Psoas, pain, pregnancy

When I first heard this word at work I thought how weird, like couldn't they think of a better word for this important major muscle group?  But no matter how you say it - "So As" it is a very integral part of being pregnant.  Twice this week I have been asked "what is this pain I am having". Aha, I said,  it is your psoas muscle.  Huh???  and then I go on to explain just what is happening and why it is hurting and why it needs to STOP hurting.

For me to understand something I need to research it.
This is what wikipedia says about my psoas - oh and by the way there is a major and a minor psoas and 50 percent of humans do not have both.

The psoas major /ˈsoʊ.əz/ is a long fusiform muscle located on the side of the lumbar region of the vertebral column and brim of thelesser pelvis. It joins the iliacus muscle to form the iliopsoas. In less than 50 percent of human subjects,^[1] the psoas major is accompanied by the psoas minor.

Not a very good explanation is it.  But the muscle runs from your lumbar vertebrae, over the brim of the pelvis and to your leg. And where is baby you say - right in the middle of the red muscle group.

Rachel at New Beginnings Doula Training,  has an excellent blog entry about your psoas with good links on stretching, alignment and the role of the psoas in pregnancy. 

Katy Says - a web page dedicated to alignment has a very informative entry about psoas in pregnancy and the pelvis during labor.  As you read through her entry you will see why it is so important to have a balanced pelvic area during pregnancy labor and birth. 

Kelly from Spinning babies - a real go to site that has just been revamped.  Has a tremendous amount of information on getting baby in the best possible position for birth including breech kiddos, posterior presenters and babies that just want to hang out above your pelvis for a while. 

These are just a few good places to start at. Even if you aren't experiencing pain or discomfort doing the exercises and suggestions will on enhance your pregnancy and birthing experience. 

Now that you know the why behind your Psoas and pregnancy,

 lets get down to a routine that you can live with. 

We live in a sedate society.  Lets face it, we sit - at breakfast, in the car on our way to work, at our desk at work, a table at lunch, back in the car to go home, sit to eat dinner and then the big SIT - in front of the computer or television. Now, don't get me wrong -- sitting is bad - how else are you going to get to work but we have a tendency to recline while doing this and that is the problem.  So, what can you do to counter this persistent problem.  

1. walk more

2. watch how we sit when we do sit

3. try sitting back wards on a chair - you know that unlady like straddle facing the chair back

4. sitting on a correct height birth ball. 

5. stretching

6. READ - 3 principles to support your pregnancy

                  7-Week Exercise Guide to a Better Birth

7. Research - and my final answer - for just about everything - google.  google Psoas in Pregnancy,  read and use common sense when deciding what is best for your body.