For every expecting mother, the joys of pregnancy are just amazing. Whether it is your first baby or second one, the excitement is there and the preparation is always a joyful one. But there might be times when these joys are overshadowed by frustrations because of back pain and sciatica. Figures showed that three out of four women experience back pain even before they lose their waist.
Sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, the one responsible for motor function and sensory in the lower extremities. It is the one responsible for the sensation one felt in the sole of the foot up to the back of the thigh. The sciatic nerve pain is a recurring pain that affects the entire legs.
Causes of Sciatica in Pregnancy
Some women are figure conscious so that when they get pregnant they are always conscious on how they look unfortunately the changes that pregnancy brings does not only affect your physical appearance. Most expectant mother generally gains weight about twenty-five pounds or more. This increase in body weight and even the stress when bending puts a lot of pressure in the low back which might develop a herniated disc and because of this, back pain and sciatica is the most common cry.
Another cause is that weight gain may result to sciatica and piriformis syndrome. Piriformis muscle is located in the buttocks which is the one that assist in any thigh movement. Piriformis syndrome can result if the muscle compresses the sciatic nerve.
Another reason of sciatica in pregnancy is when the uterus gets bigger and bigger. As your uterus expands, the spinal nerves in your lower back that goes through your sciatic nerve becomes irritated and compressed which will result to severe back pain and sciatica.
And last but not the least cause is hormonal changes. When you are pregnant, your hormone is at work. Your hormone will work at relaxing your pelvic ligaments in preparation of giving birth. It is at this time that pregnant mothers should be careful and avoid any sudden movements to prevent any strain during pregnancy.
What You Can Do for Relief for Sciatica
• Talk to your doctor for any recommendation and to keep watch of your weight.
• Sciatic pain during pregnancy can be prevented by observing the right posture that is to stand up straight, buttocks tucked under, and shoulders back. Leaning backward should be avoided.
• You can put a pillow under your abdomen for support or positioned it between your knees for you to be able to ease the pain and have a comfortable sleep.
• Prenatal yoga would be a great help for it stretch and tone muscles, improves blood circulation and your balance, tension reliever and maintains flexibility. Deep breathing is part of yoga and this will bring lots of benefit to expectant mothers
• Along with yoga, you can perform simple exercise like swimming or walking which can aid in maintaining your weight. But before doing so always consult your healthcare provider.
• Prenatal massage is a great help to relieve one from tension and pain. Massage therapist is knowledgeable in handling pain relief for pregnant women. This kind of massage can help pregnant women from its pelvic and hip pain, back pain, aids easing fatigue, promotes good digestion and good circulation.
• A warm bath or shower can help reduce back pain but expectant mothers should be careful in using oils and avoid using certain oils like peppermint, star anise, rosemary, juniper and basil for it can cause contractions.
• As an alternative therapy, acupuncture is found to be effective in treating sciatica and back pain in pregnant women. In fact an expert in the practice of acupuncture and a Yale researcher has done a study of this old Chinese practice in its effectiveness in lessening low back pain during pregnancy. The head researcher Shu-Ming Wang, M.D. is an associate professor of anesthesiology at Yale School of Medicine. This research is a three year term and is funded by the National Institute of Health. The study would involve 150 women who are at least 6 months pregnant (Acupuncture Today 2005).