by Shen-Li Lee

Created on: August 06, 2009   Last Updated: August 10, 2009

Back pain is one of the most common reasons why pregnant women are required to take sick leave. It can range from a mild discomfort to severe, debilitating pain and can affect as many as 50-70% of women during pregnancy at any time. For some women, it signifies the possibility of a pregnancy, while others do not experience back pain until the later stages of pregnancy after significant weight gain, changes in the center of gravity, and the increasing size of the baby bump occurs.

Pregnancy back pain is more likely to affect women who suffer from back pain even before pregnancy. It is also more likely to occur in pregnant women are overweight and unfit. However, pregnancy back pain can also affect women who do not fall in either of these categories as there are many causes for back pain during pregnancy that affect every woman, such as the changes in hormones.

Although lower back pain during pregnancy may not be prevented or eliminated altogether, there is much that can be done to reduce its severity and frequency of occurrence. Lower back pain during pregnancy is similar in nature to back pain experienced by non-pregnant individuals, therefore many of the methods for reducing the pain are the same as those recommended to individuals suffering from back pain.

Here are six tips that will help reduce lower back pain during pregnancy:

1. Maintaining Good Posture

With the growth of the baby bump during pregnancy, your center of gravity will shift forward. To compensate, your posture changes to prevent you for falling forwards from the increasing weight of your front. Unfortunately, the new posture also increases the strain on the muscles and ligaments of your lower back which leads to back pain in some women.

One way to reduce the strain on the back is to observe the principles for maintaining good posture as much as possible. In other words, tuck your bottom under, pull your shoulders backwards and downwards, and stand straight and tall.

2. Activities and Positions

Sitting - elevate your feet slightly when sitting and place a small pillow behind your lower back to support it. Make sure you change positions regularly.

Standing - Avoid standing for long periods. However, if you must stand, rest one foot on a low stool and switch feet from time to time.

Sleeping - The best position to sleep is on your side with your knees bent. Place a pillow between your knees and another under your abdomen to

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