Oh my aching back!

Last week, following ice skating lessons for my boys, we joined another family at the local Papa Ginos for pizza and balloon tricks by the resident clown. Did I mention that it was Valentine's Day and this is how my husband and I celebrated it? With a pepperoni pie and fried mozarella sticks! Seriously, that's a subject for a whole 'nother post. Maybe tomorrow.

The mom of my son's friend from school is expecting number three in about two weeks. She's one of those pregnant moms who looks totally adorable, like she swallowed a tiny basketball that now sits perfectly above her hips. She doesn't appear bloated or stretched and says that generally she's feeling pretty good. But one thing's for certain, her back is killing her! Chasing around two other children while pregnant takes a toll on the body, she says. Lifting older kids in and out of car seats, picking up grocery bags and laundry baskets, climbing up and down stairs, etc. All of these daily activities start to feel a lot harder when there is another human being taking up space inside your body.

When I was pregnant with my second, I remember spending a lot of time resting on the couch. Chasing a toddler while pregnant exhausted me. At work, I had to adjust my work station throughout my pregnacy to alleviate the aches and pains in my back and legs. Raising the chair, adjusting the keyboard, getting a foot rest, adding a back pillow all seemed to help a bit. It seemed, at the time, like nothing worked one hundred percent. My husband and I upgraded to a king size bed—to accommodate my growing belly—and that was the best decision! I could stuff as many pillows under my belly and between my legs as I wanted and still not take over the entire bed.

Friends of mine had success using belly bands, but I found massage to be the best treatment for my back pain. Get your partner involved and you've got a nice bonding ritual. Another friend of mine swears by her chiropractor. Some gentle strengthening exercises might also be beneficial, now and after baby arrives. If you are still wearing those Jimmy Choos to work, it's time to kick them into the closet (chances are your feet are growing, too, so let the little toes breathe)! Talk to your doctor about other ways to get rid of the back pain and make yourself more comfortable.

How do you deal with your backaches? Tell other expecting moms here in the comments.
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