As you and your soon-to-be-born child move from point A to point B, you can’t help but feel a range of emotions surge through you.
On the one hand, you enjoy the empowering feeling that comes with being an expectant mother.
On the other hand, you can’t wait to see your child make his grand appearance someday soon — mostly because you truly long to see his face, but also because he’s utterly killing your back.
Welcome to pregnancy.
If it’s of any consolation to you, you’re not the only one feeling this way. Research shows that about 50% of expectant mothers suffer from back pain while pregnant.
The good news? You can take steps to alleviate back pain and other types of pain while carrying around your baby bundle.
Here’s a rundown on three things that can help to alleviate body pain during pregnancy.
Compression Stockings
When you hear “compression socks,” you may immediately think of stockings that older individuals wear. However, when you’re carrying a baby — and especially the further along you are — compression socks can quickly become your best friend.
That’s because compression socks are designed to relieve the painful swelling that occurs in the feet and legs during pregnancy.
When you’re pregnant, your body produces about 50% more blood and fluid than it normally would.
In addition, the boost in hormones that comes with pregnancy can increase your likelihood of developing deep vein thrombosis, as it is easier for your blood to clot or pool. This may translate to constant soreness, discomfort, or pain.
However, compression socks may reduce swelling and improve circulation by gently squeezing your legs. This means fewer aches and pains — especially on those days when you have to spend more time on your feet than you’d like to.
So, as you near the latter part of the second trimester, or if you are in the third trimester, consider snagging yourself a pair of compression socks.
Maternity Belt
This is yet another must-have device for alleviating body pain while pregnant. That’s because as your pregnancy progresses, you’ll likely experience pain in your pelvic joint and lower back.
However, support belts for pregnant women relieve this pain by providing you with plenty of back support. This helps to ease pressure on your spine and assists you in correcting your posture.
When you reach the third trimester, your body releases a hormone called relaxin, which helps to loosen and stretch your connective tissues, such as your joints and muscles.
This is essential for making the labor/delivery process easier for you.
However, because the tissues become looser, your pelvic area’s sacroiliac joint, or SI joint, will also become loose, which can be uncomfortable. A support belt will support these loosened tissues to keep pain in the hip and lower back at bay.
A well-designed maternity belt is easy to adjust, so you should have no problem accommodating your expanding belly as you move further along in your pregnancy. You can easily wear this type of belt whether you’re sitting, lying down, or walking.
Heating Pads
Finally, consider using heating pads to alleviate your body pain during pregnancy. Heating pads are especially handy for relieving pain in the back, legs, and hips.
During pregnancy, muscle pain occurs when muscles are overworked and simultaneously receive less oxygen than they need. Heat therapy remedies this issue by widening those blood vessels responsible for supplying your muscles with the needed oxygen.
Once enough oxygen flows in, the pain in your muscles will gradually disappear.
When using a heating pad, though, avoid overexposing your muscles to the electronically generated heat for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. Also, use your pad at a lower temperature setting to avoid rapidly heating the target area, and avoid placing the heating pad directly on your abdomen.
Aside from using heating pads, you can also take hot baths whenever you begin to feel muscle pain while pregnant. Likewise, simply apply a clean, wet, and warm cloth to your muscles to minimize discomfort.
Master the Art and Science of Feeling Your Best While Carrying Your Baby Bundle Today!
When pregnancy aches and pains become a constant companion, expecting a baby can no doubt be an uncomfortable experience. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Instead, you can take proactive steps to relax and support your body while it handles the important job of carrying your future newborn child.
Consider the above-listed three things that can help to alleviate body pain while pregnant. With help from the right devices, you start feeling your best and step out in comfort and confidence as you and your baby grow from one week to the next.
***Author Bio: Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and world of fitness.