Low back pain is a common complaint during pregnancy and there are a couple of different reasons for this.
Relaxin is a hormone produced by the ovaries, the placenta and the lining of the uterus. It’s 10 times higher during pregnancy and remains elevated for up to 5 months after giving birth and even longer if breast feeding!
Relaxin relaxes ligaments in the pelvis to allow for pelvic expansion during delivery, it also allows the abdominal muscles to stretch and the ribcage to expand as the baby grows.
Although it plays a really important role in pregnancy it can contribute to various aches and pains.
As I said above relaxin has a big effect on the joints and ligaments of the pelvis; particularly the sacroiliac joints.
If the sacroiliac joints begin to move unevenly this will alter the biomechanics of the pelvis and low back and can lead to pain and discomfort. If this isn’t addressed this can then lead to other compensatory mechanisms which then lead to further symptoms.
Another factor that contributes to low back pain is the postural changes that occur as the baby grows. The bigger the baby gets, the bigger your bump gets, this then alters your posture and centre of gravity which can then lead to various ailments. One thing we see a lot is ‘facet compression’. As your bump grows, your lumbar lordosis (the curve of your lower back) becomes more exaggerated. This can then compress the facet joints and makes them more vulnerable to injury and irritation. The muscles can then go into spasm to try and protect the area which can exacerbate the symptoms.
By working on the joints and muscles of the back, pelvis and hips we can help alleviate symptoms. Our osteopaths will also be able to provide lots of tips and tricks to help keeps those symptoms at bay.