It's common to experience joint pain during pregnancy. The hormonal change as well as the weight of the baby can cause strain on the body, especially in the hips and knees. As your pregnancy progresses, you're going to notice that these aches and pains don't go away. The good news is that there are a few ways to alleviate joint pain during pregnancy. These remedies are both easy and effective.

Heating pads are a great way to relax the pain away. When you're sitting down for a period of time or relaxing in the evenings, use a heating pad or a warmed bag of rice. These relax the joints in the body and help to soothe away inflammation. Be careful to use only mild heat, but this is very effective at relieving joint pain during pregnancy.

Another way that you can relieve the pain is by changing the way that you sit. With the extra weight in the front of your body, you're probably feeling slightly unbalanced. To find relief in your back and neck as well as your hips, sit backwards on a chair. When you sit in the normal position, use pillows to support the lower back. It's also important to make sure you stay in proper alignment while you're sleeping. Keep a pillow or towel between the knees to keep the pressure off the lower back and hips and keep the body in proper alignment which can prevent joint pain during pregnancy.

Another remedy is a sitz bath. This sounds complicated, but is actually very simple. It's not recommended to take a hot bath or sit in a hot bathtub past the hips, but you can fill a tub with warm water up to the thighs and then sit in it. Add epsom salts to help reduce the pain in the joints. This is great when you feel pain in the lower body joints such as the ankles and knees. It's a great way to relax and you can do this as needed.

Joint pain during pregnancy can also be treated with therapeutic massage. This is a great option for women who are having trouble getting around due to the pain. However, be sure to see someone who specializes in pregnancy massage techniques. They will know more about areas of pain and relief and will be able to provide effective massage techniques to the body.

One final remedy for joint pain during pregnancy is prenatal yoga. Since exercise with aching joints can be difficult, prenatal yoga is a great option. It helps to stabilize joints and provides relief. Instead of pushing yourself to exercise every day, you can instead turn to the gentle, low-impact prenatal yoga option and enjoy greater motility and a relief from pain.

If you're struggling with joint pain, it may be tempting to turn to an over-the-counter pain reliever. However, these can have negative side effects and will not give you lasting results. Trying one of these alternate approaches will not only help to alleviate pain, it will also give you long-lasting relief.