Lower back pain during pregnancy in the second trimester: causes, treatment methods, reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

During pregnancy, the female body is forced to work for two and carry an increased load. And this is not surprising, because the mother's body must provide the fetus with maximum safety and proper development. However, under such extreme loads, weaknesses in the woman's body begin to appear and various diseases are activated. In particular, with the growth of the fetus in the body of the expectant mother, the center of gravity changes and pains in the spine and lower back begin to pester. Is it possible to help a woman if her lower back hurts during pregnancy in the second trimester?

Early discomfort

Pain in the lumbar region can occur at any stage. It most often occurs in the second and third trimester. But they are not excluded at earlier dates. If the lower back hurts during early pregnancy, what does it mean? Does this pose a threat to the he alth of the mother and unborn child, and what are the causes of pain in the lumbar region? To better navigate the symptomatic manifestations, you should divide the lumbar pain intonatural physiological manifestations of the body that do not pose a threat to he alth, and pathological, warning of the possibility of serious diseases.

In the case when the lower back hurts during early pregnancy, it is necessary to pay attention to the nature of the pain. Then, based on this, make assumptions about whether this could be a pathology or everything goes within the normal range. In any case, pregnant women should not be at risk, therefore, if pain occurs, medical professionals should be consulted.

The physiological natural manifestations include the occurrence of pain at 9 weeks. And this is normal, because during this period of the first trimester, progesterone is actively produced in the female body. This hormone helps keep the pregnancy going. At this time, body weight increases, and the ligaments between the bones begin to relax a little, which leads to minor pain manifestations. However, this condition should not be accompanied by bloody or other discharge, nausea, vomiting, fever and weakness. If any of these are present, pathology is possible, and this is a direct path to the doctor.

There may be slight nagging pain even at 10 weeks. If during pregnancy the lower back hurts as during menstruation, but the discomfort does not become stronger, then this is within the normal range and the woman’s he alth does not threaten. If a girl has a history of diseases such as osteochondrosis, spondylosis, scoliosis and intervertebral hernia, then during progesterone hyperproduction at week 12, the pain may be stronger, but without being accompanied by other symptoms, and thismay continue throughout pregnancy.

Pathologies in a pregnant woman and back pain

Pathological pain manifestations may indicate the presence of such diseases:

• Ectopic pregnancy - unilateral pain in the lumbar girdle, radiating to the rectum and scapular-clavicular region, often with bleeding from the genitals.
• The threat of interruption - if the stomach and lower back hurt during pregnancy, as well as spotting of varying intensity, possibly with clots larger than a 5-kopeck coin, accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
• Kidney disease, which is extremely rare this early and more common in the second trimester, peaking at 33 weeks. It is manifested by lower back pain, deterioration in the quality of urine and fever. If the pain is felt in the leg and groin, then this stone moves along the ureter.
• Pancreatitis. It is diagnosed when the lower back hurts during pregnancy and the general condition is severely disturbed. There is, for example, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea with mushy stools.
• Missed pregnancy - the pain is not very intense, but increases with exertion and prolonged standing, manifests itself at 20 weeks.
• Neurological diseases - osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, spondylosis and others - are possible if the back hurts, lower back during pregnancy.
• Urolithiasis, which causes severe back pain similar to labor pains, difficulty urinating and blood in the urine.

These are all possible manifestations of pathological problems of the body for the first trimester. But, as a rule, their peak falls on the second half of pregnancy. Next, we will tell you if the lower back hurts during pregnancy during the passage of its second trimester?

Low back pain in the second trimester of pregnancy

In pregnant women, the second trimester runs from 13 to 27 weeks. Mom during this fertile period is already beginning to feel the baby's heartbeat and can see it on the screen during an ultrasound scan. But this pleasant moment can be overshadowed by the fact that the lower back hurts quite a lot during pregnancy in the second trimester. Pain can occur when moving and sitting, haunting expectant mothers and not allowing them to relax and indulge in a pleasant expectation of meeting with a child. What causes these painful sensations? And in general, why does the lower back hurt during pregnancy?

At this stage of pregnancy, the pelvic bones begin to soften to facilitate the passage of the baby during childbirth, and the uterus, on the contrary, increases and shifts the center of balance from its usual place. As a result, the gait changes and the back and lower back hurt during pregnancy. To ease the condition when walking, try to take your shoulders back and move the center of gravity to your heels. It is recommended to wear a bandage that relieves pressure on the abdomen and relieves tension in the back. You need to rest more often in a sitting position - after every half hour of movement.

