Low-Back Pain During Pregnancy - Health - Alternative Medicine

So you're expecting a child soon! That's wonderful! Whether you have just gotten the news, or are approaching the big day, you are probably going through quite a bit of physical change and discomfort. Low-back pain afflicts more than half the population of pregnant women. It's something that can happen at any point during a pregnancy, and is very common. The causes are both chemical and physical, as your hormones and center of gravity undergo significant change.

A lot of women are shocked by the amount of back pain they feel very early in their pregnancy. The first hormone that causes low-back pain in early pregnancy is progesterone. While progesterone enables embryo implantation and gestation, this hormone also has the effect of softening the ligaments and disks in your back. Spasms or cramps in your lower back may result, as this process limits the amount of support provided to your upper body.
As your pregnancy develops, your body produces more of another hormone, called relaxin. This hormone is essential to labor and delivery; as the name implies, relaxin relaxes the joints in your pelvis, which enables the baby to pass through the birth canal with ample room. However, the hormone can also lead to inflammation and pain in your other joints, as it may cause other joints in your body to move abnormally.

The growing fetus causes several changes contributing to low back pain in pregnancy. Your abdominal muscles are extremely taxed by the demands of your growing fetus and expanding uterus as, in order to accommodate the extra growth, they must stretch well beyond their normal capacity. The effect of this is that your lower back takes on extra weight from your torso, as your abdominal muscles are no longer able to support proper body posture.

In the course of carrying your baby to term, your center of gravity changes by a significant amount. During pregnancy, the average woman will gain seven pounds of solely baby weight, two pounds of placenta, and two pounds of amniotic fluid and uterine tissue! On the other hand, inflammation and pain may result, as hormones can cause abnormal movement of other joints in the body. Though common in pregnant women, back pain should always be taken seriously. Pay attention to any low-back pain you might have, and speak to your healthcare provider about it. This can help to weed out the possibility of ignoring an underlying condition, like an injury from an accident. Dull backaches, felt low and in rhythmic intervals, might indicate labor. Many women have "back labor," which just means that they feel the labor in their back. Severe back pain and fever may indicate an infection, though you may still have an infection without a fever.

There are many techniques at your disposal to control any low-back pain you may experience while pregnant:

• Exercises that focus on stretching, like pelvic tilts.

• Maintaining good posture, by standing straight and tall, keeping your shoulders down and back, and tucking your buttocks under your spine.

• Make an effort not to stand for long periods of time. Though, if you absolutely must do so, you can elevate one foot on a box or low step stool.

• Put a small pillow behind your lower back when you're sitting.

• Don't wear high heels unless absolutely necessary. A far better choice would be flat shoes with proper support for your arches.

• A bit of additional support can come from maternity pants - try to get ones with a wide elastic band you can wear under the belly. You can find maternity belts, or girdles mean specifically for expecting women in healthcare and maternity stores. You may also find that your insurance company covers such a purchase when prescribed by your healthcare provider, so check in with them.

• Keep a pillow between your legs at night, sleeping on your side. Also, if possible, use a firm mattress that supports your back better than softer ones.

• You might try using a maternity pillow, a specially designed pillow for pregnant women that can alleviate some strain in your back.

• Lift objects using your legs, and not your back. Try not to lift heavy objects at all. When you need to carry a large load from one place to another, you should split the task up into smaller parts.

• Stay active! Find out if walking or swimming will work for you by consulting with your healthcare provider.

• See if you can find a trained pregnancy masseuse. You might discover that your partner or friend can provide adequate relief with gentle rubbing or kneading on the sore spots on your back. Warm compresses can be effective. A heating pad set to its lowest point, an adequately warm bath, or arranging yourself on your hands and knees in the shower to direct warm water at your lower back, may all offer relief.

• Acupuncture treatment may also be a good choice for you - but remember again to ask your doctor.

• Pregnant women can use pain relievers with acetominophen, like Tylenol.

