Relief for Common Pregnancy Pains

Backache

I've always agreed with the notion that "nothing worthwhile is easy," and I made that my mantra during each of my pregnancies. Let's face it: a few aches and pains are par for the course. What surprised me most was that many of these discomforts were nowhere near my expanding belly but in my fingers, calves, feet, and even my butt. What's responsible for all those far-flung pangs and twinges? "The many changes going on in your body -- from a 50 percent increase in blood volume to all those hormones that are circulating and the extra weight you're putting on," says Suzanne Trupin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Fortunately, most of these aches go away once your baby is born. Here, the top pregnancy pains -- and how to deal.

Backache

If you feel pain in your upper or lower back, you're not alone. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), back pain is one of the most common discomforts when you're a mother-in-the-making. "Around five or six months into my second pregnancy, I had the worst lower back pain," says Mary Mait, a mother of two from Livingston, New Jersey. "It was so awful that I could barely sleep or drive. Luckily, it went away as soon as my son was born."

What Causes It?

Your uterus can expand up to 1,000 times its prepregnancy size -- this, plus carrying those extra pounds, can throw your body off balance. Your posture changes, causing strain in your back. "Also, your ab muscles are what support your back, and they're being challenged by the extra weight and the baby," Dr. Trupin says. "Plus, some pregnancy hormones make the ligaments in the body more lax during pregnancy and may cause a little bit of a swayback."

What to Do

• Apply heat in the form of a heating pad or a hot water bottle, or soak in a warm tub to soothe muscles.
• Try to keep weight gain within the recommended range (25 to 35 pounds).
• Put any high heels and very flat shoes in storage for the next nine months, and instead look for comfy shoes with good arch support. "And get rid of the flip-flops," Dr. Trupin says. "They have terrible support and are even worse for feet than high heels."
• Have someone else do the heavy lifting, but if you must lift packages and toddlers, use correct form: squat as you bend at the knees, keep your back straight, and lift with your arms.
• Sit in chairs with good back support such as a firm cushion, or place a small pillow or rolled-up towel behind your lower back. Also, when you can, elevate your feet on a stool or bench.
• Sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs.