[Mama2Dane]

How did/do you cope during pregnancy? How bad does/can it get? I'm 23 now and 6 weeks pregnant. When I was 21 I herniated a disc and had to have surgery. I know that my back isn't 100% and I plan on doing yoga to help strengthen myself, but I want to be prepared for what could happen. Has anyone here been pregnant with back problems before?

 

[annekh23]

I had back trouble prior to my first pregnancy, both a whiplash injury and an impact injury to the same spot in the midback. I thought I'd treated them sucessfully (osteopathic manipulation) about 8 months or so before I got pregnant, but pretty much as soon as I got pregnant that area of the mid back would become very painful. My main help with it was heat and I also got some physiotherapy, I was warned that there would be a spot in the 2nd trimester where it would likely be very painful as the ribs expanded and there was. I was also only a year past shoulder surgery and 18 months past knee surgery, so there were a lot of muscle imbalances throughout my body, I also have a connective tissue disorder and developed symphysis pubis dysfunction.

Pregnancy with musculoskeletal problems is HARD, it's hard on your body anyway, loads of women develop back and pelvic problems without a prior problem, it's even harder when you already have problems. I would love to be drug free, but I've had to accept that just isn't going to happen for me. I worked very hard in early pregnancy to build abdominal strength and I am feeling the benefit but there are other things I can't change. I've been finding taking regular baths with epsom salts to be a help.

 

[boscopup]

I have not had surgery, but I did have a herniated disc before I ever got pregnant the first time. I actually found that my sciatica went away during most of my pregnancy because everything was so loose.

Towards the end of pregnancy, I'll usually get a little bit of stuff going on, but most of it is more related to my pelvis, and a chiropractor keeps me walking around relatively pain-free.

The biggest thing is to not do stupid things. Like don't try to pick up something heavy that you shouldn't, or don't bend over the wrong way, etc. Just remember your basic back care stuff.

Have you been doing back/ab strengthening exercises before getting pregnant? You can continue them during pregnancy. This pregnancy, my back has held up really well because I'd strengthened my abs before I got pregnant, and I continued with abs exercises through most of the 2nd trimester (eventually slacked off).

My back has never bothered me during labor, btw.

 

[AustGirl]

I broke two lower vertibrae 5 years ago and have a lot of back pain still on a daily basis. I'd be seeing an osteopath for 4 years before getting pregnant and we talked a lot about how it would affect me. Basically, she said it'll either help the pain, or make it worse. Everyone is different and you don't know until you're there.

I'm 35 weeks now and have had a bit of trouble, but nothing more than pre-pregnancy. A lot of my pain is transferred to my hips, which makes rolling over in bed hard, and I can't sit on the floor like most of my heavily pregnant friends. On top of that, I'm dealing with a lot of pelvic pain (unrelated to my back pain), so walking in general is limited these days.

But for the majority of the pregnancy, it's been quite fine. My osteo doesn't anticipate any problems during labour/birth.

 

[Pavlovs]

I have back problems, not due to any specific injury, but it is sore when I wake up and I often have trouble sleeping. I see a physical therapist twice a week to get a deep tissue massage. It has helped a lot! I plan to go 3 times per week when summer vacation begins and I hit that last uncomfortable month.

 

[amydiane]

I haven't had surgery, but I do have a herniated disc in my low back from a car accident. I had my first baby at 25 weeks and I wasn't very big, so it didn't bother me too much more than normal. I am now 26 weeks with my second and I've been bigger than last time for about 3-4 weeks. It's not terrible, but it does bother me more than usual. As a PP said, I have to be careful about what and how I lift, but of course that's a good idea anyway.

 

[mbravebird]

During my first pregnancy, I was really helped by weekly chiropractic. Since then, I've transitioned to craniosacral work, which for me has held longer. I've had no serious issues during this pregnancy, and have had craniosacral once early in the pregnancy.

Acupuncture can also help.

 

[Michigan Mama]

I've had ongoing back pain, too, since I was a youngster - which is partly why I became a physical therapist! A lot of the PP indicated that they are seeing a practitioner of some sort while pregant, and that helps me a lot, too. Most people can get at least some relief through an osteo, PT or whatever. Doing exercises can definately help. A brace or belt can also help, but you might want to get a custom one once you get bigger - ask your ob or midwife about it.

I'm 23 weeks and my back is just a little more achy than normal, but nothing horrible. Same with my ds1. You'll make it! Just be smart.

 

[zuzunel09]

The hormone that relaxes your joints in preparation for childbirth can really exacerbate back pain, especially if you have disc problems. I have a physical job and my ligaments and joints get loose during the day, only to tighten back up at night when I'm relaxing or sleeping; at 19/20 weeks I started experiencing sciatic-type pain on either side of my sacrum which I could only alleviate with ice, Tylenol, and rest.

You should talk to your OB if you're concerned. Pelvic tilts and other exercises that reinforce your correct lumbar curve are very helpful, because the baby will pull your spine forward as he gets heavier. I know they make pregnancy braces that a friend who's having twins found very helpful; open any pregnancy magazine and you'll see ads for them.

Back pain sucks!

 

[Doberbrat]

I cope the same way I do when non pg - frequent trips to the chiro.

