The best position of the pregnant woman at work

Back pain, low back pain and sciatica are some of the most typical discomforts of the last trimester of pregnancy. The weight of the abdomen increases and this causes circulation problems and also a greater curvature of the dorsal area. Therefore, the position of pregnant women at work (and at home) is essential when it comes to preventing future problems. The midwife Susana de la Flor, from Cummater, gives us some advice to avoid these problems.

Advice for the pregnant woman who works long hours sitting

When the pregnant woman spends most of her time sitting, because she works in an office with computers, the first thing will be to make sure that the back is completely supported on the back of the seat. For that, you can use small tricks, such as the use of footrests and that of a cushion in the dorsal area. This is what is recommended Susana de la Flor, matron of Cummater:

'In a job where we spend a lot of time sitting, we have to take into account that during pregnancy, and with the increase in abdominal volume, it increases the lumbar lordosis, which is the curvature in the back. We have to try, so that the lower back does not bother us, that it stays well attached to the backrest. One of the things we can do is use a footrest, which will make it easier for the lower back to be well attached to the backrest, and if we still do not get it, what I recommend is that you use a cushion. You put it in such a way that the lower back is well secured and that's going to unload the lower back a lot.

Another area of the body that the pregnant woman must take care of if she is going to be sitting for a long time, is the area of the dolls:

'We also have to take into account if we work for example in a table with a computer, it is that the hands are more or less at the height of the elbows. That will prevent us from getting our hands swollen and bothering our wrists. '

Tips for the pregnant woman who spends many hours standing at work

When the pregnant woman spends a lot of time standing working, it is necessary to differentiate if she is standing but static for many hours or on the contrary, she is standing and constantly moving:

'If we are standing for a long time, what we should try is to walk a little at least every half hour, to move the muscles of the legs and to favor the venous return. And sit down from time to time so that your back rests. If we work standing up but moving, we have to be careful to sit down from time to time, to rest our backs. And if we can, if possible, when we sit down, have our feet up, our ankles a little higher than our hips. That way we favor blood circulation is better and we do not have legs so heavy and bother us.