Finding Pain Relief During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time, but growing another person takes its toll on your body. As your pregnancy progresses, it’s not uncommon to experience pain. Back pain is probably the most common, but pretty much anything else can hurt too.

Because of the fragile nature of your little one, it’s commonly advised that you only take medications as a last resort, and only after speaking with your doctor. Fortunately, there are lots of natural, non-medicated options you can explore.

Natural remedies for pain relief during pregnancy: 

Yoga

Massage

Aquatherapy

Chiropractor

Yoga is commonly recommended for pregnancy because it’s a low-impact exercise that you can do at your own pace. Yoga has been shown to be beneficial during pregnancy. Not only do women report a significant decrease in their pregnancy discomfort, but the exercises have also been found to be beneficial for the baby.

When practicing yoga you want to avoid overstretching. The relaxin hormone causes you to feel all loose and rubbery. This can trick you into thinking you can take a pose farther than you really can. Remember, if it hurts at all, stop, breathe and re-evaluate.

Massage is wonderful, whether you’re pregnant or not. Depending on how far along you are, you may need to seek out a masseur who is experienced with prenatal massage. If that’s not an option, it is possible to have your partner help you out, but you might have a harder time getting the pain relief you want from inexperienced hands.

Back and leg pain relief is one of the key benefits of prenatal massage. It can also lower your stress levels and help you sleep better – both major benefits for a mommy-to-be. Keep in mind that you’ll eventually have a hard time laying on your stomach, so a massage might happen with you on your side instead. 

Aromatherapy can also help, but don’t be shy about requesting a scent-free version. Pregnancy is infamous for making women sensitive to smells.

Aquatherapy tends to be popular during pregnancy because of the buoyancy the water provides. Even just floating around a pool can help you to feel significantly lighter. Aquatherapy, however, has many more benefits. It provides weight relief, gives you the opportunity to exercise, helps settle swelling of the feet and legs, and prevents falls.

Since having your legs and feet swell tends to be a major pain factor for many women, getting some relief from that can encourage you to exercise. Exercising during pregnancy has its own set of benefits, including pain relief.

A well-trained, licensed chiropractor may be able to see things and make recommendations a masseuse wouldn’t. All chiropractors are trained to work with pregnant women, but it may be good to see someone who specializes in it. Chiropractic care is specifically centered on care of the spine. Since your spine goes through some major changes during pregnancy, it may be useful to learn how to best deal with those changes. After all, your posture is vitally important to pain management.

There have been studies done which show that chiropractic care and manual manipulation of the spine can help to decrease discomfort. It can also help to keep your hips in proper alignment, which can be useful for an easier delivery. In fact, there is some evidence to suggest that this sort of care may even be helpful in preventing a breech delivery.

No matter which methods of pain relief you choose, it’s important to remember to always listen to your body. Pregnancy is a sensitive time, and you’re already undergoing a drastic change. Talk with your doctor to get the go-ahead, and if something hurts or doesn’t feel right, stop. Hopefully, good management, gentle exercise and some extra care will provide you with all the pain relief you need.