As Mrs Helen Kuku moves down the corridor, she was rubbing her belly and holding her back with her hands. It was obvious that she was experiencing back pain. Already in the eight month of pregnancy, the weight of the unborn baby was beginning to take its toll on her back.
Mrs Kuku, a school teacher, recounting her experience with the pregnancy stated: “The pain, although not severe, is bearable. It started about two weeks ago after lifting a heavy pail of water up the stairs to our three-bed rooms apartment. But my doctors explained that I should not have tried lifting a heavy pail because of my protruding tummy.”
Ironically, many women like Mrs Kuku experience back pain during pregnancy. Back pain or discomfort is common during pregnancy and should be expected to some degree by most women. In fact, it may be experienced during any point of the pregnancy; however, it most commonly occurs later in the pregnancy as the weight of the baby increases.
But the prevalence of back pain or discomfort varies. Between 50 to 70 per cent of all pregnant women have back pain which disrupts their daily routine or interferes with a good night sleep.
Women experience significant physical changes that can affect the spine and low back, specifically during pregnancy. Mothers-to-be can expect to gain weight, resulting in increased pressure on the back and joints as well as a shifted centre of gravity. Later, hormonal changes that aid in accommodating the baby relax ligaments and joints, includimg those in the back.
Dr Blessed Adeyemi, a Senior Registrar, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, stated that although several things could cause back pain in pregnancy, back pain mainly results from bad posture and the stress of the pregnancy on the muscles of the back and of the spine, which causes a change in the curvature of the back.
He declared that back pain may also recur more frequently due in part to the changes associated with pregnancy in some instances, where a spinal condition existed prior to pregnancy.
What other things cause back pain during pregnancy? Women who are most at risk of back pain are those overweight or who had back pain prior to pregnancy. Some severe back pain may be related to pregnancy-associated osteoporosis, vertebral osteoarthritis, or septic arthritis. But these are not common.
Back pain may not be prevented completely, but there are things that women can do to reduce its severity or frequency. According to Dr Adeyemi, in coping with back pain, pregnant women are usually advised not to stand too long.
“They should be in a seating position with their backs properly rested. What makes many pregnant women feel the back pain is the awkward position many take when sitting or lying down as a result of the pregnancy. But simple pain killers are prescribed to alleviate the recurrent pain suffered by pregnant women.”
Dr Adeyemi suggested that pregnant women that often feel back pain should also take to little walks rather than seat all day to help them with back pain control.
In preventing back pain, sleeping position is also of importance. According to the expert, a pregnant woman should not sleep on her back or faced down because these sleeping positions are not comfortable. Rather a pregnant woman, he stated should sleep on her side as this would not aggravate back pain or discomfort.
Also, sleeping on the side would prevent a pregnant woman developing fainting spells and numbness of limp, which may occur as a result of the weight of the womb compressing the major blood vessel that supplies major body organs.
Certainly, a woman’s choice of diet do not contribute to back pain in pregnancy. However, he suggested increased intake of fruits and vegetables as well as fluid to prevent constipation.
Appropriate choice of foot wears is also important. It is better to wear comfortable, flat shoes because pregnancy usually causes the centre of gravity to shift, and thus affect balance. High heels will put more stress on the back and can easily lead to a fall.
Avoid lifting heavy furniture, if at all possible. If there is need to lift something, it is best to bend from the knees and keep the back straight. Bending over should always be avoided.
Chairs with arm rests are ideal for expectant mothers. The seat height should be such that the feet are firmly on the ground when sitting down with the knees slightly bent. Sitting cross- legged on the floor can be very comfortable too and is an excellent way of naturally straightening your spine.
However women must keep in mind that a low, dull backache might be a sign of preterm labour — and severe back pain or back pain that is accompanied by vaginal bleeding or discharge could indicate an underlying problem that needs prompt medical attention.
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