When pg, I end up going 2-3x a week between m/s, back pain, pubic pain etc.

 

[TzippityDoulah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zuzunel09 The hormone that relaxes your joints in preparation for childbirth can really exacerbate back pain, especially if you have disc problems. I have a physical job and my ligaments and joints get loose during the day, only to tighten back up at night when I'm relaxing or sleeping; at 19/20 weeks I started experiencing sciatic-type pain on either side of my sacrum which I could only alleviate with ice, Tylenol, and rest.

yes this has been a big problem for me. I have bulging discs in my neck and lower back. I also have SPD which is really bad during pregnancy b/c of the relaxin (the hormone that relaxes all the joints). it is really hard on me during pregnancy and post partum. This time i am seeing a chiro which helped more so in the middle of my pregnancy. but right now this relaxin is fighting me every step of the way! my adjustments wont hold for more than a couple of hours. I think I would have benefited from seeing the chiro BEFORE I got pregnant instead of adding pregnancy to a already hurting back. this time I will visit more frequently not pregnant and hopefully if we have mroe kids it wont be as bad. for now? I can't do much walking or standing.. or sitting... I'm a bit miserable. If it doesn't get better afterwards with some chiro visits I'm heading over to a physical therapist.

so my advice - see someone NOW before it gets bad!

 

[TzippityDoulah]

p.s. be very very careful about giving birth. don't let them hold your legs back in the suppine position. if you must get a note from a phys therapist to convince them... it will KILL your back. and if you egt an epidural you are in much higher risk of doing damage b/c you can't feel anything bad being done.

I tore my pelvic ligaments this way 4.5 yrs ago and it STILL hurts me.

 

[boscopup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HennyPenny This time i am seeing a chiro which helped more so in the middle of my pregnancy. but right now this relaxin is fighting me every step of the way! my adjustments wont hold for more than a couple of hours.

Make sure your chiro knows this, and also ask about any stretching exercises you can do to help your issue. My chiro gave me two exercises to stretch some things, and wow, what a difference! I could literally be in horrible pain (from SPD), then do these exercises and walk with no pain at all. At first, the stretch would only cause the painless feeling for a few minutes, but gradually, it got better and better. Right now I'm 32 weeks, and I'm able to go 1.5-2 weeks between adjustments.

Sometimes when an adjustment doesn't hold for very long, it means something else needs adjusting. I've had times when I've gotten an adjustment, and started hurting again before I even left the office. So she'd do something else and that would make it hold longer (usually at least a few days, if not a week). Now she has me walk around the office a bit before I leave, to make sure the adjustment worked.

 

[inaweofmommyhood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HennyPenny p.s. be very very careful about giving birth. don't let them hold your legs back in the suppine position. if you must get a note from a phys therapist to convince them... it will KILL your back. and if you egt an epidural you are in much higher risk of doing damage b/c you can't feel anything bad being done. I tore my pelvic ligaments this way 4.5 yrs ago and it STILL hurts me.

I agree with that - do not give birth on your back if at all possible. My midwife put me on my back and pushed down on inside of me with force - even though she knew my back was killing me beyond what any contraction was causing - I honestly felt like I was going to pass out. The first couple of months after my baby was born my back hurt so bad that I was just beside myself which just added more negative to my all ready bad ppd and a bad birth experience (not because of baby - because of mw). It took until about last month for my back to get better (11 months later @ 2 - 3 X week at chiro). I wish she would have let me stay on my hands and knees with someone doing hip compressions. That is what felt best to me.

 

[sammyloo]

Chiropractor, massage, prenatal yoga, ice and always being aware of what I pick up and how. I let my guard down after I had my baby and that is when I suffered a horrendous set back and reinjured my back - be careful about getting a very comfortable rocking chair with good support, if you plan to "wear" your baby like I did/do then choose a sling with good back support and build up to longer stretches of time where you are walking around with your child - your abs and core strength may need time to rebuild after delivery! I am pregnant again and am doing better this time - I credit most of it to chiropractic care. Hang in there!

 

[sammyloo]

Oh, and I completely agree with the postings about being wary about the epidural - size of the needle can cause problems to a sensitive back as well as the inability to feel when something is hurting you. I had an epidural and regret it - I think it caused more problems. I am trying no meds this time!

 

[Mama2Dane]

Thank you for all of the responses. I should have been working on strengthening my core before we got pregnant, but it happened so quickly that I didn't even think about it.

I'm waiting to find out if my new insurance covers OMT and acupuncture like my last insurance covered. I have an awesome doc for that and I know she would be a lifesaver later in pregnancy. Are midwives generally better about birthing positions than doctors in hospitals? Right now I'm trying to decide between a homebirth and the nearby birth center. I'm definitely confident in my choice to have a midwife attended birth at either place.

to all the mamas with really bad pain.

 

[zuzunel09]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HennyPenny p.s. be very very careful about giving birth. don't let them hold your legs back in the suppine position. if you must get a note from a phys therapist to convince them... it will KILL your back. and if you egt an epidural you are in much higher risk of doing damage b/c you can't feel anything bad being done. I tore my pelvic ligaments this way 4.5 yrs ago and it STILL hurts me.

What position should you ask that your legs be in? This sounds terrible...