Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Kim, 
    
    At first your description sounded like sciadic(sp?) nerve problems. I get
    them every now and then and that shooting pain just stops me dead in my
    tracks. 
    
    Definitely good support shoes. It is tough to do in the office
    environment because you should probably be wearing heels but good
    support sneakers are probably the best. Definitely wear them when you
    are going to and from work and only change shoes in the office once you
    get in. I cannot remember who makes those "orthopedic" pumps - Red
    Cross or Cobby - but most malls have one of those "mature woman's"
    shoe stores. I think they are around $75 a pair. 
    
    Other tips - keep your feet elevated during the day. Just find a box to
    put under your desk. That helps. 
    
    For a good bra, head to a maternity store that sells only maternity
    wear (i.e. Mother Work, etc). The staff is more aware of how they
    should fit. 
    
    During my first pregnancy I wore custom orthodics in my shoes. They
    help keep my feet in line after some bunion surgery. I didn't have any
    back problems at all but I also paid VERY close attention to my
    posture. Most pregnancy books give a good description of proper posture.
    
    Do mention it to your doctor as well because it could be because of the
    baby's position and until the baby moves, the pressure will be there.
    
    Stand and SIT up straight!!!
    
    ANdrea                    

    Kim,  I had the same problem with my back while I was pregnant with my
    son Alexander.  I carried him the same way all in front and low.  I
    found that wearing low heeled shoes and sneakers made it a lot more
    comfortable and also a good support maternity bra which you can
    purchase at mother care or any maternity shop, depending on the area
    you live in.  I used to have to go home and lay on my left side for a
    few hours before I was able to do anything.  But you might want to ask
    your doctor what he/she rcommends.
    
    
    Liz

    re: .1 
    
    "you should probably be wearing heels"....really?  REALLY?  I guess
    that I should be glad I work in engineering!   I think it's  just 
    plain unsafe to wear heels in the the third trimester.  Personally,
    I'd opt for dressy flats (or 1/4 to 1/2 inch heels max) if I had
    to dress professionally.  But since I don't :-), I wore Rockport
    walkers for the last 1/2 of my pregnancy whenever I wore pants
    (which was most of the time).
    
    As far as support bras are concerned, you might consider wearing an
    underwire bra (if you don't normally) as they provide more support
    /stability than the non-wired versions.
    
    Based on your description of the shooting pain, I'd guess you are
    having sciatic nerve problems as well.   Occasionally my son would
    "sit" such that it was uncomfortable to me.   I found that I could
    kinda gently push him into a more comfortable spot.
    
    Good luck!
    Carol 
    
      

    Kim,
    
    I work in a group where suits and tailored dresses are the norm for
    women.  I am 6 months pregnant and with this one and when I was pregnant 
    with Lexi I wore comfortable clothes and shoes.  No heels, only flats 
    and some days I wear good walking shoes all day.  Not the perfect 
    combination with a dress, but everyone understands.  I even did a couple 
    of presentations in a nice outfit and sneakers (swollen feet that 
    would not agree to wearing shoes)!  Your safety and comfort is most 
    important.  You are more useful to the Company at work in sneakers than 
    at home in your PJs and slippers.
    
    Hope that you are feeling better,
    Penny

    I had the same problem when was pregnant. I was told to lay on my back
    for 30 minuets or so with my feet higher than my head. It relieved the
    back pain for me. And also reduced any swelling in my ankles! Also,
    when stand for any long periods of time, try to keep one foot on a
    stool or rung of a chair to take some strain off the back. 
    
    Warm baths and back massages from hubby help too!
    
    
    Sandy
    

    Also, check your chair -- if it's not giving you good lumbar
    support (that's your lower back) you're going to hurt more.  I had
    to have my doctor prescribe one of the orthopedic chairs through
    Health Services to get through my last pregnancy. 
    
    --bonnie

    re: .6
    
    Sort of off the track a bit but i am wondering if any pregnant women
    out there have used the 'Balans' sitting chairs.  They're imported from
    Denmark and are backless/kneepad chairs that keep the spine in a
    straight line.  They are supposed to be very good for pregnant women,
    but I'm not sure how much back support they give.
    
    I've used 2 over the past 5 years and love them.  They help to keep
    posture straight.  I'm hoping they'll help later in my pregnancy.
    
    Just my $.02.
    
    Kathy 

    If you are still reading replies, I'll add one more.  I am in sales,
    and needed to dress accordingly.  I found the Easy Spirit shoe to be
    the most comfortable at the end of my pregnancy.  I wore the flats, but
    they also make a pump and a higher heel.  I also suggest flat shoes -
    others understand and your health is much more important.
    
    As for bras, I found the Olga Christina bra - I think it's called
    Comfort & Me or some such thing. It is a nursing bra with very little
    obvious support - but it was the best bra - even when I was nursing and
    my breasts were heavy.  Amazing to me, but it worked.
    
