Lower Back Pain After Pregnancy: Relief Tips

Lower Back Pain After Pregnancy: Relief Tips

Childbirth is an experience that will change your life in bodily, spiritual, and mental aspects. However, as new moms get ready to have sleepless nights and hormonal changes, one thing does come as a surprise to them: low back pain. In many, it begins soon after delivery; in others, it invades during the subsequent weeks, enhanced by fatigued muscles, postpartum hormonal imbalances, and the countless other baby-care tasks, such as breastfeeding and lifting a newborn baby.

What Is Postpartum Back Pain?

Postpartum back pain is defined as lower back pain or lower back ache that occurs or is evident after childbirth. It can be:

  • Located in the lumbar region
  • Diffusing up into the hips or the thighs
  • Painful when moving or lifting
  • Drowsing and undisturbed, particularly once prolonged leave in sitting or standing has been taken.

This pain is usually a result of a mixture of body changes due to pregnancy and the physical demands of post-pregnancy life. Approximately 50 to 70 percent of new mothers suffer back pain at any level during the postnatal stage.

Postpartum lower back pain.

What Causes Postpartum Back Pain?

Here are the causes of postpartum back pain:

  • Hormonal Changes

    During pregnancy, the body increases the production of a hormone known as relaxin, whose purpose is to loosen ligaments and joints, especially the pelvis, to ease childbirth. Although this is vital in delivery, relaxation does not vanish immediately after childbirth. It may remain in your system as long as five months after delivery, and this may extend longer in the event you are breastfeeding. These extended loose joints may cause your spine and pelvis to become loose, which means that there is a greater risk of misalignment and lower back pain due to daily activities like holding your baby up or bending over a crib.
  • Weakness In Core Muscles

    The abdominal muscles are stretched to the maximum in pregnancy, and many pregnant women have a separation of the abdominal wall, called diastasis recti. Once you deliver, your core is no longer providing you with as much support to the spine, which impacts your posture and balance. When there is a weak core, the lower back will bear the brunt of day-to-day movements and issues like sitting up and carrying your baby will prove to be a toll on your back muscles. In the absence of specific recovery efforts, this imbalance may go on for months.
  • Physical Stress of Caring for the Baby

    Rearing a newborn is not only emotionally tough, but it is also physically fatiguing. Chronic neck-straining positions over a crib, unsupported nursing positions (ascending positions), a car seat, and carrying your baby on one hip, all may overwork your back and hip muscles. Coupled with fatigue or convenience, many new moms unknowingly twist, hunch or favor one side of the body, which contributes to the strain. This repetitive movement causes muscle tightness, inflamed joints and constant pain over time. If you've had a C-section, you might also be dealing with specific limitations on your movement. You can find helpful tips on when to start lifting things after a C-section to avoid putting too much strain on your body as you recover.
  • Bad Sleep Posture

    New mothers seldom have time to get adequate rest, and when they do, it is not usually in the most appropriate postures. Poor sleep ergonomics can make back pain worse, whether you sleep on the couch clutching your baby, lie on your side without the essential back support, or feed in bed without pillows to support you. This can all exacerbate back pain. In some cases, muscle stiffness, nerve compression and slow healing of muscles already under stress may occur in time due to lack of alignment during rest and general fatigue.
  • Epidural-Related Discomfort

    Epidurals can remove the pain of contractions; however, some women develop post-injection soreness at the injection location, usually in the bottom of the back. Although this discomfort is usually short-lived and mild, it can be enhanced by the pressure and inflammation brought about by the lifting and twisting movements postpartum. Occasionally, an injection may cause inflammation that leads to local nerve irritation and, in turn, leads to persistent pain.
    Epidural-related discomfort.

How Long Does Back Pain After Pregnancy Last?

It is also dependent on an individual woman, her delivery method, her general health, fitness, and lifestyle.

  • In uncomplicated back pain that is mild to moderate and associated with pregnancy, back pain can improve during the first 6 to 12 weeks after delivery under resting conditions with support and limited activity.
  • Constant or chronic pain may take months before it is remedied through proper care and rehabilitation.
  • In case of pain exceeding 6 months, it can be an indication of a more serious problem, such as a herniated disc, pelvic misalignment and/or diastasis recti that needs intervention.

Keep in mind: because postpartum back pain is common does not imply you should continue to live with it.

