MANAGING SCIATICA (back pain) DURING PREGNANCY

Sciatica generally occurs to women during pregnancy. It is more painful to women who are on this stage of bearing a child.  Sciatica occurs in pregnancy for some factors. It is not a side effect of being pregnant. Sciatica during pregnancy is due to the growth of the baby having the head of it pressing on the sciatic nerve of a mother. A sciatic nerve is a long nerve from the spinal cord down to the back of the legs and feet. When the baby’s head is pressed onto it, the sciatic nerve is inflamed causing a sciatic pain. Sciatica during pregnancy may not be a coincidence.  A pregnant woman experienced this back pain due to the stress, hormonal growth, and even the growth of the baby in the mother’s womb. As the baby grows during pregnancy, it added weight for the back to be supported. The gravitational pull can cause your posture to change. Hormonal build up also causes back pain. As the hormones is unleashed during pregnancy, it eased up the ligaments in the pelvic making it weak and this affects the support of the back. Stress always finds which part of the body is weak. This change in the pelvic area may cause an increase in back pain during stressful moments. Avoid being stressed. Do not feel helpless. Being pregnant does not mean you cannot do anything. In a way, you can help yourself get away with depressions. This depression can lead to serious symptoms of back pain. Pregnant women should maintain good posture; lessen excessive standing and bending to avoid suffering from it.

Managing sciatica during pregnancy needs time reconsideration. Sciatica sometimes heals on its own. Some sciatic pain heals in days or it may take weeks before it is totally gone. A visit to a health care provider or a physical therapist is a precaution a pregnant woman can do in managing this back pain. They can give you proper knowledge of what exercises should be executed. This health care provider is the one responsible of giving you advices for the relief of this symptom.  These exercises will not only ease the pain but will help you strengthen the pelvic in preparation for the delivery of the baby. Exercise is not a cure but a process of managing the pain for its cure. It helps a pregnant woman become healthier and able to function normally as a person. Pregnancy often triggers some women to suffer from so many pains like sciatic pain. This is a very discomforting stage in a woman.

Bed rest should be taken into consideration on sciatica management. A health care provider will advise every pregnant woman should have a time to rest. A massage on the affected area will certainly help reduce muscle tension. Hot compress will also take effect on milder pains.

Avoid wearing elevated shoes like heels. Wear flat shoes instead. Do not lie in bed on your back. Always lie on your side.

Sciatica during pregnancy is a discomfort. But with proper exercise and postural correction, the pain can easily be managed.