Pregnancy And Baby Care Conditions During Pregnancy Knee Pain During Pregnancy

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As the uterus expands to make room for the growing baby, it is but natural that the tummy would gradually start bulging. Since, a major amount of the weight gained is around the tummy region, it affects the posture of the mother to be as her centre of gravity shifts. This is the root cause of the aches and pains experienced during pregnancy. The legs being the load bearers are bound to face the brunt of the increased weight and this leads to leg and knee pain during pregnancy. As a pregnant woman begins to walk in an awkward manner to minimize the discomfort, knee pain during pregnancy becomes inevitable due to the pressure exerted on the knee joints. At times, women tend to walk with more pressure on one side than the other. This could lead to either right knee or left knee pain during pregnancy. Hip and knee pain during pregnancy could also be the effect of the hormone relaxin as this hormone relaxes the ligaments in the body. Being unable to sleep comfortably during pregnancy as a result of the growing waistline could also be responsible for joint pains.

Poor blood circulation and water retention are other known causes of joint pains.

Most pregnant women are plagued with the question - How to relieve knee pain during pregnancy? Wearing comfortable flat footwear is the first step in managing aches during pregnancy. Trying to maintain a good, yet comfortable posture goes a long way in minimizing discomfort. The use of a pregnancy pillow is also known to relieve the strain on the back, hips and the knees. A warm bath or a hot compress is known to relax strained muscles. Drinking plenty of water helps in preventing water retention. Maintaining a single posture for extended periods of time should be avoided. A brisk walk daily is advisable so as to keep the joints flexible and thus reduce pain.