Causes of pain in the second trimester. The opinion of girls and specialists

Whenthe stomach and lower back hurt during pregnancy (in the second trimester) girls and doctors say that there are several reasons for this:

• stretching of the muscles around the uterus with pain in the lower abdomen, but it should be remembered that this can also be with an ectopic or displaced pregnancy, so you need to see a doctor to avoid serious problems;
• pain in the abdomen and groin indicates a stretching of the round ligament that supports the uterus, discomfort disappears in a few minutes;
• stretching of old surgical sutures, provoked by a heavy uterus;
• malnutrition, as a result of which the digestive organs undergo spasms that radiate to the lower abdomen;
• sprain due to enlarged uterus.

Second pregnancy and pain

Sometimes you can hear complaints from women that the lower back hurts during the second pregnancy. And they associate this with those additional loads that the body receives when raising the first child, who still cannot do without the help of the mother, but is already heavy enough to provoke an indignation of the body. Here, mommy needs to follow the symptoms herself - if the pain is released when the load is stopped, then the point is additional severity. If the pain does not reduce the intensity, be sure to see a doctor.

The lower back during pregnancy in the second trimester hurts in almost half of pregnant women. As a rule, discomfort occurs due to an increase in the load on the spine and weakening of the muscles andligaments of the abdomen. Back pain begins from the sixth month of pregnancy and lasts until the very birth. At the same time, one should not forget about possible pathological pains, the list of which, given for the first trimester of pregnancy, is also valid for the second. But if this is not a pathology, but the normal course of pregnancy, how can a woman be helped if her lower back hurts during pregnancy?

Prevention

Lower pain during the second trimester of pregnancy can be corrected. To prevent or alleviate discomfort, pregnant women should first of all adhere to some mandatory rules:

• control your weight with a he althy diet: eat foods rich in calcium, meat, greens, nuts, dairy products, fish;
• if you have severe lower back pain during pregnancy and are worried about the condition of the pelvic bones, take lactate and calcium carbonate;
• avoid back strain;
• when sitting, lean your spine on the back of a chair, sit down and stand up smoothly; it is desirable that the chair be hard with armrests that you need to lean on when getting up;
• sleep on a semi-hard stretch mattress with a medium size pillow;
• wear comfortable loose shoes with not very high stable heels;
• pay attention to special physical exercises that strengthen the muscles of the back and lower back.

But besides this, there are other methods of resisting pain if a woman already has lower back pain during pregnancy in the second trimester. BelowLet's see how they can be put into practice.

Mom's advice and feedback on special exercises

First of all, a pregnant woman should be very careful in the use of various therapeutic agents, whether they are medicinal or folk. It must be remembered that the body during pregnancy is very vulnerable and can damage the fetus. Therefore, all methods and physical activity should be coordinated with doctors so as not to harm either the baby or the mother. And the first thing that is recommended to do if the lower back hurts during pregnancy in the second trimester is special physical exercises for women in position. For example, such as the "cat's back", which is performed on all fours by bending and arching the back, just like a cat does. Exercise well trains the muscles of the abdomen and lower back. Also do exercise therapy in a group for pregnant women, aqua aerobics or just swimming - it relaxes muscles and relieves pain.

Girls say that such training really helped them. They find this method to be very effective.

Drugs

Now let's talk about the methods of treatment. Here it should be noted that when acute pain appears, the first thing to do is to provide the pregnant woman with complete rest for several days, preferably with bed rest. You need to lie on your side, taking a comfortable position for yourself. At the same time, apply special ointments in combination with dry heat. Do not, under any circumstances, useointments that contain at least some poisons or irritants. It is better to use products with anti-inflammatory effect, such as: "Nurofen-gel" or "Ibuprofen".

Actually, this is where the use of medication ends so as not to harm the course of pregnancy. But you can use various manual and homeopathic remedies to alleviate the condition.

Lyapko's applicator will help overcome pain

If the pains are not pathological, it is recommended to use the Lyapko applicator for the lower back - roll the disturbing place with the "Universal" or "Large" rollers. This should be done in the morning for 5-7 minutes, and also in the evenings for 10-15 minutes. You can lie down on the applicator with a needle pitch of 4.9-5 mm twice a day. For pain in the lumbosacral region, a step of 4, 9-5, 8 mm is used, which gently acts on this area and ensures normal blood supply to the uterus.

