What You Put in Your Body Affects Your Health Greatly

If you're living with scoliosis, you're familiar with the daily aches and pains that go along with it. However, if you're pregnant, and this is your first pregnancy, you might not be familiar with how scoliosis is going to affect the changes your body is going to go through. While scoliosis won't prevent you from having a healthy pregnancy, it can increase some of the normal changes you'll experience. Here are changes you'll need to be aware of as you progress through your pregnancy.

Additional Aches and Pains

In the later stages of pregnancy, back pain is a common occurrence. Unfortunately, if you have scoliosis, you may experience an increased amount of back pain, especially in the final months of your pregnancy. As the baby grows, it places additional pressure on the curvature of your spine. That added pressure can result in significant pain, especially in the lower back.

Try to take several rest breaks throughout the day to reduce the pressure. If the pain becomes unbearable, lay down, place a small pillow under the small of your back and elevate your feet. This should reduce the pressure and bring you some relief.

Trouble Breathing Late in Pregnancy

While you're pregnant, you're going to notice some minor breathing difficulties, especially as the baby gets bigger. You may find that the baby moves up near your ribcage. When that happens, it's normal to become short-of-breath. However, when you have scoliosis, the added weight of the baby causes the curvature of your spine to get worse. When that happens, it can cause your uterus to move up towards your diaphragm. If that happens, you'll experience additional shortness of breath.

The best way to alleviate these pregnancy-related breathing difficulties is to take pressure off your diaphragm whenever possible. One way to do that is to sit down on a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Get your back as straight as possible and take a few deep breaths. Repeat until you can breathe properly again. It's important to note that if your breathing problems become significant, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Problems with Walking

If you have scoliosis, you may have noticed that one leg is shorter than the other. That's actually caused by the curvature of your spine. Unfortunately, that difference can throw your balance off when you're walking. As you gain weight during pregnancy, you may notice it becoming more difficult to walk. This is because you're placing most of your weight on one side of your body to accommodate the difference in your legs.

When that happens, you'll begin feeling pressure in your hips. You can reduce the pressure by doing a simple stretching exercise several times a day. Stand up straight and bend to the right slightly at the waist. Now, bend slightly to the left. Repeat this several times. The slight bending will alleviate the pressure on your hips.

If you have scoliosis, you can still have a healthy, uneventful pregnancy. The tips provided here will help you deal with the daily discomforts you'll experience during pregnancy. Be sure to speak to your doctor about your condition. Contact a company like C D Denison for more information.