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Postpartum Back Pain
Postpartum back pain is less common than
pregnancy back pain.
The usual temporary causes of back pain associated with pregnancy often end with the birth. Some women continue to experience back pain after the birth, and some actually experience it for the first time.

Causes of Postpartum Back Pain
Back pain after the birth can come from several sources:
* Muscle Strain
during the actual birth can occur. The lower back muscles are used, along with the pelvic muscles, during a vaginal birth. Sometimes this pushing can strain the muscles or ligaments in the lumbar region of the back.
* Coccyx Pain
is sometimes the result of a vaginal birth. The coccyx is moveable during labor and is supposed to move out of the way of the birth passage, allowing an easier delivery. Sometimes, the coccyx is more in the way than out of it, and can be injured. These injuries occur mostly from the baby’s head, as the baby descends the birth canal. Coccyx injuries can be very painful.
* Sedentary lifestyle can cause back muscles to weaken. During pregnancy, the lower back muscles get a good workout everyday, just keeping the woman balanced. After a complicated birth, or especially after a Caesarean section, the woman may have to rest in bed for some time. It is common for the lower back muscles to get sore and stiff from this rest, especially after 9 months of work. The lower back muscles can also be affected from a caesarean section, by compensating for the surgical damage to the abdominal muscles. The work usually done by the abdominal muscles must be temporarily transferred to the lower back and oblique muscles during healing. This can cause minor back pain.
* Psychological back pain
can start as a continuation of pregnancy back pain. The subconscious mind might take the opportunity to use the end of pregnancy as a chance to start a psychologically induced pain syndrome.
Psychological Postpartum Back Pain
Psychological back pain can also be created as one of the symptoms of postpartum syndrome. This condition is often characterized by physical and emotional symptoms that begin shortly after birth. This is a very emotional time for a woman and experiencing one or more
psychological pain syndromes
is fairly common. Common symptoms include depression, fatigue, listlessness, pain, malaise and anger.
Recommendation for Postpartum Back Pain
If the pain is muscular, and feels like a strain from the birth, then it will heal all by itself. Relax, and spend the time welcoming your precious child to the world, not obsessing over muscular back pain. If you keep a good attitude, the pain will fade quickly.
If the pain is due to a coccyx injury, be patient. There are few treatments that will really work well for this injury. If it is tolerable, just be patient. Coccyx injuries can take a long time to heal. If it is serious, consult your doctor about proper treatment options.
If neither of these examples fits your back pain, then you are probably suffering from some form of psychological pain. This is nothing to be ashamed of. Psychological back pain is completely normal. After a birth, a woman’s body is trying to re-balance itself chemically and hormonally. These chemical changes can definitely influence the start of psychological pain. I would recommend
knowledge therapy
as a way of getting this condition under control.
Postpartum Back Pain to Home page
7/16/06 Revised 11/9/07

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