I am almost 6 months pregnant and have been dealing with pretty bad lower back pain. It is worse than with my previous two pregnancies, I suspect because I hold my 19 month old a lot as well as the fact that I am "holding down the fort" while my husband is in Iraq.

Anyway, I have been using a heating pad at night for about an hour or two every night. It works wonders, but I have one concern. Could this constant heat hurt the baby somehow? TIA!

By Mommyathome on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:27 am:

Amy, I use to use a heating pad as well during my last months of pregnancy with my DS. My lower back would hurt so bad at night that I wouldn't be able to sleep.

My doctor is the one that actually recommended it for me. He said as long as it was a short amount of time, that the baby wouldn't be affected. I usually never went over an hour. I would just get everything set up just before bed...all of my 100 pillows, propped up just right and the heating pad in place. ;) I would leave it on until I was just about ready to doze off, then I would switch it off (leaving it under my back). That's the only way I could get to sleep. Then, when I would wake up later in the night, I would toss the heating pad on the floor.

Robin

By Semperspencer on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:59 pm:

Robin, that is EXACTLY what I do, LOL!

By Mommyathome on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 02:30 pm:

Lol, the things we go through!

By Ginnyk on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 04:51 pm:

I think as long as it is a short amount of time, you don't use the very highest heat, and it is at your back, you should be OK.

Story - when I was about 8 months pregnant with one of mine, I got into the tub and (carefully) sat down, and hadn't really thought about the water temperature although it was hotter than I usually prefer - and the baby thought so too. The baby jumped and my belly got much smaller really quick as he headed away from the heat - startled me tremendously. I, of course, immediately stood up and ran cool water into the bath to cool it down.

By Jenn on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 05:22 pm:

Also, if you throw a pillow in the dryer before bed, that should help. I carried real low with Chad and I remember always being in pain. If you soak your feet in a bowl of warm water and some lavendar baby wash this will help. Do you have a pregnancy support belt? I used that also with him. I can't think of anything else, but if I do I will post it.

By Semperspencer on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 08:51 pm:

Thanks you all...
Jenn, I am going to have to shovel out the money for one of the support belts...

By Jenn on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 09:40 pm:

If I find mine from Chad, I will let you know.

By Ginnyk on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 04:52 am:

Amy, certainly the support belt can help. I remember wearing a special maternity corset with my 1st, including hooks and laces to adjust the size.

As a person with chronic lower back problems, here are some things that help me. I put a pillow under my knees when lying on my back; if standing a lot, I try to find a step stool to put first one foot on and then the other, same when sitting in one place a lot - these all help change the muscle pulls and strains. I use a thing called a lumbar roll, which you can duplicate by folding a bath towel in thirds or fourths the long way, roll up snugly and hold with rubber bands. Place it behind the middle of your back (just below or at the waist) when sitting, to help keep the proper curve in your lumbar spine. I use a support cushion for my lower back when driving also.

Because I am short, it is hard for me to sit with my back against the back of the seat and keep my feet on the floor - most chair and sofa seats are too deep and my knees bend before the chair/sofa seat does. So I keep cushions or pillows on all upholstered furniture so that I can have my back supported and be able to keep my feet on the floor.

As your doctor about mild exercises specifically meant for strengthening the abdominal muscles. I was surprised to learn that weak abdominal muscles put extra strain on the back, which would be even more so in pregnancy.

If you sleep on your side, try a small pillow between your knees, and maybe a pillow that will comfortably support your pregnancy, again to help prevent muscle strain.

Back pain is the pits, indeed. BTDT.

By Semperspencer on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 12:05 pm:

Thanks Ginny, I'm gonna try the lumbar roll today.