With the use of massage, you need to be careful and you can’t do it on the lower back, because you can’t lay a pregnant woman on her stomach. In addition, when massaging the spine, pressure should be avoided on the pits between the vertebrae, which can lead to premature labor.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy gives excellent results. For pregnant women, it is quite acceptable and very pleasant to relax in a warm bath with a few drops of fragrant essential oils - lavender and ylang-ylang. But don't make the smell too intense. As an alternative to this method, you can use a warm heating pad. A drop of these aromatic oils can be added to an aroma lamp.

Reflexology is possible. But only if it is carried out by a highly qualified specialist with extensive experience working directly with pregnant women.

Method "cold - warm"

Acupuncture is good for pain relief if you need to get rid of discomfort in the lower back and pelvis. If the pain is severe, you can use the cold-heat method - apply cold to the sore spot and hold it there for 5-10 minutes. If the pain is aching and prolonged - apply a warm heating pad for 10-15 minutes.

Folk remedies

Very effective preparations can be suggested by an experienced homeopath. Alternative methods of treatment can not only alleviate the condition of the pregnant woman, but also positively affect the he alth of the woman, improving her general condition.

There are certain folk therapies that can help relieve back pain. Here are some recipes from the treasures of our grandmothers:

1. Grated horseradish mixed with sour cream - lubricate the sore spot, cover it with a napkin and warm with a handkerchief or scarf.
2. Dried burdock leaves, scalded with boiling water, apply to the lower back and warm.
3. Mix garlic crushed with a special press with lemon juice until a not too thick mass is obtained, dip a cotton cloth into it so that it is literally saturated with this infusion, and make a cold compress for 20 minutes.
4. A bag of white incense should be mixed with a tablespoon of grated laundry soap and two yolks of chicken eggs, which must first be beaten into foam. The mixture is applied to woolen fabricand put on the diseased area of the body.

Pain in a mother after the baby is born

What to do if your lower back hurts after pregnancy? Postpartum back pain is triggered by the release of progesterone and relaxin, which weaken the joints and ligaments in the pelvis. Six months after giving birth, the body will already return to normal. But the pain will stop only after a year after the birth of the child. This is due to the physical activity of the mother in the process of intensive care for the child. But in the presence of pain, you do not need to endure it for a whole year. Should see a doctor.

Mom Tips

Some moms advise following these rules:

• yoga helps a lot;
• take daily walks in the fresh air, you can use swimming or water aerobics;
• share part of the responsibilities with her husband and other family members to reduce the load;
• do not lift heavy objects;
• when breastfeeding, maintain an even posture while sitting on a chair;
• make yourself a comfortable place to sit with pillows that will support your back in a comfortable position;
• forget high heels for recovery time;
• take care of a comfortable sleep on a comfortable mattress.

All this will relieve the acute symptoms of postpartum lower back pain. And finally, I would like to give some useful tips from specialists that can be useful when pain occurs during the second trimester.pregnancy.

Expert advice for lower back pain in pregnant women

To reduce the load on the feet and protect yourself from lower back pain, wear arch supports. Use a bandage to relieve muscle spasm in a sore spot in the lower back and allow it to relax. It will be useful and without pain, as it will unload the muscles of the back and comfortably support the growing tummy.

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve in pregnant women can occur as a result of depression or strong feelings, so stock up on positive and look for it in all situations. In some cases, a diet rich in calcium and long walks in sunlight, which fill the body with vitamin D, help a lot.

Avoid sitting on benches and stools - a pregnant woman needs comfortable back support. The back of a chair or armchair should be straight and rigid, and the seat should be firm, eliminating sagging of the body.

Never cross your legs - this cuts off blood circulation and causes a deflection of the pelvis, which increases lower back pain. You can sit no longer than an hour, and even half an hour is better, with breaks for walking and lying down. Do not make sudden movements, sitting on a chair with a swing. Get yourself a quality rest and eliminate stress.

Conclusion

Now you know why pregnancy pain occurs. We have listed the main reasons. The knowledge gained and careful observance of the rules will help you successfully cope with discomfort in the lower back and enjoy the entire golden period of pregnancy - its second trimester.