The man of your dreams has come along and you have decided to live the rest of your life with him. Some time has passed and your next dream is coming true. The pregnancy test is positive and there is a baby on the way. This is the most exciting day ever! Well, until you start talking to other women who have been pregnant. They tell you to buckle up for the wild ride that is going to be the next nine months of your life. It can’t possibly be that bad, right?

Admittedly, as a guy, I will never experience the wonders and the horrors of carrying a baby for nine months. However, I’ve seen the anguish and the frustration on my pregnant patients’ faces as they go through the daily rigors of pregnancy. Here are the top three pregnancy pains and how to navigate them like a champion.

Low back pain
As the baby begins to grow in the womb, the belly is pulled forward by the weight, stretching the abdominal muscles and weakening them. The body makes up for this added weight in front by leaning the upper body back. These two features combined lead to an increased curve in the low back called a hyperlordosis. Now the spine is no longer lined up properly for the cushiony discs between the vertebrae to act like shock absorbers, leading to all kinds of nagging, throbbing, pinching pain.

Low back pain can happen relatively early in pregnancy but usually does not become bothersome on a daily basis until the belly begins to show in the second trimester or sometimes even later. Walking becomes uncomfortable, but the worst part is not being able to find a comfortable sleeping position. Lack of restful sleep can cause many other problems like mood swings, irritability, tiredness during the day and delayed healing from pain.

Though the only way to permanently get rid of this type of pain is to have the baby already, low back pain can be alleviated by wearing a soft, supportive brace or supportive pants. You also can try practicing yoga’s cat pose, arching your back while on your hands and knees. Instead of binding clothing or a bulky brace, certain types of kinesiology taping can be worn for a few days at a time to create a sling around the belly and provide some support for the weak and stretched abdominal muscles and overworked low back muscles. Make sure to have this done by a certified kinesio taping practitioner.

Sciatica
One of the most nagging and potentially debilitating pregnancy pains, sciatica can flare up as early as the first trimester. As the body undergoes hormonal changes to accommodate that new bun in the oven, a hormone known as relaxin kicks in and helps to soften some of the joints of the pelvis as well as relax the muscles of the uterus. The problem is that it relaxes other joints in the body too, like the ones in the spine and hips. This can cause pain in the joint between the hips and the tailbone known as the sacroiliac joint.

It also sometimes puts pressure on the big nerve that goes down the back of the leg known as the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica. This pressure can happen in a few different places along the sciatic nerve like at the spine, between the small muscles of the buttocks or farther down the back of the leg.

Sciatica can be identified by pain that specifically shoots down the back of the leg. Sometimes it goes down to the back of the knee and sometimes down the entire leg to the toes. This can make it difficult to walk, stand or move between positions.

Correcting sciatica caused by pregnancy is difficult without knowing where it is coming from. A visit to a chiropractor can help identify the location of the problem, as well as any other areas in the body that are needlessly tight or even areas that might be too loose due to relaxin. Alignments of the spine and other joints will give periodic but much-needed relief as they remain soft throughout pregnancy. Supportive kinesiology taping as well as specific strengthening or stretching exercises may also be recommended.

Labor and delivery
Now that nine months have passed and nothing could seem more unbearable than the daily pain and discomfort, it’s time to have the baby. Labor contractions kick in that feel like a never-ending kick in the stomach. Those few seconds seem like they last for days, and just when the pain subsides, it gets replaced by the thought of another contraction that is about to come in less time than the last one. Thoughts of just making the pain go away dance in the mind. Epidural injections and a Caesarean section now seem like wonderful options.

The delivery team seems to be rushing every aspect of the delivery to have the baby delivered faster and empty the room for the next delivery. Time is money after all. None of this sounds very pleasant, but some alternatives can help minimize the stress of this process.

Early in the third trimester, a doctor skilled in the Webster Technique can check regularly and help to make sure that the baby is properly positioned for birth. This by itself can minimize a lot of pain associated with labor and delivery and minimize the chances of a Caesarean section. To find a doctor certified in the Webster Technique, please visit www.icpa4kids.org.

Labor pains also can be minimized by activity throughout the labor and delivery process. Lying face up in a bed is the most unnatural position in which to give birth as it does not allow for the right alignment to push out the baby. This leads to prolonged labor and delivery times. Shorten this time by walking around, being active and stretching the low back and pelvic areas by sitting on an exercise ball during labor. These philosophies are promoted by many OB/GYNs and midwives. Opting for a midwife in Houston does not mean giving up the peace of mind of being in a hospital. A team of midwives works directly out of St. Luke’s Hospital, for example.

Though pregnancy is a natural part of life for a woman, it can also be very frustrating. Remember to breathe, pamper yourself and reduce unnecessary stresses. If it’s any consolation, half of the people in this world will never get to experience the joys of this miracle firsthand.

Published in the July/August 2011 issue, this article was written by Dr. Al Jameson and is reprinted with the permission of Total Body Magazine. To view this article in the full magazine, click here.