Reaching the end of the pregnancy journey leaves you with more pain and discomfort. If you have pain radiating from your lower back to your buttocks and down your leg, you probably have sciatica.⚠️
Sciatica during pregnancy
🤰What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a sharp, tingling and shooting pain that runs from your lower spine to your buttocks and down the back of your legs🦵. It results from the inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve.
🤰Symptoms of sciatica
Some symptoms of sciatica include pain in the lower back, buttocks or legs🦵. You will find it difficult to walk or stand.🚶 Your legs feel weak and tender.
Causes of sciatica during pregnancy
🤰Weight gain and growing uterus
As your uterus is growing, your added weight puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Hence, you will notice pain in your legs🧍🏼 and lower back.
🤰Hormonal changes
When you’re pregnant🤰, high levels of relaxin hormones build up and relax ligaments. Hence, joins become unstable and mobile, contributing to tense muscles and sciatic pain.🙁
🤰Shift of the center of gravity
Your growing belly👶 and breasts fall forwards and shift your center of gravity. Your lordotic curve is stretched, causing muscles in your buttocks and pelvic area to tighten up and press down the sciatic nerve.☹️
🤰Baby’s position
It’s nearly show time👍! Your baby👶 is ready and in position. As your baby’s head moves downwards into the birth position, it may rest on the sciatic nerve and cause pain.
Ways to relieve sciatica
🤰Warm compress on the spot
You can take a warm bath🛀 to relax your body and ease the pain. You can also use a warm compress or a heating pad for 10 minutes at a time to mitigate the irritation.
🤰Exercise
Move your body around. Stretch your muscles with stretching exercises or prenatal yoga🧘. Swimming is also a great exercise that takes off some of the pressure of the nerve.🤽
🤰Sleep
Sleep😴 on the opposite side of the pain if the pain only happens on one side. For extra comfort at night, you can use a firm mattress or a pregnancy pillow to support your back.🛌🏻
🤰Consult with doctor
If the pain is serious and you can’t endure it, you should talk to your doctor👩⚕️ for pain medication. A safe dose of acetaminophen can be prescribed to make you feel better but keep you and your baby safe.😃