End of 2nd trimester...and the back pains begin! Top tips please!

[spannermary]

As I head into the third trimester I'm beginning to feel the beginnings of lower back pains. On trying to adjust my posture I seem to have over compensated and now have tense shoulders too!

I've just this week had a new bra fitted (the delightful and oh so sexy Doreen!) so have tried to correct posture that way, and my office chair is good enough.

I need to work on how I sit on the sofa, but other than that...what works for you when trying to protect your back and minimise pain?

Thanks, people!

Get an exercise ball to sit on (make sure it's an anti burst one), it will help with sitting in the right position. You can also sit on the ball and rock your hips backwards and forwards and side to side which can really help to relieve back pain.

I attend a weekly pre natal yoga class, great for stopping any aches and pains if there is one in your area. If not, one of the moves we do to help back pain ins to get on your hands and knees and arch your back up, tuck your pelvis under (cat) then return to have a flat back (cow) repeat this for a while to help the pain. Also on hands and knees, circle your hips around. You can also do this standing or leaning your arms against a wall. You should be able to feel your lower spine become less tense. For tense shoulders, breath deeply and slowly and gently circle your neck - chin to chest, left ear to left shoulder, heard right back, right ear to right shoulder then back to chin to chest. Do this a few times one way and then the other way. Can really help relive tension in the neck and shoulders.

If there is a yoga class near you, or Lazy Daisy (which i have also been ,doing and is yoga based) I'd really recommend it.

Hope some of this helps, if you do the moves regularly you should be ok to sit on the sofa for a bit each day without making the oain worse. I've been doing yoga since 12 weeks, i'm now 31, and so far have not suffered from any pain.

Thanks, Jezzabell! I'm seeing my mum this weekend, and I'm pretty sure she has an exercise ball that is languishing in her spare room, so I'll see if she'll donate it to me for a few months! :)

I'm not sure if there are any yoga classes locally, but I'll certainly have a look...if not I wonder if there's an antenatal yoga DVD.

Time for an Amazon search methinks!

The thing that is saving my back (all the way through Pg, actually) is a bloody good chiropractor. If you can afford one, I'd fully recommend it.

Mmm...I wish I could afford that!

Currently trying warm lavender bath to see if that helps. Certainly helping with other aches :)