Back Pain During Pregnancy

Although back pain is a common complaint during pregnancy, there are some things you can do to help prevent, or at least lessen, the effects. Some of these prevention strategies include exercising (such as walking or swimming), wearing low-heeled shoes, and avoiding sitting or standing for long periods of time. If you develop lower back pain during pregnancy, your healthcare provider may recommend support devices, such as a girdle.

 

Pregnancy and Back Pain: An Overview

Backaches are extremely common during pregnancy. At least 50 percent of women who are pregnant will experience more severe low back pain.
 
Back pain can have an impact on the ability to perform daily activities, as well as affecting the ability to work. In fact, back pain is a major cause of sick leave for women who are pregnant. However, just because this pain occurs during pregnancy does not necessarily make it "normal." There are some things that you can do to help prevent (or at least decrease) pregnancy-related back pain.
 

Is Back Pain in Early Pregnancy Common?

Although many women may wonder if
 lower back pain is an early sign of pregnancy, generally, it is not. Early symptoms of pregnancy can vary, and may include things such as a missed period, tiredness, or tender and swollen breasts (see Pregnancy Symptoms to learn more).
 
While backaches can begin early in pregnancy and continue throughout, typically, back pain begins during the later stages of pregnancy.
 
(Back Pain During Pregnancy Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD