Low Back Pain During Pregnancy - How Can LWC Help? ~ by Dr. Tom Schmidt

This week's 'Topic of the Week' is "Pregnancy and Low Back Pain". Did you know that 80% of all pregnant women suffer from pain back? Why is that? Two main reasons:

1.) Biomechanical Weight Transfer – 7 pounds of pressure is added to the lower back for every 1 pound of weight added to a woman’s “belly region”. The average woman gains 10 – 20 pounds during pregnancy. That translates to potentially 140 pounds of pressure on the back! Along with the added weight is a period when the woman “pops out”. What that refers to is the core abdominal muscles give up holding back the pressure of the growing baby, which in turns transfers the weight of gravity on the lower back. This situation is also experienced by the male population commonly referred to as the “beer belly”.

2.) Relaxin – this is a relaxing hormone secreted during the last trimester of pregnancy. Its action loosens and softens joints of the pelvis for the purpose of delivering the baby. This is a good thing. Unfortunately that loosening also allows for low back joints to “subluxate” (misalign) causing the “knife-like” pain in either side of the low back, commonly causing sciatica-type pain patterns into the buttocks and leg regions.

What can you do and how can Life Wellness Center help? Chiropractic helps realign joints that are misaligned relieving the pressure and pain in the lower back. During pregnancy a schedule of treatments are suggested for monthly adjustments, massage for the first trimester every 2-3 weeks for the 2nd trimester and every 2 weeks for the 3rd trimester. We also typically prescribe a supportive pregnancy belt to support the back. Our patients call them “lifesavers”.

One other thing to note with pregnancy and chiropractic is the ability to help “turn” a breech presentation baby. That means the baby is in the “feet down” position. We have had several patients’ babies turn while receiving chiropractic adjustments and massage.

If you are pregnant or know someone who is pregnant and could benefit from this information, please pass this on to them and get in for an evaluation as soon as possible.  Call us TODAY at 952-435-5300.