    There's no substitute for good posture, and putting your feet up when
    you can. Good luck.
    
    Mary

    I am 31 weeks pregnant and suffering from daily back pain half way down
    my back on the left side.  It is definitely not lower back pain.  The
    pain often moves around my left side and then right under my rib on
    that side it becomes painful also.
    
    I asked my midwife about this, and she said it is probably the position
    of the baby.  The only thing that she could recommend was to put ice on
    it, and she also suggested going to a chiropractor.  I put ice on it
    every day for several hours.
    
    I've been going to a chiropractor now for 2 weeks and I see no
    improvement.  It seems to be a muscle problem more than a bone problem. 
    Has any one else had this pain?  Do you know why?  What did you do to
    lessen it?  When I stand and move around, it feels much better.  It
    seems to flare up most after sitting for a long time, especially when I
    drive to and from work.  The only problem is, I sit in my job, so
    moving around constantly isn't an option.
    
    Any help is appreciated ... or if you just want to tell me that you had
    this to, and that it will magically go away after delivery, that would
    also be appreciated!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Robin

    
    	Hi Robin,
    
    	It sounds very similar to my experience. My back was killing me the
    	last 3 months and I would get a pain going down my right leg. It 
    	was just the positioning of the baby and went away after the baby
    	was born. I was a little sore for a while in my ribs though. When
    	I had my ultra sound (i was 2 weeks over due) you couod watch the
    	baby kicking mercilessly on my ribs. My baby is now 7 months old
    	and I have not had back pain in probably 6 months.
    
    	Now he's just getting heavy to pick up....now that's a back
        breaker....;-)
    
    
    	Hang in their it will be over before you know it...
    
    	time has flown..../K
    
    

    
    	I also had moderate back pain during my pregnancy. Going to the
    chiropractor and having weekly theraputic massages certainly helped for
    a short time, but after a few days the pain would come back (mine was
    also muscluar).
    
    	Look at the strain on your body right now, do you blame it for
    protesting? I was told to use cold or heat, to take warm baths, to get
    off my feet as much as possible, to keep up with the walking...
    basically, I was told to do anything that made *me* feel better.
    
    	It does go away after the baby is born, in fact, I had forgotten I
    had even had back problems until I read this note.
    
    				Wendy

    
    re. Back Pain
    
    My wife loved to go for a swim ... actually by the end of her pregnancy
    they were more like floats ... the floats let her get on her stomach
    (her natural sleeping position) and take pressure of her back.
                                   
    Take care,
    Greg
              

    Swimming is a great idea, to take the pressure off.  I had lower left
    back ache and leg ache with both pregnancies - quite tiresome by the
    end of the pregnancy - cat stretches (getting down on all 4's and
    alternately stretching and arching your back) can also help relieve
    some of the pressure.
    

    I had an experience with back pain after my first pregnancy.
It may have started during pregnancy, but I think it was actually
shortly afterward.  I suspect I tried to lift and twist at the
same time, and pinched a nerve.  The symptoms were very mild at
first, I seemed to be tired, lifting things got harder, my lower
back was sometimes sore on the right side.  But it didn't bother
me enough then to put 2 and 2 together.

    Then one day I was sitting at my desk, thinking I was resting
my back, and when I stood up, a shooting pain went down my right
leg!  I went to my doctor at the HMO, who prescribed bed rest
lying on my side for 4 days and Motrim (ibuprofen).      
At the time, I thought that was ridiculous, since it only treated
the symptomsm, not the cause.  I lay down for a half day without
painkillers. 

	I had switched from an aerobics class (which was probably
stressing my back) to a low-impact mixed with yoga class.  One day
we did a stretch known as "the boat", where you lie face down and
stretch forward with hands and back with feet.  We alternated one
side, then the other.  I felt a click in my back.  I didn't know
if I had made it worse or better, but I started to feel quite 
refreshed.  Suddenly, the next day I woke up much less tired, and
I could lift the baby again without strain.  I realized then that
the twist I had put in came out.  What a relief!

	Since then I have taken up a regular yoga class to strengthen
my back.  I checked with a chiropractor, who said it appears to have
been a muscle twinge, not a bone alignment problem.  Yoga has helped 
noticeably with my strength and posture.  I have also switched to flat 
shoes, sleep more on my side, picked up a balans chair at home and a 
lumbar support pillow at work.  (The latter seems to be better for my back).
Lying down and laying my lower legs on a chair relaxes my back too.
Shiatsu massage is also wonderful therapy.  

	We all hold tensions in our lower back, and abuse the 
muscles and tendons throughout the day.  We owe it ourselves to undo
the stress and damage as well.  Especially if you are carrying an
extra load, go easy on yourself.