"Seeking Advice for Back Ache Relief"

Hi Tiffany,

Have you seen a chiropractor yet? If not, I practice in Danville. I see pregnant women all the time. My midwife even practices at my office.

Alignhealingcenter.com

Hope you feel better,
B. S.

I had back trouble as well and took a reformers pilates class with an instructor that had experience with pregnant women. The pilates helped strengthend my core muscles which provided the support to my back. I ended up back problem free for the rest of my pregnancy.

Hey, had the same problem. I loved my body pillow. Also pre-natal yoga, I am not the earthy type, but the lady teaching the birthing classes also teaches yoga. It was wonderful, I left feeling full of energy. Good Luck!

Stretching will help--try prenatal yoga.

Also talk to your doctor. Lower back pain is totally normal with your new load, but in rare cases it can be something else.

Also try to nap if you can. The sleep problems only get worse as the pregnancy progresses. But they seem like nothing in comparison to lack of sleep when the baby is 5 mos old.

But it is worth it.

Dear Tiffany,
I'm a small boned woman and with my first pregnancy, I was in so much pain that I could not move, let alone walk. I cried and cried because I hurt so much. I finally went to a chiropractor and it was the best thing I ever did for myself! The weight of the baby had my hips rotated out and I was just out of whack all together. It helped me tremendously! The same thing happened to me when I was pregnant with my son 9 years later. The chiro got me through it.
I had never been to a chiropractor in my life and was afraid to go, but the adjustments were like a miracle for me. I highly suggest it.
I hope you'll be feeling better soon!

I got chiropractic adjustments during my pregnancy and it was great. You just have to make sure that the doctor can adjust you while laying on your side.

Hi Tiffany

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I second the recommendation for pre-natal yoga. It's important to find someone certified, as those who are not really don't understand the issues you face. It's a wonderful experience!!
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

C.

I had sciatica pain from 10 weeks on so I know what you are going through. I found a massage therapist who specialized in the Bowen Technique and I found it to be a lifesaver. It involved pushing on certain parts of the back. Pressure points I imagine. And it was so relaxing and took away my pain for about 4 weeks at a time. This was 13 years ago so I can't recommend anyone but I would definitely recommend finding someone who can help you. Good luck!

Hi Tiffany, if I were you, I'd go to my doctor for a check up. My daughter had the same symptoms, and she ended up having kidney problems. Hope that's not the case, but better to have it checked out. Good luck, CJ

Hi Tiffany!
I probably have some ideas to help-I'm a prenatal yoga teacher. If you want, email me with the specifics of your back ache--where exactly it hurts, when, etc. and I'll see what we can figure out for you!
Also-you can seek out a prenatal class in your area. It's a great way to get some help with issues like these!

Hi Tiffany,

See a chiroprator. I am a Chiropratic Assistant. I believe in the help these doctors give whole heartedly. My boss (and primary care physician for myself and my kids) is also a nutrition and lifstyle specialist. In other words, he treats the whole patient. He seeks to find the cause of problems rather than just treat symptoms. Doctors of this nature are the best anyone can go to.

What you are suffering can be relieved. Remember too, when your baby is born, chiropratic care is needed also. All five of my doctor's children (that's with two sets of twins) where adjusted within 5 minutes of being born. If you think about what a baby must go through to come into the world... I have witnessed tired looking parents come into our office because their baby would give them no sleep or rest and, within a week of following my doctor's advice, come back for a follow up appointment smiling and looking rested and happy to be there.

Just ask the good questions when you seek out a doctor.

You are in my prayers.
L.

I also had bad back aches while pregnant and I found a fantastic Chiropractor who helped me so much. Dr. Hansen off of Elk Grove Blvd in Elk Grove is fantastic. He has ways to adjust you without cracking your back. His number is ###-###-####.

Tiffany,

I hope you take the advise below. Chiropractic as well as vitamins and detox are all great ideas. I, however, was on bed rest from five months on and had no treatment until after my child was born. As a result, ended up with an annular tear of the L5-S1 disc and needed to have a spinal fusion. See a Chripractor that has a table made for pregnant women. It is similar to a massage table, but it has an open space for the face and an open space for your baby. Don't let this go as just pregnancy pain, it shouldn't be so bad you can't sleep or walk. If not treated right, you could also have pre-term labor issues. Happy Pregnancy and Good Luck...

