Welcome back to Get Fit Guy. I'm your host, Dr. Jonathan Sue. Every week, I'll share science-backed tips to help you get fit, stay fit, and optimize performance.

Lower back pain during pregnancy is very common, affecting more than one half of pregnant

women. The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent or relieve pregnancy-related

low back pain. Having recently helped my partner work through low back pain during two pregnancies,

this is a familiar topic and one I care about

deeply. In this episode, we'll look at why low back pain is so common during pregnancy. I'll also

provide you with tips and simple exercises you can do every trimester of pregnancy to relieve back pain.

Pain in the lower back usually occurs between the fifth and seventh month of pregnancy,

although in some cases it begins as early as 8 to 12 weeks.

The pain is usually located in the lumbar area in the center of the back, between the ribs and the

waist.

The pain is also common in the back of the pelvis between the waist and the tailbone. There are several causes of lower back pain

in pregnant women, and here are some of the more common ones. Hormone changes. Your body makes a hormone

called relaxin that allows ligaments in the pelvic

area to loosen in preparation for childbirth. The same hormone causes ligaments that support

the spine to loosen, leading to instability and pain in the back. Weight gain. You typically

gain between 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy.

Your back must support this additional weight all day long, which may cause strain.

Postural change.

Your center of gravity gradually shifts forward as your baby grows.

This results in a shift in your posture and the way you move that may

result in back pain. Stress. There can be a lot of stress during pregnancy, which may cause your

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