NEW YORK — There is new information about how a woman’s body is able to carry extra weight during pregnancy. It appears a woman’s lower spine changes in pregnancy to allow her to carry a baby easily. When you pick up something heavy, it shift your weight forward, so you lean back to re-center the weight. But a woman’s spine repositions her center of gravity naturally, says the report. When a baby shifts a woman’s center of gravity forward, the wedged-shaped bones allow the lower spine to curve forward. Gross says pregnant women can reduce this facet joint pressure and pain by avoiding high heels, by not standing in one place for too long and by wearing elastic supports made to reduce stress of the baby’s weight on the lower back. read more

Technorati Tags: womans, center, lower, spine, weight, back, pregnancy news