Back stretches and exercises, like this low back stretch, can be helpful in reducing the severity of back pain. Take a moment to relax on your hands and knees, bringing your head into proper alignment with the rest of your body. Contract your abdominal muscles and round your back ever-so-slightly. After holding for a few seconds, release the tension in your stomach and back while trying to keep your back as flat as possible.
Strengthening the abdominal muscles, back muscles, pelvic floor, buttock, and thigh muscles can effectively help prevent and decrease back pain. It is recommended that the strengthening exercises be performed in a slow and controlled manner.
Step into any physical therapist’s office or massage studio, you’re bound to see some baby bumps in the waiting room. That’s because back pain during pregnancy is super common, and 50% to 75% of pregnant people experience it at one point in their pregnancy.
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You can blame back pain on both the growing weight of the baby as well as the increase of a hormone called relaxin, which causes the joints and ligaments to relax (hence the name) during pregnancy in preparation for labor. To make matters worse, as you get closer to your delivery date, your uterus places more weight on your pelvic ligaments and can add to your aches.
Pregnancy Back Pain: When to Worry
Back pain in pregnancy is especially common between the fifth and seventh months. “That’s when your uterus, normally housed in the pelvis, suddenly moves into your abdomen, putting a lot of stress on your lower and mid-back,” explains Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Holly Herman, D.P.T., author of How to Raise Children Without Breaking Your Back: A Body Manual for New Mothers and the Parents of Small Children. Your spine sways as a result, hampering your posture and compressing the back vertebrae like a smushed Slinky.
Here’s some good news to make you sit up (straight!) and take notice: You can start building a better back now. There are plenty of remedies that doctors, doulas, and holistic health practitioners recommend to help ease pregnancy-related back pain, or even relieve it completely. Here are some you can try to relieve back pain while your body does the most important work it’s ever done: growing your baby.
1. Practice Prenatal Yoga
Yoga, a movement-based strength and flexibility practice with roots in ancient India, is one of the most popular techniques for pregnancy back pain relief. Prenatal yoga is a top choice among pregnant people whose backs, muscles, joints, and nerves are hurting under the weight of pregnancy.
In fact, prenatal yoga can help improve posture and “tone the physical body in preparation for the birthing process,” says Liz Owen, a Boston-area yoga teacher and the co-author of Yoga for a Healthy Lower Back: A Practical Guide to Developing Strength and Relieving Pain.
Prenatal yoga also tackles emotional stress with deep, mindful breathing exercises that can strengthen and empower. Plus, a regular yoga practice can help you sleep better and relax your mind and muscles. “In the midst of changing hormones and emotions, yoga provides a grounding and focus,” says Owen.
7 Amazing Benefits of Prenatal Yoga
2. Take Medication
For normal and occasional back pain, it’s generally considered safe to take acetaminophen during pregnancy, but avoid ibuprofen and other NSAIDs (unless your OB-GYN says it’s OK) as there is a risk of causing low amniotic fluid and heart issues for your baby.
3. Try Acupuncture
Studies have shown a relationship between acupuncture and pregnancy back pain relief, and many people swear by its effectiveness. However, acupuncture must be administered correctly to prevent unwanted side effects such as nausea, headaches, and overstimulation that can induce labor.
Acupuncture is an East Asian medical technique in which very fine needles are inserted into specific pressure points on the body that correspond with various systems of physical and emotional health. Acupuncture removes any blockages that are interfering with the smooth flow of the body’s energy, called qi (pronounced “chee”).
Stimulating these acupuncture points, either through needle insertion or acupressure (a technique in which the practitioner uses fingers instead of needles) can help improve digestion, boost your energy level, and bring relief from morning sickness, migraine headaches, and back pain.
Consult with your doctor first to make sure acupuncture is right for you, and then find a certified therapist who has experience working with pregnant people.
4. Get a Prenatal Massage
A certified prenatal massage therapist can bring quick relief when back pain is acute, especially when it’s the result of muscular clenching that irritates nerves (particularly the sciatic nerve in the buttocks and legs) and sends pain signals to the brain. Research has shown that in addition to relieving pain, regular prenatal massage can help alleviate depression and anxiety in pregnancy.
Swedish massage is the most common and advisable method of prenatal massage because it is gentle and soothing, and it uses long, smooth strokes that won’t aggravate the joints or push fluid through the body in an unhealthy way. Pregnant people should first consult with their doctor to make sure prenatal massage is safe for them and then make sure to work with a prenatal massage therapist who is certified. To be comfortable on the massage table, a side-lying position is usually best.
