Sciatica is a sharp, radiating pain that starts in the lower back before travelling along the sciatic nerve down into your lower body. Some folks feel it on one side of their buttocks before it travels down their leg. Expectant moms commonly experience sciatica.
What causes it?
Sciatica during pregnancy usually occurs in the second or third trimester. It’s generally a result of your expanding uterus applying pressure to the sciatic nerve, which starts in the lower back and runs through your butt and into your legs. As Baby turns head down and puts more pressure in that area, their head may lie directly on your sciatic nerve, which could make the shooting pains more intense.
Tips?
Stretching is always good for back pain, but nerve pain also responds to cold. Although you might not be able to carry around an ice pack wherever you go – try it the next time you can by applying ice directly to where you feel pain. Supportive shoes and slow changes in position may also help. Sprinkling in some additional rest, especially in positions that feel comfortable, can also help. Sciatica usually goes away after you give birth, but you deserve to have as much comfort as possible until then.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- “Sciatica During Pregnancy.” PregMed. PregMed, 8/2/2013. Web.
