Pregnancy Pains

Pregnant women have to go through pregnancy pains arising from a variety of sources before finally delivering their babies. The pain can be due to a diverse set of causes. The pregnancy period is accompanied by several bodily changes; women experience an increase in weight, imbalances start to creep in and joints are plagued by swelling. The changes in center of gravity inhibits with the normal functioning of muscles and as you get close to your deliver date, your size of your abdomen increases, which leads to lower back stress and pain in the legs.

The common pregnancy pains include:

  • Cramps in the foot and calf
  • Shin pain
  • Back pain
  • Abdominal pain

Other ailments occurring during pregnancy include:

  • Hemorrhoids
  • Sore feet
  • Aching arms

These ailments occur due to subjecting of the new muscle groups to undue stress resulting from your reactions to the various bodily changes accompanying pregnancy.

Now, we can take a more detailed look into the various types of pregnancy pains:

Implantation Pain: The series of different types of pains starts with implantation pain. This pain is experienced over the period when the embryo is settling down in the uterine lining.

Rib or Side Pains: The pressure applied by the weight of the baby on the intercostal nerve that stretches between the ribs can give rise to rib or side pains, or tingling and numbness around the ribs. These pregnancy pains occur towards the close of the trimester when the baby rests at a high position in the uterus.

Abdominal or Pelvic Pain: The undue tension in the ligaments that lie in close proximity to the uterus caused by the increase in weight results in abdominal or pelvic pain. This undue tension makes the ligaments to lean against the nerves in the region near the uterus.

Sciatic Nerve Pain: This pain occurs due to the action of the relaxin hormone, which decreases the tension in the connections that bridge the pelvic joints. The action of the relaxin hormone makes the muscles to stretch hard to absorb the increase in weight thus leading to nerves in the legs being subjected to undue pressure. Exercises, changes in posture, or seating and sleeping positions are recommended ways to get relief from sciatic pain.

Stomach Discomforts: Gas, tummy ache and bloating are common stomach discomforts suffered by pregnant women. These discomforts are caused by the various changes that occur across the body during pregnancy. Peppermint is a natural remedy to stomach discomforts. A Lifesaver candy or a drop of essential oil in a glass of water is also a viable solution to stomach discomforts.

Back Pain: Most pregnant women suffer from back pain during pregnancy and this fact is supported by the estimates of the Mayo Clinic, which puts the percentage of pregnant women suffering from back pain at 50. Lower back ache is the common form of this pregnancy pain seen in pregnant women. However, there are exercises that can help prevent or alleviate back pain. Footwear is of pivotal importance in prevention of back pain and wearing insoles with sufficient padding goes a long way in preventing back pain. The chairs and pillows have to be accounted for as well as is the sitting or lying posture. It is advisable to use a body pillow for sleeping, keep the knees bent while sleeping and refrain from sleeping on the back.

Phylogenic Granulomas: These are tiny tumor growths in the gum that are non-cancerous in nature. It is a benign syndrome that disappears without treatment after conceiving.

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome: This syndrome features nerve pinching in the wrist. In most women, "Carpel tunnel syndrome" vanishes after conceiving. However, in some cases a surgery is needed to correct this disorder. Raising the afflicted hand or using a plastic splint at night is a way to lessen the suffering of people experiencing this syndrome.

Exercises and Remedies for Pregnancy pain Relief

Exercise plays a huge role in preventing back pain as the right exercises makes your muscles stronger, which helps you to cope well with the physical demands associated with pregnancy and maintain your balance. Walking, swimming or dancing can help you impart strength to your muscles. However, pregnant women should exercise care while lifting things or squatting down to avoid injury. Relief from back ache can be obtained by muscle relaxing activities. Hot or cold packs on its own or alternating can ease this pregnancy pain. Warm bath and massage are also recommended for alleviating back ache.

Pains are an unavoidable part of pregnancy. It is imperative to perform muscle strengthening exercises to prevent pregnancy pains. Having knowledge about the various other activities that can help you attain muscle relaxation can come in very handy to get relief from pains associated with pregnancy.