoulder blades
Shoulder pain radiating down the cervical region which increases over the course of the day
First trimester shoulder pain accompanied by migraine, vomiting nausea, unusual weight gain and low blood pressure

How to ease:

Yoga, acupuncture and stretching exercises to ease tension in the shoulders
Avoid physically strenuous activities that unnecessarily tax the shoulders
Have your spouse give you a massage before going to sleep
Ice the affected area from time to time

Hip Pain in Pregnancy

Causes of:

Hormonal changes in the body means that connective tissue relaxes and softens more than normal. Joints and ligaments that hold the bones in the pelvis start to get loose as well. Other causes of hip pain during pregnancy include pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Symptoms:

Pain in or around the hips that ranges from dull and mild to sharp, constant and severe
Pain that radiates to your buttocks, lower back or thighs
Pelvic pain during specific movements like walking
Pain and discomfort in the hips and lower back while lying down to sleep

How to ease:

Yoga and stretching movements to open up the hips, lower back and pelvic area
Have your partner massage the edge of our triangular sacrum
Apply compresses to the sore area
Take a warm bath to relax muscles in the hips

Rib Pain in Pregnancy

Causes:

Pressure and weight from a growing foetus, heartburn, constipation and musculoskeletal changes all contribute to rib pain pregnancy.

Symptoms:

Indigestion and heartburn
Shoulder ache due to pressure on the diaphragm
Shortness of breath due to an expanding uterus
Pain directly under the breasts

How to ease:

Stretch and perform light exercises regularly
Stretch on a birthing ball
Use a heat pad to relieve pain
Try yoga
Wear loose fitting clothes
Avoid long hours of sitting

Sciatica in Pregnancy

Causes:

The sciatic nerve runs under the uterus all the way to your legs. The most common cause of sciatica in early pregnancy is the pressure exerted on the nerve due to a developing baby.

Symptoms:

Sharp and shooting pain that runs from your lower back and buttocks down to your thigh
Pain may be felt in the foot as well in the form of small needles or a tingling sensation
Constant or occasional pain on either side of the leg or buttocks