Is It Safe to Get a Massage for Pregnancy Back Pain?
5. Seek Chiropractic Care
You may associate chiropractors with joint-“cracking” adjustments, but they actually use a range of techniques to relieve back pain, and many pregnant people find relief under the care of an experienced chiropractor. Chiropractors routinely use joint manipulation (which can cause that popping sound), soft tissue work, and prescribed exercises to prevent pregnant people from feeling muscular tightness, nerve compression, and joint misalignment.
“Chiropractors are good at detecting imbalances and helping to correct them,” says Robert Kum, D.C., co-owner of ChiroCare Associates in Arlington, Massachusetts. Dr. Kum, who has treated hundreds of pregnant people, advises looking for a chiropractor who works with expectant parents. “Experience is key,” he says, as is a positive outlook. “Most of the back pain pregnant women experience is manageable,” Dr. Kum says, so you “don’t have to suffer through it.” And keep in mind: if you’re uncomfortable with any adjustments your chiropractor recommends, you can take things slow or ask them to only adjust what you’re comfortable with. For instance, if you don’t want your neck adjusted, just let them know.
3 Pregnancy Pains You Might Not Expect and How to Handle Them
6. Book a Physical Therapy Appointment
Physical therapists, in addition to treating acute injuries, can help pregnant people work through back pain by manipulating joints, muscles, and nerve pressure points and providing exercises that expectant parents can continue at home. Rick Olderman, M.S.P.T., a Denver-based physical therapist and the author of Fixing You: Back Pain During Pregnancy, says that one of his goals is to educate patients by “teaching them how to walk, sit, stand, bend forward, lie down, and exercise” in a healthy, back-supporting way.
One thing Olderman does is place tape on the backs of pregnant people’s knees to “remind them to unlock their knees,” a habit that can put pressure on the large muscles of the legs and hip joints and the back, he says. Because pregnant people’s joints become lax as a result of hormonal changes, Olderman also helps show them the importance of limiting their joints’ ranges of motion to about 75%. “It may feel good to stretch, but the tissue stress becomes greater,” he says, and can actually exacerbate pain. Some health insurance plans cover physical therapy, which is not always the case with other complementary therapies.
7. Relax With Meditation
By meditating regularly, you can increase your pain tolerance level, which can come in handy both when managing pregnancy back pain and in coping with labor and delivery pain.
Unlike yoga or massage, meditation is a technique that you can access at any time, in any place, no appointment necessary. There are numerous ways to practice meditation. One is to simply sit or lie down in a quiet place and focus on breathing mindfully, inhaling and exhaling deeply. You can meditate in silence or listen to calming music or a guided audio program, which can be generic (“imagine a beautiful beach”) or pregnancy-specific (“feel waves of love enveloping your growing baby”).
Meditation has been shown to elicit a biological “relaxation response,” which stimulates the brain to control its release of stress hormones. When stress is kept in check, its toxic effects (such as high blood pressure and muscle tension) are reduced.
Meditation Techniques for Pregnancy and Labor
8. Go Swimming
Swimming is one of the most highly recommended forms of exercise for pregnant people because it “takes the pressure off the spine,” says Mary Rosser, M.D., Ph.D., an OB-GYN at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. That makes swimming great for relieving back pain during pregnancy.
When you’re suspended in the water, gravity has no effect on your body, and “you’re weightless in the water,” Dr. Rosser says. Merely paddling up and down the pool lanes will help decompress your spine and tone your legs, arms, and back and core muscles.
As you experience full-body movement in a safe space, breathe deeply and fully to stay afloat—deep breathing will help you relax emotionally as well as physically. And as you move further into your pregnancy, swimming the breaststroke can strengthen the chest and back muscles. Always stay well hydrated while swimming and stop if you feel dizzy or lightheaded at any point. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, talk with your doctor before you head to the pool.
Is It Safe to Exercise During Pregnancy?
9. Support Your Body During Sleep
To support your back and relieve back pain during pregnancy while sleeping, fold a thick towel lengthwise and place it perpendicular to your body at the point on your waist where your spine is most “droopy.” The towel’s length will ensure support without requiring readjustment, even if you roll over during the night. Or try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees to reduce the strain on your pelvis and lower back.
Sleep can be elusive during pregnancy, especially if your back is hurting. Most pregnant people sleep on their sides. Olderman likens the spine in this position to a telephone wire that’s hanging between the two poles of your shoulders and your pelvis. “The spine drops down to the bed just like a telephone wire would drop between two poles,” he says.