I went through the same thing, I went to a chiro that adjsted me and found out my hip was out of inlinment. Oh it helped me so much.
Good Luck- T.

Hi! You forgot to fill in "a little about me" part. :)

i got this great pillow made for pregnancy that rests in-between your legs and a wedge for under the belly. i also occassionally use the thermal heat pads on my lower back. tylenol pm is ok too. good luck!

Very gently stretch the area where your thigh meets your torso. This area becomes increasingly tight in women from your twenties on and it causes lower back pain. When the joint I am speaking of is tight, it causes your body to go out of balance and you think it's your back that is causing it. I've been taught this by both my yoga teacher and a woman who is an olympic trainer.

Hi Tiffany,

I had severe Back pains when I was pregnant with my daughter too, they were so bad that I couldn't walk straight. Finally I went to see a Chiropractor and that saved me from having a miserable rest of my pregnancy. All my aches and pains went away and I truly believe it helped me handle labor & delivery better too. I gave birth to my daughter completely natural with no drugs or interventions. I had also taken some light water aerobics and a pre and post natal excercise classes along with some yoga classes. That all really helped. But I think the Chiropractor worked the best. It was also a place that was just for me to go and be able to relax and breath. My chiropractor has these incredible cushions and pillows for his pregnant patience and breastfeeding moms to take the pressure off the back while being adjusted. It was amazing. My daughter was born 2.5 years ago but I and my whole family still go see him regularly. The only draw back is that he is in SF and we had moved to Rwc. Well if you are interested in our chiropractor just email me and I will gladly give you his info. Believe me he comes highly recommended by many. You can read reviews about him on yelp.com

Good luck
J. A.

Hi Tiffany - there are some chiropractors who do alot of work with pregnant Moms - Dr Josh Dietch at Cafe of Life on Miller Ave in Mill Valley seems to do alot of work with Moms and kids too - I took my litte guy to him when he was just 8 weeks old and having colic.

you could also find a massage therapist with special prenatal training

Good luck!

I had the same problem with all three of my pregnancies. I found that a body pillow does the trick! You can usually find these at Bed, Bath and Beyond! Place the pillow in between your legs. It worked for me. Good luck.

I apologize in advance that I didn't take the time to read the responses below. But I experienced a lot of lower back pain and pain between my shoulder blades with both my pregnancies. THe lower back pain would be so sharp and severe at times it would stop me in my tracks. Dr. said it was the baby putting pressure on my sciatic nerve. Some things that helped for me:
A heating pad, on a lower setting, no more than 15 minutes at a time (dr. orders!)
Stretching, and lots of it. I was never one that was much into yoga before prengnacy but, get a prenatal yoga video! Specially designed to help you stretch and strengthen all the things that happen in pregnancy. I don't often do the whole work out now, but there are a few stretches I often due and they are life savers!
I had trouble sleeping too, do some stretches before bed time. Also, having lots of pillow support around me (between my legs, under my belly, against my back) has also been very helpful.
One more of the many not so fun glories of pregnancy! I hope you find some relief, but remember, in a matter of months you will have relief and a new little angel!

Hi Tiffany,

I had a bad back for years and started to use this magnetic back flex and received great results from it. I now sleep on the magnetic and also see the difference. If you would like more info let me know.

Have a great weekend.

N. Marie

Hi Tiffany

I have a couple of ideas for you first is an exercise called pelvic rocking. What you so is get in a hands knees position (hands and knees should form a box) relax the lower back, allowing pelvis to tilt forward (comfortably), then bring back to level. Do this slowly and rhythmically. This exercise only moves the lower part of the body. Do 20 to 30 of these befor you go to bed at night.

Second is a sleep postion. Start on your side with both knees slightly bent and the top leg forward. Your pillow should be at an angle under your head and breast. your bottom arm may be behind you; if that is not comfortable bring it around over the top. If you rotate your hips forward it alowes the bed to support you belly so you would not have the pulling of the back muscles.

