Pregnancy and Posture

Today we are going to briefly look at the musculature changes that take place during a normal pregnancy and how they affect the body. A normal pregnancy is full of postural changes, and sometimes those changes are completely normal.  The end result for the person experiencing them can be confusing and uncomfortable.  Even if you have gone through it before, second and third pregnancies can be completely different, but progress much faster.   Since there is so much change occurring on a regular basis, it is important that you check in with your doctor continually.  This ensures safety for both you and for the baby. 

As the course of your pregnancy progresses, many women experience low back pain, headaches, shoulder pain, foot pain, swollen ankles and hands, and even occasionally seemingly random thoracic pains.  Many of the postural changes occurring, and the discomfort associated with them, have to do with the body accommodating the growing baby.

The uterus is nestled deep inside the female pelvis. As the baby grows, it pulls the pelvis forward and down.  Alternately, as the pelvis rotates forward, the tail bone lifts, causing the low back to curve more than it would normally.  You can approximate this change on yourself if you stand and look in the mirror, tucking and un-tucking your tail bone. Because of the increased curve in the low back, which shortens the muscles, many women often complain of low back pain.

As the pregnancy progresses and more relaxin (a pregnancy hormone) is released, the cartilaginous joints and ligaments soften in order to prepare for birth. In many cases the body feels unstable and responds by tightening up the muscles in the pelvis in order to give more support. It can often be seen most easily in the glut and piriformis muscles (butt muscles) as they shorten and rotate the legs outward. This combined with the belly pulling down and forward gives pregnant women that distinctive “duck walk”. Those shortened muscles can also be the source of pain. The nerve that feeds the leg, the sciatic nerve, runs just under or through the piriformis muscle.  Frequently during pregnancy, women report the symptoms of sciatica, which are due to the piriformis muscle tightening over this nerve.

Most of us we think of the changes that happen in the body during pregnancy as in and around the pelvis area, but actually the upper back is affected just as much. All of our spines are essentially an S shaped curve that balances itself. Whatever the low back does, the thoracic or mid back area has to reflect in order to keep balance. This is often combined with the growing weight of the chest pulling the shoulders into a rounded position. All this results in an increased curve in the upper back.  For some women this will not be a problem, but depending on their original posture, their pain tolerance and a number of other factors, for some women this leads to headaches and upper back pain.

Just as the top of the body is effected, so is the bottom. Many women experience foot pain during pregnancy. Carrying extra weight and retaining water can be very hard on the feet. As the pregnancy progresses, the ligaments supporting the bottom of the feet can be stretched and over taxed;  adding to that the swollen feet that come from carrying 50% more blood can make for a difficult time. It’s a perfect reason to put your feet up, relax and rest a while.

The important thing to remember is that under a doctor's care all of this is normal, and that the symptoms of muscular pain are treatable through stretching, exercise, massage therapy and other alternative care.

If you would like more information on massage therapy in New York, pregnancy or prenatal massage you can see Body Mechanics Orthopedic Massage's prenatal treatment page  or come see us in Midtown New York. 
or http://www.bodymechanicsnyc.com/#!prenatal-tips/c11vd
For more information on prenatal massage in NYC check out our websites