Bearing and having a baby is a difficult test for a woman's body. Physical changes that occur during this period can lead to serious health problems after the long-awaited baby is born. Often young mothers complain that the lower back hurts after giving birth . Why such a condition occurs and how to treat it, we will describe in this article.
Why does lower back hurt after childbirth?
Young mother worried about lower back pain? The causes and treatment of this condition are described below.
Complaints of discomfort in the back arise in women during pregnancy. This is explained by physiological changes in the body of the expectant mother. According to medical statistics, every second woman who gives birth experiences back pain of different intensity and nature. Consider the possible causes of this pathological condition:
- The most common factor leading to unpleasant sensations in the lumbar is a sharp weight gain during pregnancy, due to which there is a significant increase in the load on the musculoskeletal system.
- The next provoking factor is a change in the center of gravity of the body of the expectant mother during movements. So, as the baby grows, the load is redistributed to those joints and muscles that were not previously used for such activities. This leads to stretching of the tendons, ligaments, as well as trauma to the joints. Most of the load falls on the lumbar, which leads to pain in this area.
- A change in the hormonal background is not a direct cause of unpleasant sensations in the back, but the production of a large amount of progesterone helps soften the cartilage. This, in turn, entails pinching of the intervertebral nerve endings.
- At the end of the third trimester, the physiological process of preparing the birth canal for the birth of the baby begins. In particular, there is a divergence of the pelvic bones, shortening and softening of the cervix. The described processes are often accompanied by pain in the lumbosacral spine.
- In the process of labor, there are a number of potential factors that can lead to trauma to the described area of the body. So, it is possible displacement of the vertebrae, pinched nerve, muscle strain, etc.
Other reasons
In addition to the reasons directly related to physiological changes during pregnancy, it is possible to note those that are not related to a delicate state, namely:
- chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system (for example, displacement of the vertebrae, hernia, osteochondrosis and others);
- inflammatory processes in the tissues;
- gynecological diseases;
- pyelonephritis;
- pinched nerve endings;
- overstrain and spinal injury.
All of the above factors cause disorders that can not pass without a trace immediately after the birth of the crumbs. Most often, treatment prescribed by a doctor is required, although in simple cases, lower back pain can pass on its own . The causes and treatment of this condition are interrelated. Only after determining the factor that led to the development of unpleasant symptoms, the specialist can prescribe the necessary course of therapy.
Treatment methods
If the lower back hurts after childbirth, then you should not rely on chance and rely on the fact that the unpleasant sensations disappear by themselves. Such a complaint may be a symptom of a serious illness. Lack of timely qualified medical care can lead to a decrease in physical activity or disability. Therefore, despite the fact that the young mother is busy caring for the newborn, it is imperative to listen to the alarming signals of the body and visit the doctor.
The treatment of back pain is complicated by the fact that the woman’s body is tired after childbirth: the muscles are weakened, the hormonal background is unstable, and the immunity is reduced. In addition, when prescribing diagnostic and treatment methods, the fact that a woman is feeding breast milk to a baby is taken into account, therefore, standard medications can not be used in this case.
What treatment methods do experts recommend if the patient complains that her lower back hurts after giving birth? The doctor may suggest the following methods:
- physiotherapy and wellness exercises;
- wearing special medical belts;
- massage;
- if necessary, drug treatment.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic methods help eliminate pain and inflammation. The following procedures can be prescribed for the treatment of lumbar spine:
- electrophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- ultrasonic wave treatment;
- Wellness massage.
Improving physical education
Special exercises for recovery after childbirth will help cope with lower back pain. We offer the following simple but effective complex:
- Stand straight, arms stretch up. With each hand, stretch upward so that you feel how the spine is stretched.
- From a standing position, smoothly, bend down very slowly, without bending your knees. Then, too, slowly (with a round back) return to its original position.
- Familiar from childhood exercise, "Kitty" effectively copes with lower back pain. It is carried out as follows. Get on your knees and palms. Now, like a cat, bend your back up and down.
- The starting position is the same. Straighten your right arm and left leg to a parallel level with the torso, then switch sides.
- Lying on your back, bend your knees, with your hands pull them as close to your chest as possible. Hold this position for a minute.
- In the previous starting position, stretch your arms to the right side, and legs bent at the knees - to the left. In this case, you must ensure that the shoulders do not come off the floor.
The described exercises for recovery after childbirth should be performed daily for at least six months. If you do not want to do the exercises yourself at home, you can sign up for yoga, Pilates, swimming or fitball for young mothers.
Medical belt
A special belt for the lower back will help cope with pain. Such a product is not difficult to purchase at a pharmacy or medical device store.
To date, there are several types of such dressings. So, an orthopedic belt is used to fix the spinal column, for example, with displacement or injury. Often a product of this kind has metal inserts, which significantly reduces the level of comfort during use. In addition, to eliminate violations in the spine, a long regular use of such a product will be required (at least six months).
A natural wool belt is designed to eliminate inflammatory processes. For example, a camel bristle product allows warming up the lower back with dry heat, thereby improving blood flow, oxygen exchange in tissues and contributing to the acceleration of regenerative processes. A bandage made of dog hair not only retains heat, but also massages the damaged area.
Thus, a waist belt should be selected depending on the cause of the pain.
Drug treatment
Can I take medicine for lower back pain after giving birth? If a woman practices breastfeeding, you should refrain from using medications. External medicines can be used only as directed by a doctor. For back pain, a doctor may prescribe homeopathic remedies to a woman, for example, Traumeel, Zel T. The effect of external medicines will be enhanced by the orthopedic belt - under the influence of dry heat, the effectiveness of ointments, creams and gels is significantly increased.
Most drugs are contraindicated for use during lactation, so it is impossible to determine the treatment on your own in any case, since this can harm the baby.
Traditional medicine recipes
Pain in the lower back after childbirth is also treated with folk remedies: compresses, lotions, rubbing. For example, you can prepare a decoction of medicinal chamomile, St. John's wort, thyme and black elderberry. Then you need to moisten the gauze with a healing composition that has cooled down to room temperature, apply the tissue to the lumbar region and wrap it with a woolen scarf.
Prevention
If the lower back hurts, then first of all it is necessary to limit the load on the back. For the mother of a newborn baby, it is quite difficult to carry out such a recommendation - prolonged carrying of crumbs on hands, walking with a heavy stroller and other daily duties are provoking factors for the development of unpleasant sensations. Does everything hurt after childbirth, especially the lower back? Perform a daily recovery set of exercises, use a sling or a backpack to carry your child, sleep on a hard mattress - these simple rules will help to cope with unpleasant symptoms.
If the lower back hurts after childbirth, then you need to contact a specialist to determine the cause of this condition and prescribe the necessary course of treatment.