Pregnancy And Baby Care Conditions During Pregnancy Sciatica During Pregnancy

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The sciatic nerve is the long nerve that runs from your lower back to the back of your legs and feet. This nerve is responsible in carrying the sense of feeling.

As your baby grows with each passing trimester, your pelvic joints start relaxing as a way to prepare for labor. By the time you reach your second trimester, you may experience some back pain and sciatica. As the baby grows, your belly swells and as a result there is immense pressure on your lower back which in turn pressurizes the sciatic nerve.

Symptoms of Sciatica During Pregnancy

When the muscles surrounding this nerve are inflamed due to the increasing pressure or if you have suffered a disc injury, you may experience pain. Signs To Look For

The symptoms of sciatica during pregnancy include:

• Shooting pain or a burning sensation in the leg, buttocks, or lower back.
• Numbness of feet or legs.
• Pain in the lower back or the pelvis area that may extend to the leg.
• Sensation of pins and needles in the lower back, especially the foot that is affected. Ways to Reduce the Pain
• Remember, sciatica during pregnancy generally worsens at night and may cause difficulty in sleeping. It is, therefore, advisable to place some extra pillows under your legs in order to support them.
• Try not to sleep on your back but on your sides instead with your knees slightly bent.
  
  While getting up, roll-out slowly. While your legs push down, use your arm muscles to push yourself up.
• Avoid using your back muscles for getting up.Avoid straining your back. If you need to lift anything, use the proper lifting technique. Bending your knees rather than your back will help you prevent a lot of injuries and pain.
• Eat balanced and nutritious food. Avoid processed food to ensure that you stay in shape.

Treating Sciatica in Pregnancy

The good news is that generally sciatica pain disappears on its own. However, in case it doesn’t, it is better that you seek the help of a therapist. A therapist will provide you with different exercises that will help you get rid of this condition. Massage therapy also helps to a great extent in treating sciatica by reducing the muscle tension. In addition to this, postural corrections may also contribute a large deal in treating this problem.No matter what treatment you plan to seek, you need to ensure that you consult your doctor before zeroing down on any.