How to Manage your Pregnancy Pain
Written by: Dr. Jenine McCann, Prenatal Chiropractor
Oftentimes, we’re told that pain during pregnancy is just a rite of passage- something all expectant mothers have to go through regardless. They say that the best thing we can do is grin and bear it until after the baby arrives. Many people think that pain during pregnancy can not be relieved, but this is untrue. This is a big misconception that we’re trying to debunk in the pregnancy world.
There are plenty of things you can do during pregnancy to make it more enjoyable and pain-free, especially when early symptoms start to appear.
When women get pregnant, there are so many changes that happen right away in the body:
- Body will prepare for expansion and growth
- Posture will change
- Pelvic shape changes
- Back curvature changes
- Chest and belly will end up getting heavier and pull everything forward
- Joints relax
- Muscles can tighten
The first trimester of pregnancy is often a time when we have to take it easy and rest more due to the symptoms that come with early pregnancy. We go from leading a very active lifestyle, to one where we need to spend more time resting. When you’re pregnant, it’s vital to get these pesky aches and pains seen as soon as possible. And, more importantly, you should be treated by somebody who specializes in pregnancy care. They know what warning signs to look for and are better equipped than anyone else to understand how a woman’s body changes over the course of her pregnancy.
It’s not unusual for people to be surprised at how little treatment they actually need once they’ve sought it out. Something as simple as working on muscles, making adjustments, or demonstrating how to change movement patterns can be so important in strength and recovery.
Many times, clients finish their appointments feeling amazed that they didn’t start the treatments earlier. They also often remark on how gentle and effective the treatments are, even though they were expecting something much more intense. Pregnancy care is light and gentle, but still produces great results. Plus, when we provide exercises or stretches to do at home, it helps build confidence and trust in your body, which empowers women to carry themselves through the rest of pregnancy.
It’s crucial to debunk the idea that pain during pregnancy is natural. Pregnancy shouldn’t be accompanied by fatigue, tiredness and pain; these symptoms make it difficult for parents, especially mothers, who are then expected to take care of a baby postpartum. The better we feel going into postpartum, the easier time we’ll have taking care of our babies, ourselves, our partners and our families.
