
Written by Editorial Team
You might have thought that persistent pain and stiffness in your back, which bothered you too much during the pregnancy period, would go away immediately after delivery. But, sadly, more often this backache is found to return during the postpartum period as well. In case you are suffering from postpartum back pain, you are not alone. Nearly 50% of women will suffer from lower backache in the first few months after delivering a baby.
After all, your body undergoes constant changes throughout the nine months of pregnancy to gift you the baby. So give your body some time to get back to its normal physical condition. Therefore, be patient and never try to experiment with several methods at the same time, which can put additional pressure on your back and aggravate the backache.
In This Article
There are several reasons that can cause postpartum back pain. Find out top 6 reasons that could trigger back pain after delivery:
In the course of pregnancy, besides the stomach, your hips, and pelvic bones will also expand for accommodating the growing baby. This is possible because, in the course of pregnancy, the body releases a hormone called relaxin which loosens the joints and ligaments (including those in the back) that connect the pelvic bone with the spine.
Even after delivery the amount of relaxin in the blood will remain high for a little while longer (approximately three months). This will result in a backache as the joints and ligaments are still not stronger and tighter enough to support the back properly.
A sore back can also happen as the result of long or difficult labor. When you are in labor, in the course of pushing, you may have used muscles you don’t normally use and some positions which you have never used before. This exertion of muscles can result in back pain
Unawareness of good postures and taking the bad posture, especially when feeding (which is around twelve times per day each around 15 minutes duration for newborns!) the baby is another reason behind the postpartum back pain. Holding and rocking the baby in the wrong way can also give rise to back pain
If a mother is overweight, the chances of a postpartum backache will be more due to increased pressure on the back
During pregnancy, the growing uterus will weaken the abdominal muscle, resulting in a change in posture. This will put an additional load on the back muscle. This back pain that starts during the pregnancy can return any time during the postpartum period
You have to bend and lift the baby frequently during the postpartum period for feeding and changing nappies. This can result in back pain and as you have to pay attention 24/7 it can worsen the pain and increase the recovery time
So far, there is no proof that the epidural/spinal anesthesia, which is administered in the course of delivery brings out a postpartum backache. Though many people attribute back pain after delivery to the use of epidural, it is not correct and the real reason needs to be ascertained. An epidural can cause some tenderness at the site, but certainly not back pain.
Only after the level of relaxin in the body come back to normal, the muscles will regain their strength and tone and the joints get tightened to their normal physical state. Therefore, normally the back pain will subside around three months after delivery (as the hormone levels will be back to normal by then). But in some instances, it is found to require close to six months for complete recovery. In any case, your doctor will be your best guide.
Whatever you have done wrong with your back in the daytime, whether it be a bad posture or lifting more weight, or bending more frequently, the joints will turn out to be progressively swollen and exasperate. It will result in more pain during the night when you are totally exhausted physically and mentally after a day’s hectic chore.
Normally the post-partum back pain will resolve itself. But immediate medical attention should be taken if:
It is simpler to manage the postpartum back pain than you imagine if you sustain in mind certain rules and pay additional attention while using the back.
Here are some methods to soothe the postpartum back pain:
Even if after trying the tips and measures mentioned above your back pain still persists and also there are no risk factors that also we mentioned above, then you can try some medications like painkillers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, tramadol, etc.) However, it’s always preferred to take medicines with the approval of your doctor as you are breastfeeding your baby.
With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.
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