How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep While Pregnant
Side sleeping is important as the pregnancy develops past the first trimester—it optimizes blood flow to the baby, says Dr. Rosser. Sleeping flat on your back isn’t good for you or the baby, she adds. Body pillows can be helpful for supporting your chest, hips, and lower back in side-lying positions.
Experts also advise sleeping on a firm mattress (Dr. Rosser suggests placing a wooden board under your mattress if you have a soft one) and following smart sleep habits such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and relaxing bedtime routine, using your bed only for sleep and sex, avoiding bright screens just before bed, keeping the space cool and dark, and not eating for at least two to three hours before bedtime.
10. Wear a Pregnancy Support Belt
Doctors generally advise pregnant people to try support belts and use them if they work, but the belts should be seen as a complement to other remedies rather than the only pregnancy back pain relief strategy you use.
Pregnancy support belts, sometimes referred to as belly bands or maternity belts, are supportive undergarments that help hold up the belly so the pelvic girdle and lower back aren’t overly strained. If your belly is protruding forward in a pronounced way, rather than with your weight diffused across your midsection, the belt can act as a substitute for your abdominal core muscles, which can struggle to prevent your lower spine from painfully exaggerating its curvature.
11. Find the Proper Shoes
To get the best support—and to relieve the most pregnancy-related back pain and pressure—Dr. Rosser advises a low-heeled shoe that is comfortable with either built-in arch support or an orthotic insert. The slight rise of the low heel will help distribute the weight that’s on your legs in a more stable and back-supportive way.
If you’re regularly wearing high-heeled shoes, you’re not doing your back any favors. “High heels increase the curvature of your back and create pressure” that drives the weight of your growing uterus directly into your lower spine and hip joints, says Dr. Rosser. You may also lose your balance (your weight shifts as the pregnancy advances and the center of gravity changes), and heels may cause you to be less stable.
Swollen Feet and Pregnancy: Your Feet Before and After Baby
But walking in flats isn’t the answer either, as they can leave your feet, which tend to spread during pregnancy because of hormonal changes, unsupported. Poor foot position can manifest itself as imbalance and pain all the way up your legs and back.
12. Experiment With Temperature
Feel fast back pain relief with these easy tips from physical therapist Alison Sadowy:
- Ice: For acute back pain (in the first 48 to 72 hours), apply a towel-wrapped ice pack to your back for 15 minutes to ease swelling and slow pain signals to the brain (a bag of frozen vegetables works, too.).
- Heat: To promote healing after the acute phase, use heat to enhance circulation and lessen lingering aches. Place 2 cups of uncooked rice in a cotton sock. Knot the open end and microwave for 60 seconds. Apply to the painful area for 15 minutes.
13. Focus on Your Posture
As your uterus expands, the way you stand and walk may change. This shift can result in pregnancy back pain that you may feel most when you lie down to sleep. Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs can help relieve the excess pressure on your spine.
Your body is naturally accommodating to the shift in your center of gravity and the laxity of your ligaments. Also, your lower back might curve more inward while your pelvis tips forward. So, to straighten up, work on regularly strengthening your pelvic floor and core muscles.
Your Pregnancy Symptoms Week by Week
14. Lighten Your Load
When lifting heavy objects—from heavy groceries to a toddler—lift with your knees and hips rather than your back to avoid back pain. It’s also generally best to limit the weight you lift and carry. Your prenatal care provider can help you figure out what your new weight limit might be. Just don’t forget to give yourself—and your back—a break every once in a while.
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What Causes Extreme Back Pain During Pregnancy?
What causes back pain during pregnancy? You can blame your growing uterus for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles. This changes your posture and puts a strain on your back.
When to Worry About Pregnancy Back Pain
Low back pain that’s worse when you’re standing but eases once you sit or lie down is considered normal during pregnancy. But talk to your doctor if the pain starts to radiate down your legs into your calves or feet; interferes with daily activities; or is associated with other symptoms such as fever, chills, weight loss, weakness, or sensory issues. Some people may also experience back pain with a urinary tract infection, so be on the lookout for other symptoms such as pain when you urinate.
Additionally, for some people, regular or rhythmic back pain could be a sign of labor, so be sure to let your doctor know if you’re having back pain if you are less than 37 weeks pregnant.
What Is The Fastest Way To Relieve Back Pain At Home?
Home treatments may include the following.
- Exercise to get muscles moving. It can be challenging to get up and move when back pain strikes. …
- Improve posture. Poor posture can result in nonspecific lower back pain. …
- Use heat and cold. …
- Stretch. …
- Apply a pain-relief cream. …
- Try massage. …
- Try Arnica. …
- Switch shoes.
