Ipswich Spine Clinic is highlighting sleep guidance for expectant mothers ahead of the clocks going back on Sunday, October 25. The Sleep Charity says that despite the extra hour in bed, the shift can cause temporary sleep disruption similar to mild jet lag. For those managing back pain during pregnancy, an NHS trust lists backache among discomforts that can disturb sleep.
Back and pelvic pain are common in pregnancy. According to the North American Spine Society, about half of pregnant women can expect some back pain, while NHS Fife physiotherapy guidance says pelvic girdle pain affects around one in five. The same guidance calls it common but not a normal part of pregnancy, with most women recovering within weeks of birth.
Pregnancy changes how the body carries weight. NHS guidance explains that ligaments naturally soften during pregnancy, which can strain the joints of the lower back and pelvis, while the clinic notes that a growing bump shifts the centre of gravity forward. These changes can make pregnancy back pain more noticeable after long periods in one position, including during sleep.
The pregnancy charity Tommy’s and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust both advise sleeping on your side in the third trimester. Tommy’s places the third trimester after 28 weeks of pregnancy and says either side is suitable. Both advise anyone who wakes on their back to settle onto their side again.
The clinic’s guide describes side sleeping with a pillow between the knees, a cushion beneath the bump, and a pregnancy support pillow or ordinary cushions. It recommends keeping the knees gently bent and the shoulders and hips facing the same direction, which may support neutral spinal alignment. Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust also recommends a knee pillow for pelvic pain in pregnancy.
The guide covers turning over in bed, advising that the knees stay close together so the shoulders and pelvis move in the same direction. It suggests pressing the hands into the mattress rather than straining the waist, and pausing if a turn causes sharp pain or dizziness. Pillows may need repositioning afterwards to keep the abdomen and pelvis supported.
As a pregnancy back pain specialist, the clinic begins prenatal care with a full screening and adjusts each plan as the pregnancy progresses. Assessments use digital posture analysis, spinal scans, and foot scans, which the clinic describes as radiation-free, and chiropractors use light-force adjustments suited to pregnancy. Treatment tables and cushions are designed to accommodate a growing belly.
NHS guidance advises keeping the back straight and well supported when sitting and bending the knees to pick items up from the floor. It also recommends getting enough rest, particularly later in pregnancy. The clinic adds that any movement causing sharp or worsening pain should stop immediately.
The clinic’s guide stresses that adjusting sleep position cannot treat every cause of pregnancy back pain. The NHS recommends getting help when back pain comes with a fever, vaginal bleeding, or pain when passing urine. Tommy’s states that a baby moving less than usual should be checked straight away.
Pelvic girdle pain can occur at any stage of pregnancy and, for some women, continues or develops after birth, according to Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Milton Keynes University Hospital physiotherapy guidance highlights posture when feeding or lifting a baby. The clinic also supports women after delivery.
Ipswich Spine Clinic is a chiropractic practice in Ipswich, Suffolk, founded by lead chiropractor Dr Amit Patel. The clinic reports serving patients across the area since 2008. Its services include prenatal care and treatment for spinal and musculoskeletal pain.
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For more information about Ipswich Spine Clinic, contact the company here:
Ipswich Spine Clinic
Amit Patel
(01473) 232 002
admin@ipswichspineclinic.co.uk
6-8 Neale St, Ipswich IP1 3JB, United Kingdom