sciatica nerve pain during pregnancy

it hurts like a b**ch! unfortunalty it usually does get worst and sometimes will never go away after delivery. some people are lucky and after delivery it goes away all together, me, well im not that lucky! i started having it when i was about 4 mths prego with my oldest son and then it went away for about 3 weeks after i had him then came back and have had it since, but a lil more mild and then back with a vengance with my 2nd pregnancy. my oldest is 3 1/2 yrs so ive been dealing iwth it for a bit. try not to be standing for more than 2 hrs at a time without a good 30 min sitdown. i found laying on my side (the side that doesnt hurt) helped some. take it easy and youll manage.

Yup I had it. Really there was nothing that could be done. It got me out of work 3 months early though, lol.

I still get it once in a while, but for the most part giving birth cured it.

Sorry...I wish there was a way to help you.

This sounds weird, maybe a little graphic. My dh would rub my lower back into my butt too help relieve the pain. He would sit, I would be on all fours facing him. That angle allows for better access to the nerve. (sounds a little kinky sorry) I even went to the chiropractor while I was pregnant and he helped. I also did rocking on all fours to try to move the baby off of the nerve. Hope some of this helps. Oh I was also told never apply heat. It will only help to inflame it. Use ice on your backside instead. That helped too.

I had this really bad for a couple months.  I talked to my OBGYN about it.  She recommended a new bed, especially some kind of foam mattress or something other than the cheapest spring mattresses.  My boyfriend has really bad back issues, and we had been talking about it prior to my doctor recommending this anyway.  I don't know if this is a possibility for you, but it has just about saved my life right now.  My back pain was the worst getting up at night to go to the bathroom.  Half of the time I couldn't walk upright.  But even after the first night of having the new (much firmer) mattress, my back started to get much better.  And now, even though I am at the nine month mark, my back pain is soooo much better.  We went with the Sleep to Live bed from Sleepy's.  This bed is awesome so far.  It hasn't made as much of an improvement for my boyfriend, but he has bulging discs. 

To me so far, the money spent has definitely been worth it.  Just being able to get to sleep (the sciatica pain was keeping me up at night too) is much better for me and the baby.  Plus there is a 20 year warranty and we plan on having at least one more child, this is the kind of bed that will make a difference for a long time.

Good luck!  We feel your pain.

I had the same horrible pain with my first. It showed up my last 2 months, didn't help the fact that i was working at night and on my feet all the time. When i got home from work, i literally had to crawl up the stairs cuz it hurt so bad. As my luck would have it, I still have sciatica problems to this day but no where near as bad with my first and i'm currently pregnant with my second, so I'm hoping this time around my sciatica remains very occasional and doesn't get bad in my last trimester.

 My advice for you is when it really gets bad to lean forward on something or just get off your feet totally.

I'm there with you right now. I'm 20 weeks pregnant and from about 4 weeks, it's been bothering me. It's only getting worse as time goes on and I don't remember this with my first nearly as bad. I know it bothered me a little, but this is every day. I just make sure I sit as often as I can and move very carefully. Yesterday we had our daughter's birthday party at a beach and I did way too much standing. I didn't realize that until after I got up from my nap, had to pee really bad and could hardly walk because of the pain. It wasn't an occasional sharp pain when I moved my leg like it usually is, it was a constant sharp pain when weight was on my leg and when I moved it, so it was constant. It lightened up after a couple of minutes, but now I know not to stand for so long. There really isn't much you can do to help it, except relax as much as possible.

I feel your pain! I am almost 36 weeks pregnant and it hit me! Didn't have this prob with my first! My dr told me to get a belly band, that will help pull some weight off that side and make baby move! More than likely baby is pushing on it! Also to lay on the side that doesn't hurt. As far as the massage comment goes.....SOOO TRUE! I went to school for massage therapy. Your sciatic nerve runs from the lower part of back, down through butt cheek and into leg. My entire leg goes numb when it hurts me really bad! I work in a restuarant so i am on my feet alot which doesn't help! Plenty of easy going and really try the belly band! Motherhood Maternity has one that works great! Its about 20 bucks and you can adjust the velcrow straps to where it feels best for you!

Hope this helps!

I had it with both of my kids.  The belly band from Motherhood Maternity works great, along with the 'Table Top' yoga pose.  On all fours, and gently sway your hips back and forth.  It allows the belly to drop away from the spine, and releives the pressure.  I used to do that every night after I got home from work. 

I've had a lot of trouble with that since I was about 16 weeks or so. Its awful there really isn't anything that can be done. It hurts a lot  and I even went to the doctor about it and you know if I go tot he doctor about something it must be bad because I have went through 2 brain surgeries and know about pain. The only advice i have is for you to put a heating pad on your leg or your bottom where ever it is hurting...as long as its not on your belly where your baby is. :-) good luck! Hope you feel better soon!

I was about 4 months pregnant with twin boys and got sciatica. They're 4 months old now, and I still get pain sometimes. But, to help relieve the pain I used to have my husband massage me. Like one of the previous posters said, from the top of the butt cheek down to almost my knee. I didn't even know my leg hurt until he touched it though. Most of my pain was literally right in the butt! LOL I found the most effective position was to be on all fours and have him behind me rubbing or using the massage machine we have (sometimes it hurt too much to use it!) Good luck!!