How to Minimize Back Pain While Pregnant

Video Transcript

"Are you pregnant? Your back is aching and you are starting to feel like an old woman? I'm Dr. Jill from Tampa, Florida telling you how to minimize back pain in pregnancy. Back pain occurs for a lot of different reasons throughout the entire pregnancy, different reasons at different times. For instance in the first trimester your uterus is starting to grow the fetus is implanting and you get cramping which can lead to back pain. Second trimester, your weight is shifting, you've gained weight, your center of gravity is off and this can all lead to back pain. Third trimester, same as the second, but now you are just really bigger than you normally are, that gravity is way more forward and it puts pressure on your back. So how do you minimize it? Well exercise, believe it or not building your core muscles will help improve the pain as you walk. Make sure you wear stable shoes, not a smart idea to wear high heels when you are pregnant. It throws that center of distribution off even more. Rest, make sure you rest, lay on your side, elevate your leg and this can improve your back pain. Massage, heat, ice, all of those are safe and can be used in pregnancy. Other things if all of these things are not working is talk to your healthcare provider. Tylenol is always safe in pregnancy and can be used to help with the pain. If you need to use something stronger you definitely need to see your healthcare provider because you could think it is something and it is really something worse. I'm Dr. Jill from Tampa, Florida telling you how to minimize back pain in pregnancy."