ASK DR.MOORE April 23,2004

Dr. Mark Moore, author of the gender selection book Baby Girl or Baby Boy--Choose the Sex of Your Child, answers readers' questions on pregnancy and pediatrics.

Post-Partum Back Pain
Q: I delivered my baby months ago. Why does my back still hurt?

Dr.Moore: My rule-of-thumb is that 90% of mothers will have some type of back pain for
six weeks to six months--postpartum back pain. During pregnancy, your placenta secretes hormones, which cause laxity of the ligaments in your back. This allows lordosis, that big arch in the small of your back, which helps you support the weight of a sack of concrete of the front of your belly. After delivery, it takes time to re-tighten and strengthen them. Unfortunately, instead of resting, you now spend 24/7 bending over to lift a 10-pound baby out of cribs and car seats. Take care of your back; you only get one.

In a previous article, you can see a discussion on post-partum joint and bone pain.

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Readers may send questions to our email address. This column is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional or medical advice.

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