Tingly upper left leg when lying down

[Yellowflowers]

My pregnancy yoga teacher says this is sciatic but I've read up on it and don't think it is - not painful and not a shooting pain starting in bum as per internet description. Anyone else had this and any tips for coping. Main problem is when I go to bed as have to lie down.

Hi there
How many months are you?

Have you tried wiggling your toes and circling your ankle gently? That can help keep circulation going.

Are you lying mostly on your left side? I read somewhere that this was a good idea as it helps the baby get into the right position for birth, and have been sleeping on my left side for a while now... and just started to notice cramping in my left leg. I've decided to allow myself to swap sides occasionally!

I think maybe lying on your left side becomes more important later on in pregnancy, but then again, it's also important to move about to keep your circulation up! Something else to ask our midwives!

I had sciatic pain last year before I was pg and it was not fun, but simple exercises and physio helped a lot. Go to your GP and see what he/she recommends if this continues causing you discomfort.

BTW I got a dream genii pillow to help with being comfortable at night - it's supportive of the bump and also a bit of it goes between your legs so stops the top leg dropping down so far.
You can get the same effect with a pillow. What I like about the dream genii is that it also has a back support so you are less likely to roll onto your back - although I've had to plump this up with a rolled up handtowel inside the cushion cover.

Thanks fireflyz. Am 20 weeks. Will def try the pillow. Will also ask GP for physio appt. X

A pillow between your legs might help.

It's probably bump and/or flexible pelvis pressing on a nerve, so similar to sciatica. But Sciatica is only neuropathic pain & other symptoms from pressure on the Sciatic nerve and there are other nerves in there!

Physio might help to improve your core stability. Or try getting a specialist myofascial massage if you can - I get it regularly and it really helps.