Locations:
SearchTips for getting relief from a common pain of pregnancy
Add sciatica to the list of common aches, pains and discomforts of pregnancy. As your center of gravity shifts and ligaments loosen in preparation for labor, you may experience the shooting lower back and leg pain of a pinched or stressed sciatic nerve. What a joy!
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Sciatica is a condition that feels like a shooting pain down your lower back and legs. It’s caused by a pinched or inflamed sciatic nerve, which runs the length of your lower back, down the leg and into your toes.
The pain can range from mild to severe, but it often goes away with treatment. (And don’t worry, it usually goes away after pregnancy too!)
Most women experience some sort of back pain during pregnancy. It often develops in the third trimester, but it can occur anytime throughout the pregnancy, says Ob/Gyn Rebecca Starck, MD.
During pregnancy, an increase in the hormone relaxin helps prepare the pelvis for childbirth by loosening up the ligaments, says Dr. Starck. As ligaments relax and the body’s center of gravity shifts, the sciatic nerve can shift and get pinched. That can send a shooting pain down the buttocks and back of the legs.
The extra weight around your midsection can also put added pressure on your sciatic nerve. And with the addition of new weight on already tense muscles and unstable joints, it can really cause some discomfort.
Occasionally, the position of the fetus might add pressure to the nerve.
But take heart, although sciatica pain can be very uncomfortable for mom, it’s not harmful to the fetus.
Advertisement
“As a result of the weight gain, there can be a lot more aches and pains. And sometimes in a second pregnancy, there are even earlier and more exaggerated symptoms than before,” Dr. Starck says.
Sciatic nerve pain in pregnancy usually comes and goes, but it can also be constant.
It’s important to listen to your body and discontinue any activities that agitate the sciatic nerve. Remember to talk to your doctor before you try any new treatments for sciatica. Discomfort during pregnancy is normal, but severe pain is not.
Dr. Starck suggests several approaches to ease the discomfort of sciatica during pregnancy:
Dr. Starck also recommend going to physical therapy for an evaluation. They may give you stretches and strength exercises to ease sciatica pain during pregnancy.
And when it comes to sleeping during pregnancy with sciatica pain, Dr. Starck recommends using a full body pillow to support the pelvis and the lower extremities.
“The good news is that sciatica almost always goes away after pregnancy, so try not to stress to much about it now,” notes Dr. Starck.
Advertisement
Sign up for our Health Essentials emails for expert guidance on nutrition, fitness, sleep, skin care and more.
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
A little caffeine is OK during pregnancy, but it’s best to limit consumption of coffee and other caffeinated items
Sushi made with raw or undercooked fish should be avoided, but other types are OK
Most rashes aren’t dangerous — but it’s worth talking to your pregnancy provider about them
The best available evidence indicates that, used correctly, acetaminophen is safe to take throughout a pregnancy
Prenatal massage, done properly, is a safe and effective way to lower stress and relieve pregnancy discomforts
Avoid high-mercury fish and processed meat, and go easy on salt and caffeine
Unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise, it’s typically considered safe to have sex during pregnancy
Hot tubs and saunas raise your body temperature and can pose risks
Hope you’re hungry because the answer is both
Very light bleeding halfway through your cycle is common and usually harmless
ADHD can present differently from child to child and can change with age
