Back Pain During Pregnancy: How to Find Relief

If you have back pain during pregnancy, you aren’t alone. It’s estimated that between 50% and 80% of women experience back pain during pregnancy.

As your body changes to accommodate your growing baby, the added weight and shifting posture can lead to discomfort, particularly in the lower back. 

Here at Atkins Chiropractic in University Place, Washington, we offer medication-free care that helps women manage back pain, including sciatica. 

Read on to learn why back pain happens during pregnancy and explore safe, effective treatment options.

Pregnancy and back pain

Back pain is a frequent complaint among pregnant women, especially as they near their due date. As your baby grows, your body naturally gains weight, and your belly expands. 

This extra weight puts pressure on the muscles and nerves in your lower back, including the sciatic nerve. This is often the reason why pregnant women experience back, buttock, and leg pain, especially as they enter the third trimester.

Your expanding belly also shifts your center of gravity forward, which can throw off your posture. Your lower back often bears the brunt of this change, leading to increased pressure on the sciatic nerve and resulting in pain, numbness, or tingling that can radiate down your legs.

During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone called relaxin that helps loosen the 

ligaments in your pelvic area to prepare for childbirth. Though necessary, this loosening can reduce support for your spine, increasing the likelihood of back pain and nerve irritation.

A primary complaint: sciatica

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down each leg, becomes compressed or irritated. Pregnancy often leads to this complaint because of weight gain, changes in posture, and hormonal shifts. 

The result is sharp or shooting pain that starts in your lower back and radiates through your hips and legs, making it difficult to sit, stand, walk, or even sleep comfortably.

Chiropractic care is a safe solution for back pain during pregnancy

One of the most effective and noninvasive ways to relieve back pain during pregnancy is through chiropractic care. Dr. Atkins and our team provide techniques designed specifically for pregnant women, providing safe, gentle adjustments that align your spine and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. 

Our licensed massage therapist can also relieve stress in aching muscles and help relax you during this exciting, but stressful, time.

During a chiropractic session, we focus on realigning your spine, especially in the lower back where sciatica is most likely to occur. These adjustments help reduce nerve compression, improve circulation, and decrease inflammation, allowing your body to heal and find relief. 

Chiropractic care can also help restore balance to your pelvis, easing the strain on your back and preparing your body for the physical demands of labor and delivery.

Other benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy

In addition to relieving back pain, chiropractic care improves your mobility. By reducing nerve compression, chiropractic adjustments can better your range of motion and flexibility, making it easier to move and stay active during pregnancy.

Chiropractic care also means more comfortable days. Proper spinal alignment reduces stress on your joints and muscles, allowing you to feel more comfortable as your body adapts to pregnancy.

Chiropractic care helps correct posture imbalances caused by the shifting center of gravity, reducing the risk of further back pain.

We also provide tips as to how you can manage back pain at home with heat therapy, using support when you sit, and stretching exercises.

You don’t have to just suffer through back pain while pregnant. Chiropractic care, combined with at-home strategies, can help you find relief from discomfort and support a healthy pregnancy. 

If you’re experiencing sciatica or lower back pain, our team is here to help. Schedule a visit today, and learn more about our specialized techniques for moms-to-be.