Sciatica is the pain experienced along the sciatic nerve. It is the longest nerve in the body running down the spine, over your buttocks and hips, and down your legs. This is not limited to pregnant women.
Causes of Sciatica in Pregnancy
As the baby grows, the uterus starts expanding and moving. This puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Just a little bit of pressure can cause numbness and tingling pain. As your fetus moves, the pain subsides. But this can take some time and during this period, you will be very uncomfortable.
Important Facts About Sciatica in Pregnancy
This pain associated with sciatica can be short-lived or constant during pregnancy. Every woman has different symptoms and can experience less or more pain, depending on their threshold for pain. In some cases, the pain extends beyond birth as uterus takes some time for returning to its normal size and for the organs to go back to their normal location.
Treatment for Sciatica in Pregnancy
As the prescribed medications for sciatic pain is not safe to be used during pregnancy, alternative treatments need to be explored. Rest and repositioning is the most effective treatment. For relieving yourself of the pressure on the sciatic nerve, you can lay on one side or the other. However, this is only a temporary solution and pressure will resume as you start to get up and walk again. You can try other treatment methods like warm compresses, massage, and acupuncture.
