As your pregnancy progresses and the baby gets bigger, the pressure on your pelvis, back and vagina increases. If this is feeling uncomfortable, it’s important to listen to your body and adjust your activity accordingly.
If you are experiencing a lot of pain, acupuncture can offer safe and effective pain relief. Research from Sweden concluded that when compared to physiotherapy, acupuncture was the treatment of choice for vaginal pressure and sacroiliac pain.
Backache
Backache in the third trimester of your pregnancy is very common as you are carrying more weight and your center of balance and posture have shifted. Backache can be very uncomfortable, so it’s important to listen to your body’s messages to slow down and rest. In addition you may be able to decrease the severity or the frequency of your back ache by following a few simple tips:
• Sleep on a firm mattress
• Put a pillow between your knees and at the small of your back
• Watch your posture
• Alternate standing, sitting, and reclining; Don’t stay in one position for extended periods of time
• Exercise and stretch --prenatal yoga can be especially helpful
• Try alternating heat and ice packs to the painful area
• Wear comfortable shoes with good support. Avoid high heels!
• One to two weekly acupuncture treatments can help relieve back pain
Sciatica
Sciatica is severe pain, weakness, or numbness of the lower back, buttocks and thighs that radiates from the side of the thigh to the front of the lower leg. This pain is usually concentrated on one side of the body. As your pregnancy progresses and your baby grows the head exerts more pressure on your pelvis. For some women this pelvic pressure stretches the sciatic nerves which are located in the back and buttocks. Stretching or pressure on the sciatic nerve causes intense pain, weakness, and numbness. Acupuncture offers effective relief for sciatic pain.
Call 647-428-7200 to book a Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shiatsu Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine or Meditation Guidance appointment – or to discuss which treatments might be best for you, including the care of a DONA certified birth doula.
