Recent news has focused on back pain suffered by women after epidural injections given during difficult and painful labour.

It is common for pregnant and post-natal women to get low back pain for various reasons. From my observation, the pain is mostly felt in the lumbar muscles, lower spine and, particularly, the sacroiliac joints.

During pregnancy, the weight gain by the mother and the weight of the baby as it grows puts added pressure, strain and stress on the spine and ligaments, muscles and nerves of the lumbar and pelvic area.

The change in shape of the tummy also affects the gait. It is little wonder, therefore, most pregnant women get back pain of varying severity, depending on the strength of the lower back, pelvis and legs.

As the pregnancy advances, the mother's body produces a lot of female hormones to sustain the pregnancy, soften and loosen up the tissues and prepare for the labour and delivery.

This can allow bones to move too much on each other, causing pain and nerve entrapment.

Regular, gentle massage of the whole back, pelvis and thighs is an excellent time-tested way of relieving, preventing or at least minimising any back pain caused by whatever reason.

Warm up some sesame seed oil or almond oil in a Petri dish and add five drops each of lavender and ginger. These essential oils are perfectly safe in pregnancy. Rub the warm oil gently into the back muscles, pelvic joints, hips and legs.

It is important to massage feet and legs to relieve congestion and pain. It also helps promote good sleep and relieves any mental tension and anxiety.

Regular, gentle stretching and walking will help good circulation, relieve pain and prevent stiffness.

Try this yoga exercise: Sit on a high cushion and sit in a squatting position according to your own comfort, keeping your back straight. Take deep breaths in through the nose, hold for a few seconds then breathe out slow and long. Relax the back.

For back pain after epidural or labour, use Ayurvedic analgesic and herbal oil mahanarayan (rheumaease) for a back and body massage before sitting or lying in a bath. Alternatively, use dry-heated bean bags.

Try this traditional Indian recipe which women in India have used for centuries for post-natal care: Boil one teaspoonful of dry ginger powder in a pint of water, add one or two teaspoons of molasses - raw brown sugar - and mix well.

Drink a little of this throughout the day. It is rich in iron, will give energy and the ginger will ease pain.

An anti-inflammatory Ayurvedic medicine for back pain after epidural or labour is Rasna Guggul (boswellia - not recommended if breast feeding).

The Savasana or Corpse yoga poses are another good way to ease pain and relax muscle spasm in the back. Good luck.

Dr Milind Jani works as a conventional and holistic GP and Dr Asmita Jani as Ayurvedic Consultant from 3 Eaton Gardens, Hove.

Call them on: 01273 777448 or email: milind.jani@ntlworld.com