How To Relieve Back Pain During Pregnancy While Sleeping
Back pain during pregnancy is a common complaint — and it’s no wonder. You’re gaining weight, your center of gravity changes, and your hormones are relaxing the ligaments in the joints of your pelvis. Often, however, you can prevent or ease back pain during pregnancy. Consider seven ways to give pregnancy back pain the boot.
1. Practice good posture
As your baby grows, your center of gravity shifts forward. To avoid falling forward, you might compensate by leaning back — which can strain the muscles in your lower back and contribute to back pain during pregnancy. Keep these principles of good posture in mind:
- Stand up straight and tall.
- Hold your chest high.
- Keep your shoulders back and relaxed.
- Don’t lock your knees.
When you stand, use a comfortably wide stance for the best support. If you must stand for long periods of time, rest one foot on a low step stool — and take time for frequent breaks.
Good posture also means sitting with care. Choose a chair that supports your back, or place a small pillow behind your lower back.
2. Get the right gear
Wear low-heeled — not flat — shoes with good arch support. Avoid high heels, which can further shift your balance forward and cause you to fall.
You might also consider wearing a maternity support belt. Although research on the effectiveness of maternity support belts is limited, some women find the additional support helpful.
3. Lift properly
When lifting a small object, squat down and lift with your legs. Don’t bend at the waist or lift with your back. It’s also important to know your limits. Ask for help if you need it.
4. Sleep on your side
Sleep on your side, not your back. Keep one or both knees bent. Consider using pregnancy or support pillows between your bent knees, under your abdomen and behind your back.
5. Try heat, cold or massage
While evidence to support their effectiveness is limited, massage or the application of a heating pad or ice pack to your back might help.
6. Include physical activity in your daily routine
Regular physical activity can keep your back strong and might relieve back pain during pregnancy. With your health care provider’s OK, try gentle activities — such as walking or water exercise. A physical therapist also can show you stretches and exercises that might help.
You might also stretch your lower back. Rest on your hands and knees with your head in line with your back. Pull in your stomach, rounding your back slightly. Hold for several seconds, then relax your stomach and back — keeping your back as flat as possible. Gradually work up to 10 repetitions. Ask your health care provider about other stretching exercises, too.
7. Consider complementary therapies
Some research suggests that acupuncture might relieve back pain during pregnancy. Chiropractic treatment might provide comfort for some women as well. However, further research is needed. If you’re considering a complementary therapy, discuss it with your health care provider. Be sure to tell the chiropractor or acupuncturist that you are pregnant.
Know when to consult your health care provider
If you have severe back pain during pregnancy or back pain that lasts more than two weeks, talk to your health care provider. He or she might recommend medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or other treatments.
Keep in mind that back pain during pregnancy might be a sign of preterm labor or a urinary tract infection. If you have back pain during pregnancy that’s accompanied by vaginal bleeding, fever or burning during urination, contact your health care provider right away.
The Bottom Line
Mild to moderate back pain often goes hand-in-hand with pregnancy, especially once your bump really starts to get big. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean you need to suffer through it. Try out our suggestions for easing your discomfort, and stay in touch with your prenatal care provider about your symptoms.
Video: 3 Easy Exercises for Back Pain in Pregnancy
Exercises, such as the pelvic tilt, during pregnancy can help reduce back pain and increase core strength.
Watch: Video: 3 Easy Exercises for Back Pain in Pregnancy
The strengthening poses can be held for 3 to 10 seconds and repeated 10 to 30 times. Breathe out during the exertion phase of the exercise and inhale as you relax. The following are suggested exercises for each of the major muscle groups mentioned:
- Pelvic Tilts (for abdominal muscles): The simplest way to learn the pelvic tilt is to lie on the back with knees bent, feet resting on the floor. Place your hand in the small of your back, and you will most likely notice a space between your back and the floor. Now try to flatten the lower part of the spine against the floor, so that you feel no space between your back and the floor. The buttocks should be relaxed in order to isolate the abdominals. The pelvic tilt can be performed while lying on your back, standing, on your hands and knees, or sitting.
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- Arm and Leg Raises (for back muscles and buttock): Kneel on your hands and knees with a straight spine. Do a pelvic tilt to keep your pelvis stable and then lift your right arm and left leg to form a straight line with your spine. Pause in this position and then slowly lower your arm and leg. Alternate lifting the opposite arm and leg. If you have difficulty keeping your balance in this position, modify the exercise by performing only the leg or arm raises separately