Between 50-75% of pregnant women experience low back pain from changes in weight, posture, and hormones. Gaining a healthy average of 20-40 pounds causes your spine to sway; stressing muscles, ligaments, discs, and joints. Symptoms include back and buttock pain that is aggravated by activity or prolonged positions. Discomfort may increase throughout the day and possibly even disturb sleep.

Due to weight gain during pregnancy, there is an increase in the lordotic curve of your lumbar spine. This predominantly frontal weight gain advances the center of gravity, forcing an anterior pelvic tilt and lumbar hyperlordosis- placing excessive stress on the ligaments, discs, lumbar facet joints and sacroiliac joints.

In addition to proven chiropractic treatment, other useful natural solutions include taking frequent breaks from sitting or standing, side-sleeping with a pillow between your knees, and wearing shoes with good arch support. The extremes of either sedentary or physically demanding lifestyles tend to aggravate symptoms. Guidelines suggest that healthy pregnant women may begin or continue moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes per week. Women should not begin vigorous exercise during pregnancy, but those preconditioned to vigorous exercise may continue.