Regardless, there are no cure-alls for chronic back pain, whether you seek support your Doctor of Chiropractic or not. Since back pain can often be triggered by overt strain or injury, the pain may last for weeks before you notice any positive changes to your condition; bear this in mind when determining the effectiveness of any treatment. During pregnancy, be sure to pay extremely close attention to your body as it changes, and jot down details as they come. Keep vigilant, even with things that you might have let slide if you didn't have to think about your baby, also. Particularly if this is the first time you are pregnant, brace yourself for changes in your body that will surprise you, in spite of whatever reading you might have done on the subject. This is to be expected. Stay focused on your body, treat low-back pain seriously, and take pleasure in the process of being an expectant mother!

View the original article here

Keeping Your Body Healthy During Pregnancy - Family - Pregnancy

Getting pregnant is a joyous time for any new parent but young mothers have some serious concerns about how a pregnancy will affect their body for the long term. Sure you have a baby growing inside you and you may be tempted to think that you are eating for two but surely if you take this approach to eating while you are pregnant you will probably find out that at the end of your pregnancy that you are left with a lot of extra weight to lose.

When someone is pregnant, their diet should only have slight modifications. For the most part, they should eat like they normally do. The modifications should include a few extra calories in addition to lowering their intake of salt and sugar. Eating more natural foods and whole grain foods will do wonders for keeping the weight gain in check while pregnant.

Exercise should always be part of your daily routine and especially important when you are pregnant to help control your weight. However, always consult your family physician before starting such a program to ensure undue stress will not be placed on the unborn and growing child. It is also believed that simple yoga postures will help during pregnancy and promote health and balance for the mother to be. Many experts frown on starting a exercise program after pregnancy, so it is wise to seek medical professional council before starting any new program.

As any medical health care professional will tell you, blood pressure is a primary concern for pregnant women. The mere fact of a pregnancy means that the heart has to work harder to supply nutrients to the mother as well as the baby, but high blood pressure can also be warning signs of something more sinister that could jeopardize the mother and the baby if left unchecked. Getting plenty of rest and more frequent doctor or midwife visits will also help things go smooth. Steer clear of stressful situations when necessary to help the pregnancy stay healthy.

Stretch marks can be easily dealt with by applying natural creams and oils every day on the belly area during pregnancy and a major contributor to stretch marks is excessive weight gain. Keeping this to a minimum will help keep the marks to a minimum. It is important to increase your weight to no more than 20 to 25 lbs., because this will help your baby to be healthy and continue a healthy pregnancy in addition to making your post delivery recovery time easier and faster.

View the original article here

Pupp Rash: Pups During Pregnancy - Health - Skin Care

Until recently, I never was familiar with the pups rash, but a few clients coincidentally came to the clinic where I do psychotherapy and were suffering from this. It usually occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy and can have strong itching, lots of red marks and produce insomnia. It is definitely a challenge for one's pregnancy on top of the already existing ones due to hormonal changes and one's body enlarging.

During pregnancy many women experience a rash, which is very common during the pregnancy stages as the skin visibly changes. During the pregnancy stages, there is a higher blood hormone level and this can have an effect on the skin. There isn't anything harmful about most skin changes as far as the health of the baby and the mother is concerned. On the whole, these changes become normalized within a few months after the baby is born. But there are some skin conditions that can indicate other underlying problems so it's always best to get this looked at and treated. For some women, the hormonal changes can result in acne. We also know how common food cravings and repulsions can also be during pregnancy. Some women will also get a skin darkening, sometimes referred to as the pregnancy rash.

One pregnancy rash is called the pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) which can cause an non-stop itch or some and be quite frustrating. Fortunately, this ceases after the birth of the baby but nonetheless, it can be hard to tolerate. Some studies have shown that there is a higher incidence of the birth of a boy when one has pupps rash. Most women won't get this before the sixth month of pregnancy, but there are exceptions. The rash starts with the stretch marks in the abdomen according to some.

Pupp rash may sting as well as itch and is usually found on the stomach area, thighs and buttocks.. It can also be much more extensive. Moisturizers, anti-itch creams and sometimes cortisone is used to relieve symptom. Some doctors may induce labor early or prescribe prednisone if necessary. Unfortunately, some women may even get the rash before their third trimester. Keep your focus on your beautiul baby inside you and know that this is a temporary discomfort. See a physician to rule out other issues such as a stress rash or eczema.

