Your Pregnancy: Week 26 for Mom
By: ePregnancy
How does the commercial go? "Are your legs keeping you up at night?" You may have scoffed when it flashed across the television for the twelfth time last night, and yet now you feel a strange tingling in your legs or a crawling sensation. It’s not subliminal programming: you might actually be experiencing Restless Leg Syndrome, as hundreds of pregnant women do. This doesn’t mean you need to head for that Requip prescription; on the contrary, such drugs are not at all recommended during pregnancy. Instead, ask your midwife or doctor for alternatives -- a simple iron supplement might be all it takes to give you some relief.
You might be experiencing other discomforts this week: your belly is big enough to have a cantilever effect on you, causing back pain. Alternative therapies are entering the mainstream, and you might find that prenatal yoga will stretch out your constricted back muscles. Some moms even swear by acupuncture! In either instance, make sure you are under the guidance of a qualified and experienced prenatal expert, and consult your doctor before undertaking anything new.
Here are a few ways to help alleviate back pain:
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Good posture -- Your center of gravity shifts as the baby grows, which can throw a wrench in your normally good posture. Make sure to keep your shoulders back and down, and butt tucked in to counteract the belly effect.
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Footwear -- Switch from heels to flats. You don't have to don the granny sneakers, unless you want to, but wear something with a touch more support.
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Lifting -- Avoid lifting, especially anything heavy. Remember, you are already lifting a belly on a daily basis!
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Support -- Look for maternity pants and skirts that offer an elastic band designed to support your belly. You can even buy support bands a la carte to use with clothes you already have.
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Pelvic tilts -- Kneel on your hands and knees with your head in line with your back. Pull in your abdomen, arching your spine upward. Hold the position for several seconds, then relax your abdomen and back. Repeat 3 to 5 times, working gradually up to 10. Ask your health care provider about other stretching exercises, too.
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Pain relief -- Taking any medication during pregnancy can be risky, so you must ask your doctor before relieving your pain with drugs -- even ones that we all perceive as harmless. In the meantime, try a heating pad, hot water bottle or cold compress.