Have you ever carried a particularly heavy, awkwardly shaped item in your arms for an extended period of time? More than likely, after a while, you found yourself arching your back to try to compensate for that heavy load in front of you. If you didn’t arch yourself back, you’re sure you would fall forward from the weight of the load you are carrying. And if you did it for a while, after a long day of moving boxes, for example, you may find that your back is sore from being in that position all day. Now imagine doing that for nine months.
In pregnancy, you aren’t carrying that extra heavy load in your arms, but the compensations your body goes through to accommodate your increased size are pretty similar. The good news is that your body does it to take care of your safety and the safety of your growing baby. The bad news is that it can cause back and hip pain or discomfort that may not go away after your baby is born. Many people will get relief after the birth of their child, but research suggests that as many as 80% of pregnant people will either have recurrent or continuous low back pain after delivery. Even if you are in the group whose pain will decrease after delivery, the fact remains that pain is impacting your life right now. Being pregnant is enough to deal with – do you really need to have back pain too?
Finding a care provider becomes especially important during pregnancy and after pregnancy – whomever you see should have both your and your baby’s interests in mind. Often times, after delivery, the focus shifts from mom’s health to the child’s health, and many moms find it difficult to get their health taken care of in the midst of taking care of a little one. But you have to put your oxygen mask on before you can put it on other people – and you deserve to have your pain and your health taken care of, too.
In addition to finding it difficult to find time to take care of themselves, pregnant and postpartum individuals can have difficulty finding providers who are experts in their specific complaints, and who can provide programs and treatment plans that are safe and effective for them. It is important to know that your healthcare provider knows about pregnancy considerations in order to help you alleviate your pain and get you back to your life safely.
At Inclusive Care we make it a priority to stay up to date on the best and most effective treatment for low back pain, as well as the safest treatment for people who are pregnant or postpartum. Let us help you put your oxygen mask on.
