Protecting your back

Pregnant women often suffer from backache due to their growing baby’s weight. To compensate for feeling slightly ‘off-balance’, women tend to arch their backs, thrusting out their abdomens and bringing their shoulders back. This poor posture only adds to the problem. Here are some top tips for helping to ‘right’ your backache…

- Take up a pregnancy yoga class to help improve your posture.

- Ensure your mattress is firm enough, as a soft mattress will make matters worse (read gurgle's tips for a good night's sleep for further advice).

- Ditch the high heels if you haven’t done so already. You can wear them again but you need to think practically now and stick to flats.

- Try to avoid lifting and carrying heavy objects if at all possible, but if you have to lift something bend at the knees, rather than the waist, and hold items close to your body as you straighten up.

- Avoid stretching to reach high shelves or cabinets.

- Don’t stand for long periods of time, and when sitting make sure that you have adequate support for your back. If you spend time at a desk, you need a chair that doesn’t let you slouch. If you can keep your legs slightly raised by resting your feet on a couple of thick books, so much the better.

- Try to avoid gaining excessive weight during your pregnancy, as this will affect your back. See gurgle’s advice on diet and a healthy pregnancy for more information.

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The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.