Pain exceeding 6 months.

How to Get Relief From Postpartum Back Pain

Here's how to get relief from postpartum back pain:

  • Safe Way to Rebuild Your Core

    The spinal support is found in your core muscles. To begin, use mild pelvic tilts, diaphragmatic breathing and postpartum-safe yoga, Pilates exercises. Pregnant women should not do crunches or vigorous exercise until it has been cleared by a provider.
  • Pay Attention to Posture

    When nursing, sit straight, have your feet flat on the ground and do not slouch. When feeding the baby or carrying, keep them close to your chest and support your back using pillows.
  • Cold and Hot Therapy Test

    Relax the tense muscles with a warm compress or heating pad, at bedtime or after long feeding sessions that become long. During the flare-ups, one can use cold packs to reduce inflammation.
  • Take the Postpartum Support Band

    Wearing the postpartum belly band is one of the best methods to remedy and prevent lower back pain during and after pregnancy, and a prominent example is the Momcozy Ergowrap Postpartum Belly Band.
    Momcozy Ergowrap Postpartum Belly Band in oyster pink color worn by a woman, with adjustable straps for postpartum support.
    Flash Sale
    321,99 zł
    257,59 zł
    Overview
    Postpartum Support Comfort Effectiveness

The Momcozy Ergowrap Belly Band is no ordinary wrap, and even though it is specifically designed to offer support after pregnancy, it can be viewed as a recovery assistant. It is particularly helpful for moms recovering from a C-section, as it provides gentle compression and support. Combining the band with essential rehab moves and good posture practices, like knowing if you can bend after a C-section, may help you heal faster and eliminate pain significantly.
Key Benefits:

  • 3D Ergonomic Support: It is triple-layered so that it raises your abdomen and compresses your core motion that provides perfect posture and helps lift pressure off your lower back.
  • Built in Boning: Rigid boning on the spinal column adds stability, avoids rolling, and promotes alignment.
  • Adjustable Fit: Velcro straps are wide, and the elastic fabric is soft to provide a perfected fit as your body resumes the normal shape prior to pregnancy.
  • C-Section Friendly: C-Section friendly in that it is crafted of breathable, non-irritating materials, and it can be comfortable for moms recovering with surgical incisions.
  • All Day Comfort: Breathable and enjoyable under garments, you can wear them to home, walking along the street, or during nursing sessions, all depending on added support.

Combining the band with essential rehab moves and good posture practices may help you heal faster and eliminate pain significantly.

Why Does My Lower Back and Hip Hurt After Pregnancy?

The lower back pain usually radiates to the pelvis or hips. This may be as a result of:

  • Pelvic Misalignment: Your pelvis may have gone out of place during childbirth, especially when it was a long and stressful process.
  • Sacroiliac Dysfunction: Where your spine meets your pelvis, the joints can become inflamed or unstable.
  • Sciatica Pressure on the sciatic nerve due to moving discs can bring pain, which spreads over the hips and along the legs.
  • Muscle Imbalances: Body dysmorphism. Many people with weak core or glute muscles will naturally overcompensate in these back muscles, creating an imbalance in the lower back and the hips.

Symptoms are normally alleviated by regular stretching, strengthening and attention to posture and by wearing support devices such as the Momcozy Ergowrap Belly Band, to help stabilize those areas in the early stages of recovery.

When to Call Your Provider About Back Pain After Pregnancy

Back pain is usually manageable at home, but call your healthcare provider if:

  • Your pain is either serious, intense or progressive
  • Your legs or feet tingle or go numb
  • You feel some trouble standing or walking
  • You do have a complication with bowel or bladder control
  • Your lower back has swelling, redness or fever
  • You fear that your pain has a connection with an epidural site complication

For more information on various types of postpartum pain, you can read about topics like nipple sharp pain during pregnancy and how to manage it.It is always better to be on the safe side, particularly when pain interferes with your caring ability for yourself or your baby.

Conclusion

Lower back pain after pregnancy is one of the most famous and at the same time least reflected tendencies of post-pregnancy recovery. It is repetitive and tedious, and emotionally taxing yet there are methods of regeneration. With the correct guidance and equipment, your body will be transformed to pain free, strong and able.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider regarding any medical condition. Momcozy is not responsible for any consequences arising from the use of this content.

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