Remember that your newborn baby will give you a wonderful light in your life and this period of the rash will pass and be funny in retrospect. Keep your sense of lightness and calmness despite the physical discomfort. More info on pupp rash what is pupps can help you get relief.

View the original article here

Abdominal Cramps During Early Pregnancy by Kitty Barker

It is not uncommon to have abdominal cramps during early pregnancy. Many women become frightened and fear that they may be having a miscarriage. This is normally not the reason for abdominal cramps during early pregnancy. The embryo is embedding itself in the lining of the uterus. This is what makes you feel cramps similar to those felt when you?re having your period. The cramps may last for several days and you may suffer the way you did when having a period on a normal basis. Please do not be afraid of those cramps as they are a normal part of the pregnancy.

Abdominal cramps during early pregnancy are a normal happening that all women experience. A more serious problem is when you are suffering lower abdominal pain. Then it is best that you consult your physician. It is not uncommon for many women to suffer the lower cramps which are referred to as sporadic abdominal discomfort. These sporadic abdominal cramps are similar to those pain felt during a normal period. It is a sign that your uterus is preparing to carry your baby through the next nine months. If you are suffering the pains with other symptoms then you will need to immediately contact your physician.

Women, who suffer from chills, fever, spotting along with abdominal cramps during early pregnancy maybe suffering from other more harmful conditions, when a fertilized egg attaches outside of a woman?s uterus then this condition is referred to as Ectopic Pregnancy. The egg usually will attach itself to the fallopian tube. Normally this condition is caught in the first few weeks and treated right away. If for some reason it does not get noticed and treated it could be very dangerous as the fallopian tube may result in rupture. The signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include spotting, abdominal pain and tenderness. These signs are accompanied with lower back pain, shoulder pain, dizziness or faintness. If you suspect an ectopic pregnancy please contact your physician right away.

Abdominal cramps during early pregnancy unfortunately can occasionally mean that you are about to have a miscarriage. Typically, the symptoms for a miscarriage are bleeding that might be light or heavy, menstrual cramps that gradually increase in intensity. Some women suffer from back pain.

If any of these symptoms arise please contact your physician immediately.

Remain calm because it does not necessarily mean that you are in the process of having a miscarriage as other things maybe going on that are lesser by nature. Some ladies suffer from lower back pain due to kidney stones, gallbladder disease or even pancreatitis. When you suffer from one of these diseases it is debilitating and in some cases warrants surgery. An abdominal cramp during early pregnancy usually happens to just about all women who are pregnant therefore please do not panic. It is always for the best to contact your physicians.

There is good news, however, women who have abdominal cramps during early pregnancy find it occurs from uterus stretching, from gas or even constipation. It is true that you might be suffering from round ligament pain which may result in short stabbing and sharp aches in one or both sides of the abdomen. This pain can be relieved very quickly simply by changing your position or simply just relaxing.

When you do feel abdominal cramps during your early pregnancy the best thing for you to do is set down, put your feet up, and relax. Normal abdominal pain may be caused by the simplest of things.

* Gas pains and bloating caused by hormones that slow your digestion process down.

* The pressure of your growing uterus.

* Constipation *note contact a doctor before taking any type of laxative.

* Heartburn caused by something that you ate that did not agree with you or the baby.

A lot of women do have abdominal cramps during early pregnancy which is normal as the embryo is embedding itself in the lining of the uterus. Cramping in the last weeks of the pregnancy is a sign that labor is almost ready to start. At the start of your labor you will have very strong cramps that are severe in nature and about five to ten minutes apart. This is time to contact your physician and go immediately to the hospital for the delivery. The early part of your pregnancy these cramps can be mild to severe so it is up to you to check with your physician and make sure that it is just the natural part of your pregnancy and not anything to worry about.

About The Author Kitty Barker who often writes for and with Pregnancy Information where there is far more information, news and resources. She also writes for Pregnancy Weight Gain If that link is inactive, you can paste this link into your browser - http://pregnancy-and-baby-tips.com/.

View the original article here