N., AAHCC

Hi Tiffany, I also had really bad back pain during my pregnancy 3 1/2 years ago. It was my only problem. My doctor was able to get me Physical therapy . It really did help, I also had to chuck my 3 inch heels. Hot baths and my back rubs,walks were nice too. I don't know if its related, but I had back labor. I highly recommend drugs.

I had the same problem around 5months. Heating pads and taking baths helped, but nothing really made it go away. I can say that around 6 1/2months it let up and didn't start hurting again until the last few weeks and once she was born they were completely gone. Good luck!

Pillows! Try one under your belly to hold it up a bit, one at your back (have your hubby tuck it up behind you so you are under it a little) and one in between your legs. I also would twist my body a little so my weight was on my side but my shoulders and head felt flat against the bed. You don't want to be on your back completely but as long as your baby weight is off to the side and not right over your spine your ok. I also slept in the chair a lot. Sitting with my legs curled up. It will still not be comfy, but sleep as best you can, it only gets worse! Your belly prob isn't even big yet, first child and only 5 mths? Maybe you should look into reflexology (massage and pressure points on feet and hands), my sister did that for me and I was very skeptical at first but it really did help me a lot! You can get a book about it and have your husband rub your feet using techniques from the book. Even if you don't feel a change at least you got a foot rub! lol
Good luck and best wishes on a short and less painful delivery!

Hi Tiffany,
Use ice and heat alternating at 20 min. intervals. Lay on your back with a pillow under you knees. Keep your legs up and when sleeping or resting on you side put a pillow behind your back with a pillow between your legs at the knees. Mostly take it easy and be gentle with yourself and don't over do it. Talk to your doctor about taking asperin/tylenol every 4-6 hours to help with the inflamation. If you can get a handle on the inflamation causing the pain you will get through it. Take care.
W. P.

Tiffancy,

I totally agree with Jamie below. Your body is producing a hormone called relaxin which allows the tendons in your pelvic area to relax and open for birth. But it is of course system so all your tendons relax and things can move out of place. I saw 2 great chiropractots during my pregnancy and in the immediate weeks after. They got rid of my pain but also made sure everything was in alignment which allowed my muscles to function the way they are supposed to so that I was more functional during my labor. I give them both a big hand in my ability to give birth to a wonderful breech baby girl completely naturally, no pain meds no nothing. I saw Dr Marc Ross in Davis and Dr Lentz in Folsom, she is with Cafe of Life.

Good luck and all the best for the rest of your pregnancy and wishing you the birth experience you are dreaming of whatever that looks like for you!

C.

Hi Tiffany,

Back aches can be a sign of severe stress or toxic overload in the system (my husband gets rid of them by water fasting- it reduces the toxins)

and they can also be a sign of low manganese, vit C or calcium. A most excellent manganese and Calcium resource for you is fulvic acid. It is an ionic mineral complex liquid. Because of it's makeup it can carry the nutrients right into your cells. It is also a powerful detoxifier. Look it up online.
Using liquid vit c under the tounge daily is not a bad idea either.

Happy pregnancy and labor day,
Love Gail

Pillows are great! You can also hold a tennis ball against the wall with your back and move to roll it around for a bit of a massage.

I had similar problems when I was pregnant. If I laid down with my legs straigt, I could not get up with out help and pain. After my daughter was born, I still had the pain. I finally got together with a wonderful, God based chiropractic office. I still go to him now. If you would like to try him, the office is River City Chiropractic (the office is in Citrus Heights, just south of Antelope Rd, on Sunrise). I see Dr. Jeff, but both doctors are very good. Their number is ###-###-####. Tell them C. P sent you.

I pray that you feel better.

Pillows, pillows, pillows! Buy lots...I had my bed strewn like something out of a harem. One between the knees when you on your side, another under bump and more wedged up behind the small of your back.
Also you might like to consider gentle swimming or pre-natal yoga. Take it slowly though, it's just meant to relax you and not make things worse.
Failing that, have a chat with your doctor on your next check up. It's normal, as all your muscles are stetching and loosening because of the pregnancy hormones, but if it's getting to the point where you are losing out on sleep even from five months pregnant he might be able to help you with a tummy support or some other aid.
Good luck.