Preventing Aches and Pains During Pregnancy

The unflattering "waddle" often associated with a pregnant woman's gait appears to be no more than a myth, according to new research. Although investigators have found that women walk the same way before and during pregnancy, the changes in their body mass and distribution do leave them at increased risk for low back, hip, and calf pain due to overuse.

"With big changes in body weight and distribution, regular exercise prevents joint wear and tear, especially in the pelvis, hips, and ankles," says study author Theresa Foti, PhD, a kinesiologist at Shriners Hospital for Children in Greenville, S.C.

Foti explored gait patterns in 15 women between the ages of 25 and 38 during their final weeks of pregnancy. Participants were videotaped walking across a room, and their strides were compared using motion analysis software. The process was repeated a year later for all but two participants, who were tested prior to pregnancy.

Overall, gait patterns were remarkably unchanged during pregnancy. There was no evidence of a waddling gait, but there were significant increases in hip and ankle forces, indicating that muscles and joints compensate for changes in body mass. These adjustments allow for a normal stride but place muscles and joints at high risk for overuse injuries, particularly among inactive women. The research was published in the current issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Fortunately, exercise helps prevent overuse injuries and has many other benefits as well. "Most physicians now recommend mild to moderate exercise during pregnancy, even for women who didn't exercise previously," says Michael Lindsey, MD, director of maternal/fetal medicine at Emory University Hospital and associate professor of obstetrics/gynecology at Emory University School of Medicine, both in Atlanta.

Regular exercise is associated with shorter labor and faster postpartum recovery, although safety remains an important consideration. "Maintaining a basic level of fitness is fine, but pregnancy is not the time for vigorous exercise or weight loss," adds Lindsey. "After the first trimester, I also advise against sit-ups and weight training, particularly in women at risk for preterm labor."

But low-impact exercise offsets hormonal changes that weaken the joints. "During pregnancy, the body secretes relaxin to widen the birth canal, but it loosens up all the other joints too," says Lisa Stone, deputy director of the Georgia Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports and founder of "Fit for 2," an exercise program designed for expectant mothers.

Stone, who is certified as a pre- and postnatal fitness instructor by the American Council on Exercise, tells WebMD that strengthening exercise stabilizes the joints and stretching exercise prevents muscle strains. Aerobic exercise, a third Fit for 2 component, burns fat and holds weight gain to a healthy maximum of 25-35 pounds.

Pregnant women should also drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise. "Unlike you, your baby can't sweat to prevent overheating," says Stone. "So it's a good idea to take a swig of water every 10-15 minutes. Another rule of thumb is to stop exercise well before the point of exhaustion."

"I was running five miles a day until I became pregnant, but I had to stop because it was too uncomfortable," says first-time mother Shannon Powers-Jones, a freelance writer in Atlanta, who adds that exercise helped improve her psychological health.



Vital Information
Low back, hip, and calf pain often experienced during pregnancy can be prevented with stretching, strengthening, and aerobic exercise.
In compensating for changes in body weight and distribution, regular exercise helps prevent overuse injuries, particularly in the pelvis, hips, and ankles.
Exercise offsets hormonal changes that weaken the joints, but sit-ups and weight training should be avoided after the first trimester, particularly in women at risk for preterm labor.

Prenatal Ultrasound

A prenatal ultrasound test uses high-frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear, that are transmitted through the abdomen via a device called a transducer to look at the inside of the abdomen. With prenatal ultrasound, the echoes are recorded and transformed into video or photographic images of your baby.

The ultrasound can be used during pregnancy to show images of the baby, amniotic sac, placenta and ovaries. Major anatomical abnormalities or birth defects can show up on an ultrasound.

Most prenatal ultrasound procedures are performed topically, or on the surface of the skin, using a gel as a conductive medium to aid in the quality of the image. However, a transvaginal ultrasound is an alternative procedure performed using a tubular probe that is inserted into the vaginal canal. This method of ultrasound produces an image quality that is greatly enhanced, but it is not a common prenatal procedure. However, it may be used early in pregnancy to get a clearer view of the uterus or ovaries if a problem is suspected. It may also be used early in pregnancy to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy (gestational age).

Is Prenatal Ultrasound Safe?
Studies have shown ultrasound is not hazardous. There are no harmful side effects to you or your baby. In addition, ultrasound does not use radiation, as X-ray tests do.

When Is an Ultrasound Performed During Pregnancy?
An ultrasound is generally performed for all pregnant women at 20 weeks gestation. During this ultrasound, the doctor will confirm that the placenta is healthy and attached normally and that your baby is growing properly in the uterus. The baby's heartbeat and movement of its body, arms and legs can also be seen on the ultrasound.

If you wish to know the gender of your baby, it can usually be determined at 20 weeks. Be sure to tell the health care provider performing the ultrasound whether or not you want to know the gender of your baby. Please note that ultrasound is not a foolproof method to determine your baby's gender; there is a chance that the ultrasound images can be misinterpreted.

An ultrasound may be performed earlier in your pregnancy to determine:

Presence of more than one fetus.
Your due date or gestational age (the age of the fetus).
Later in pregnancy, ultrasound may be used to determine:

Health of the baby
Placenta location
Amount of amniotic fluid around the baby
Position of the baby
Baby's expected weight

Pregnancy: Am I Pregnant?

If you're unusually tuned into your body, you might begin to suspect that you're pregnant within the first few days of pregnancy. But, most women don't suspect they are pregnant until they miss a period, and a few don't suspect or believe they are pregnant for months after conception.



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Sex and Pregnancy Myths
You’ve surely heard some old wives' tales about strange ways to prevent getting pregnant. Here are some common pregnancy myths:

You can’t get pregnant if you have sex standing up.
You can’t get pregnant if it’s your first time having sex.
You can’t get pregnant if you do jumping jacks after sex.
Now, put a huge "X" through each of these statements. They are FALSE. Pregnancy myths and "remedies" have been passed down through the ages.

Read more about sex and pregnancy myths

Related Sex and Pregnancy Terms
Molar, Ectopic, Tubal, Twins, Complications, Calendar, Test, symptoms week by week, weight gain, stages


Here are 5 common signs of early pregnancy. You may experience all, some or none of these symptoms.

A Missed Period. Missing your period is the most clear-cut sign of pregnancy. But it is not definitive, as stress or other factors may cause irregular periods.
Frequent Trips to the Bathroom. Even before missing a period, most pregnant women report having to go to the bathroom more often. You may even have to get up during the night! This occurs after the embryo has implanted in the uterus and begins producing the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone triggers frequent urination.
Fatigue. Utter exhaustion is a very early sign of pregnancy. Fatigue is a result of high levels of the hormone progesterone.
Morning (and Noon and Night!) Sickness. Guess what? That queasy feeling isn't limited to mornings. Most pregnant women who experience morning sickness feel slightly nauseated at other times during the day as well. About half have vomiting, but very few have severe enough morning sickness to develop dehydration and malnutrition.
Sore (and Enlarged) Breasts. If you're pregnant, your breasts will probably become increasingly tender to the touch, similar to the way they feel before your period, only more so. Once your body grows accustomed to the increase in hormones, the pain will subside.
If you have any of the above symptoms, consider taking a pregnancy test as soon as possible.