There is a time in some people’s lives when everything changes. Everything feels different and everything looks different. The road of pregnancy can be such a gift, but also a huge adjustment period. Having been pregnant and given birth twice I understand how long nine months can feel. Not just mentally preparing for a new baby but also the drastic physical changes that take place in order to accommodate a human inside your body!
It has always amazed me that our body systems can be so interchangeably connected to support us, yet, during pregnancy we can be left with so many aches and pains.
After my own pregnancies I have been determined to help other birthers experience pregnancy and the post-partum period with less pain and discomfort.
There are a few common physical symptoms that can show up without invitation during this time such as sciatic pain, swollen feet and low back pain. I’m happy to report that I have a few tips to help mitigate those symptoms.
If you haven’t done this yet, start now: sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees can help alleviate tension on the sciatic nerve, by shortening the gluteal muscles that cross over it, which can cause compression of the sciatic nerve and nerve impingement symptoms. You can adjust with different pillow thicknesses to find the one that works best for you.
Did you know that during pregnancy your body’s blood volume can double? This causes stress on your body’s ability to maintain normal fluid levels, which can lead to swelling of the hands and/or feet. Try putting your feet up! I mean, you’re pregnant anyway, you might as well follow some of the “pregnancy rules.” Many of them can be quite relaxing.
Elevating your feet will help move the fluid back towards your core, to be properly filtered out of your body. You can even try placing a cold pack on your feet while you’re there. The cold will restrict blood vessels, causing the fluid to move to the warmth of the rest of your body. I don’t know about you, but something about cold on my feet during those last swollen and achy pregnant weeks constantly called my name.
Lastly, low back pain is almost a given during pregnancy. Of course, massage therapy can be very helpful, but sometimes a massage just isn’t in the cards. There are other means to help soothe an achy low back at home.
Take a warm bath. Try to make time for soaking in the tub. While a hot bath is not advisable, a warm bath can still be comforting and water is also well known to be incredibly helpful for pain relief (remember that for labour and delivery). If you have other kids at home who need supervision, wait until after their bedtime, or ask someone to be with them while you take some time to take gravity out of the equation and just float.
When I was pregnant, I found that it was easy for people who weren’t pregnant to comment, “It’s only nine months, it’ll be over before you know it,” but when you’re the one experiencing those nine months first-hand, it can feel like an eternity. It doesn’t have to be exceedingly painful or uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s just about learning some of these little tips and tricks or knowing where to get the help you need to make things more comfortable or, dare I say, enjoyable.
Kayla-Kent-Jarvis, RMT, is a registered massage therapist specializing in perinatal care, certified birth and postpartum doula, and a certified childbirth educator. You can reach her at info@orilliaperinatalmassage.com.