Back pain should not be considered as a normal consequence of pregnancy, it is more a sign of unbalanced mechanics, and postural strain.
The pelvis is made up of three bones, the two pelvic bones( inominates )and the tailbone (sacrum)forming two joints at the back and Sacroiliac joints and the symphysis pubis at the front. If a problem develops in either sacroiliac joint it can lead to a torsion or shear at the front , a condition know as pelvic girdle pain , or symphysis pubis dysfunction(SPD).For many women this can become very debilitating and as the pregnancy, and therefore weight of the baby, progresses become more severe.
Symptoms can range from localised sharp pain, feeling unsupported and weak to being unable to walk far or at all, some women end up on crutches or in extreme cases using a wheelchair to get about .
It is a good idea to get checked over early on, or even before getting pregnant or make sure that the body is moving well, nicely balanced and that there is good muscle tone and support. Flexibility in the spine and also the diaphragms are important, if the thoracic diaphragm is held tightly, due to a breathing problem or some stress this can hold the lower ribs too tightly and not allow good movement of baby as it grows. These influences are more pronounced in the first pregnancy whe the abdominal tone tends to be stronger, so bump is smaller or shows later.
The pelvic floor (diaphragm ) is also very important, it supports bladder bowel and uterus, getting more loaded as the pregnancy develops. It looks like a sling attatching to the pelvic bones and sacrum, and it is through this that baby passes during a normal delivery. The baby uses the muscles of the floor to push against to get a good leverage as it spirals out of the pelvis, but if there are weak areas in these muscles baby can struggle to pass well and may need help, so pelvic tone is important from the get go… not just after baby is born.
