You will often see pregnant women holding their back as though in pain. This is due to the fact that pregnancy related back pain is a naturally occurring phenomenon. One cause of back pain during pregnancy is the hormonal changes that occur during this condition. Other expected causes include additional weight of the pregnancy and also the change in posture during pregnancy; both put a strain on the back and cause back pain.

Back pain can occur any time during pregnancy but is more common in the later stages due to the increasing weight of the fetus. Stress related back pain during pregnancy will be experienced during stressful periods related to the pregnancy or if the mother-to-be is distressed due to conditions of daily living.

Though back pain during pregnancy is expected, it needs to be attended to make the pregnancy a more pleasant experience and also to ensure that back pain does not become a chronic post pregnancy health issue.

Low back pain during pregnancy that lasts for several weeks or months may indicate that the pain is likely to continue after the pregnancy is over. In case of post partum low back pain that persists beyond a few weeks, help must be sought to prevent the condition from developing into a chronic ailment.

Women with a preexisting condition of back pain may experience back pain in the lower back starting during early pregnancy stages.

Back pain during pregnancy can be Lumbar or lower back pain. This condition is similar to low back pain in non-pregnant women. It is generally at the waist level in the center of the back. Muscle tenderness along the back is a common co-occurrence of this type of lumbar or lower back pregnancy pain.
More common however, is Posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy. The pain may occur on the right, the left or on both sides simultaneously. Posterior pelvic pregnancy pain is a deep pain felt to the side below the waistline. Posterior pelvic pregnancy pain can be caused by climbing stairs, lifting heavy objects, rolling in bed, lifting, twisting, bending walking or running. Pre-pregnancy level of fitness does not necessarily mean that the pregnant woman will not experience this pain.

Back pain due to labor pain is a common condition. It is much like menstrual cramps that cause a dull pain and cramping in the lower back.

Back pain along with pregnancy symptoms plus other accompanying symptoms may be due to ectopic pregnancy. The symptoms include severe pelvic pain, shoulder pain, lower back pain along with faintness dizziness, severe bleeding, nausea and vomiting. Ectopic pregnancies could be life-threatening and need to be attended to at the earliest. An untreated ectopic pregnancy could result in rupturing the fallopian tubes causing infertility.

Yet another reason for back pain during pregnancy could be due to a miscarriage. However, miscarriages will be accompanied by one or more other symptoms, like heavy bleeding, nausea and vomiting, cramping in the stomach and mild to severe back pain.