During pregnancy, the pregnant lady is bound to experience various changes in the body. Some of the changes, like the formation of mouth ulcers, are bearable while some are unbearable. The physical changes, weight gain in the body can result in pain in joints and muscles. The hormonal changes occurring in the body also result in joint pains; the excessive fluid in the body sometimes may result in discomfort in the hands, which is termed as carpal tunnel syndrome. Because of the big bump present, the pregnant lady may sit or sleep in improper posture, which may also cause joint pains. Here in this article, we will discuss the causes and treatment of the joint pains in detail.

What is Joint Pain, and Is It Common During Pregnancy:

Joints are a part of the body where two bones meet. These joints are responsible for the movement of the bones in the body. Shoulders, hips, knees, and elbows are part of joints in the body. The pain due to soreness or stiffness or aches at the joints can be termed as joint pains. The achy joints are quite common during pregnancy because of the weight gain and hormonal changes occurring in the body. The weight gain during pregnancy will exert pressure on the knee joints and ankle that may result in mild to severe joint pains.

Causes for Joint Pains During Pregnancy:

Joint pains have become a common problem not only in pregnant women but also in non-pregnant women. But, these pains are relatively more experienced by women during pregnancy. The reasons or causes for these joint pains are listed down.

1. Excess weight gain: During pregnancy, the bodyweight of the pregnant lady increases than usual. Most importantly, this weight gain starts at the end of the 2nd trimester. Because of this, the pressure exerted on the knees and ankles increases resulting in the joint pains.
2. Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid): This is a condition wherein the thyroid glands do not produce enough thyroid hormone resulting in excessive weight gain. And, because of the excessive weight gain, joint pains start to occur.
3. Carpal tunnel Syndrome: During pregnancy, the fluid body increases, which exerts pressure on the wrist leading to pain in both hands and wrist.
4. Improper posture: Doctors suggest pregnant to sleep on the left side of the body to give a proper cushion to the baby. Sleeping for a longer time on the same side makes the body stiff, causing joint pains, especially in the hips.
5. During pregnancy, the ovaries release a hormone called relaxin that prepares the pelvic muscles by stretching and relaxing the tendons. The other side of this hormone is that relaxin loosens the ligaments around the joints putting additional strain on the joints, which may result in joint pains.
6. Sacroiliac joint pain is a type of pain that is caused because of the uterus and the weight of the baby, resulting in lower back pain.

See More: Stomach Bug In Pregnancy