I'm 30 weeks pregnant and my body aches! My lower region is especially sore, and i'm not sure if this is a serious problem or something that just comes with being pregnant.
No name given
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Sarah Jarvis
Full-time GP and member of the Royal College of GPs
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Ask the GP
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Sarah says…
Lower backache, I'm afraid, is a bit of an occupational hazard of pregnancy. For one thing, your entire centre of gravity changes with your shape, putting more strain on your lumbar and sacral spine (the part of your pelvis from the top of the pelvis downwards). For another, your ligaments become much more lax, so that your pelvis can stretch enough to let the baby's head through.
But there are things you can do to help. Lumbar supports for chairs, and sometimes a support belt that your wear around your lower tummy, can be effective. So too is physiotherapy - have a chat with your GP about a referral. The physiotherapist will also be able to advise about back supports.
If the pain is in your lower region is at the front, it could be due to several causes. One is round ligament pain - caused by stretching of the ligaments in your lower tummy, and usually felt as a sharp pain in your groin.
Another is symphisis pubis pain, which comes from the join at the front of your pubic bone and can cause pain in the pubic area, groin and inner thighs. Again, physiotherapy can help.
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