WeMoms
2 Apr 2024

Understand Pregnancy Sciatica

Understand Pregnancy Sciatica
Experiencing pregnancy sciatica can be challenging and uncomfortable, but understanding the condition can help you navigate through it with more ease.
Let's delve into the topic and gain valuable insights into this common pregnancy discomfort:
What is Pregnancy Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to the pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your hips, buttocks, and down each leg.
Pregnancy sciatica occurs when the growing uterus or pressure on the sciatic nerve causes pain and discomfort in the lower back, buttocks, and legs during pregnancy.
The Causes and Symptoms
Understanding the causes and symptoms of pregnancy sciatica can help you recognize and manage the condition more effectively.
Here are some important points to consider:
  • Pressure on the sciatic nerve: The growing uterus can exert pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to pain and discomfort.
  • Hormonal changes: Pregnancy hormones, such as relaxin, can loosen the ligaments and joints in the pelvic area, potentially contributing to sciatic nerve compression.
  • Symptoms: Pregnancy sciatica may present as sharp or shooting pain in the lower back, buttocks, hips, or legs. It may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected areas.
Coping Strategies and Relief Measures
While pregnancy sciatica can be challenging, there are strategies and measures that can help alleviate the pain and discomfort.
Consider the following:
  • Prenatal exercises: Engaging in low-impact exercises approved by your healthcare provider, such as prenatal yoga or gentle stretching, can help improve flexibility and relieve sciatic nerve pain.
  • Proper posture: Maintaining good posture, using supportive pillows while sleeping or sitting, and avoiding prolonged periods of standing or sitting can help reduce sciatica symptoms.
  • Heat or cold therapy: Applying warm or cold compresses to the affected area may provide temporary relief from pain and inflammation.
Seeking Professional Guidance
If you are experiencing persistent or severe sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy, it's important to seek professional guidance.
Your healthcare provider can provide specific recommendations based on your individual situation.
They may suggest:
  • Physical therapy: A physical therapist can guide you through exercises and stretches tailored to alleviate pregnancy sciatica symptoms.
  • Pain management techniques: In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend pain medication, such as acetaminophen, or other safe alternatives to manage the pain.
  • Alternative therapies: Certain complementary therapies like acupuncture or prenatal massage may offer relief from sciatica symptoms. However, it's essential to consult with your healthcare provider before trying any new treatment.
Dive deeper
S
Sheka
14 Dec 2023

Sciatica Is NO JOKE 🥺🥺🥺. The Pain I Experience On A Daily Basis Is Unbearable 🥺🥺

8 comments
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Tina
I feel u on that one ! Mine started really early too especially because i carry towards the back 🫠
27 Mar 2024

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Pearl
Yes same! It’s really started kicking in this last week! I’m having to do stretches daily so I’m not limping lol
27 Mar 2024

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Sheka
13 Nov 2023

Sciatica During Pregnancy Is The Worst, I Can Barely Walk. It’s Even Harder To Sleep 😫😫😫😫😫😫

4 comments
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Muffy&DaGuyz
My legs hurt so bad from walking today 😥
27 Mar 2024

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Sheka
It’s the legs, hip, & lower back for me, every single day 🥺😫🥺😫
27 Mar 2024

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Kali
26 Sep 2023

Any mamas have shooting back pain. Like sciatica ? Towards the the end of pregnancy. Mine just started two days ago. And I have pain every time I bend over, in my back/butt cheek. Feels like a pinched nerve. Does that mean the baby dropped ?

8 comments
A
Angelica Perkins
I have had sciatica for years, doesn’t always mean baby dropped but baby could be on your sciatic nerve, warm bath and heating pad on the area that hurts helps a lot
27 Mar 2024

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Rachel
Maybe you should be more active like walking. Prenatal yoga. Bouncing on a birthing ball. That will help
27 Mar 2024

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Shequita
14 Jul 2023

Anyone else deal with sciatica nerve in pregnancy if so how did you treat it or deal with it ?? I need help and answers because I can’t bare the pain🥹 #29Weeks3days #ThirdTrimester

9 comments
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Shequita
I have been doing those and they don’t work for me… like these are worse then the braxton hicks I be having
27 Mar 2024

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Tayler
8 Jun 2023

Anyone experiencing lower back pain at almost 10 weeks but only on one side? I think I also have sciatica on this same side because I feel it in my booty too. Sorry for tmi lol. Maybe it’s time to try a pregnancy pillow 🤷‍♀️

2 comments
A
Ashton
I definitely recommend a pregnancy pillow it will definitely help alot❤️ I've been having back pain on and off since I was around 6 weeks and it's helped well
27 Mar 2024

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Sherah
Yes I had back pain last night and was so bad I couldn’t even sleep and my husband gave me some massage with some olive oil and the pain gone a bit but it’s definitely normal. By the way you get that feeling of having sciatica too but it’s not. That’s bc the ligaments in your body naturally become softer and stretch to prepare you for labour.This can put a strain on the joints of your lower back and pelvis and make you feel that way. Don’t worry you are fine ❤️❤️👏👏
27 Mar 2024

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M
Monique
5 May 2023

Weird pain in my right buttock. Is this sciatica? I’m blaming everything on this pregnancy lol.

6 comments
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Monique
That’s crazy. I haven’t had too many symptoms so far so I guess I won’t complain.
27 Mar 2024

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Angel
30 Apr 2023

Has anyone taken magnesium during pregnancy? I’m tired of all the soreness due to my sciatica and I want to get some magnesium powder to put in my shakes but not sure if it’s safe during pregnancy. Waiting for tomorrow to call doc, but have any of you moms taking it during pregnancy?

5 comments
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Amber
Definitely ask ur OB first I’d call Monday
27 Mar 2024

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Angel
Yep I’ll be doing that
27 Mar 2024

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Pisces Diamond
2 Apr 2023

So I have sciatica. It flares up every pregnancy but this one is horrible. Have tried EVERYTHING and at this point I have came to the conclusion that I it is what it is . Anyone else legs giving out or it’s hard to turn in bed?

2 comments
K
Kay
Me. I was up all night. Try a prenatal massage
27 Mar 2024

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Katona
Me but I don't think I have sciatica
27 Mar 2024

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Sabrina
20 Mar 2023

So I slept on my back last night and woke up with both of my hips, like the area at the top of my thigh where it connects to my butt, both felt deeply and intensely bruised. I had sciatica after the second half of my last pregnancy and I feel like that's what this is but I don't quite remember since that was over 4 years ago. Has anyone experienced this early pregnancy? Does it sound like sciatica?

2 comments
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MRS.GALINDO
My right side hurts bad
27 Mar 2024

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Alexandria
I heard sometimes sleeping on your back can hurt and or make it hard to breath so maybe its something with sleeping on your back but i thinks something further into pregnancy its from the weight of the baby on your back nerves
27 Mar 2024

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Star
28 Nov 2022

What’s a good brand of the pregnancy pillows I can get off Amazon I’m in need of one right now I have sciatica and it’s severe. I can’t sleep at all. Help!!

6 comments
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Nici🍭
This is the one I have. INSEN Pregnancy Pillows, Cooling... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GTKCZ8W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
27 Mar 2024

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Anna
Is it hard to fit this in bed/under covers?
27 Mar 2024

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