You’re a tough woman. A tough pregnant woman.

You don’t take nonsense from anyone. So why are you just putting up with the body aches and pains you are experiencing while awaiting the arrival of your baby? Pain during pregnancy isn’t something you want to wait out, many of the issues you experience during pregnancy have simple solutions. Besides increasing your comfort and happiness, taking care of yourself now can be beneficial for years to come. Physical therapy is a holistic approach to getting you through a healthy pregnancy. A treatment program will be tailored to your specific needs and to your stage of pregnancy.

Many women experience back pain during pregnancy and just accept it as a part of the process. Recently I was working with a patient who is about 6 months pregnant and she told me that her pain was “par for the course.” My response was simple: my mouth hung open for a minute and I said “why would you be ok with that?”  Studies have shown that 50-70% of women have back pain during pregnancy. There is no reason to continue for months with back pain that could be managed and lessened with physical therapy.  A variety of musculoskeletal issues can arise as your body changes including postural changes, foot pain, neck pain, low back pain, sciatica, and groin pain. With appropriate exercises and manual techniques we can be an important member of the healthcare team helping keep you and baby safe and healthy.

Some of you may be wondering if exercising during pregnancy is safe. Continuing to exercise during your pregnancy is one of the best things you can do for your health and for your back pain.  All of the exercises that you will be asked to perform are safe and you will always be supervised.  As you grow, exercises will be changed to accommodate your baby bump and your increased difficulty with achieving certain positions.

In addition to exercise and manual techniques there are a variety of things that I will be able to educate you on. We can analyze your footwear, determine if you need a support belt, and examine your posture. When you come in for a visit you will be fully evaluated to determine exactly what YOU need. Physical therapy is not a cookie cutter treatment; for each patient a personalized plan of care is made and modified as your status changes.

You may also be wondering if your pain will just go away after you have your baby. That’s always a possibility, but do you want to take the risk of continuing to have back pain while trying to care for a newborn? More than one third of women continue to have back pain after delivery.

You need your health so you can be the best mom possible. Why not fix the problem now?

By Kirsten Szmaida, DPT

Back in Motion Physical Therapy ⋅ Portland, Maine