Head engaging and pelvic/sciatic pain

[VelvetQuilt]

Hi ladies,

I'm finally on the home stretch-36+1 and now experiencing the most excruciating sciatic and pelvic pain-it's generally a dull and sometimes sharp ache up the left of my back and down to the left knee with my entire pelvic feeling like it's been crushed by a lorry. I've had the sciatica since around 4 months and what felt like mild SPD symptoms since 6 months...but it's just got a whole lot worse.

My bump appears to have got a little lower today-he's much less under my ribs now, so I'm wondering if he's starting to engage and the pain I'm feeling is part of it? Has anyone else experienced this when they're starting to engage?

Please help!

Have you seen a physio about all this? It could be you have muscle knots (myofascial trigger points) in your lower back and pelvis that are causing the sciatica-like pain and as baby descends more pressure is being put on them.

I have had this on and off for a couple of weeks. (I'm 39+3) I was told it was the baby engaging and sometimes moving onto the nerve. I found a hot water bottle has helped with some of the pain and taking ridiculously long baths!!
If you can get physio then try it. Mine won't see me til after the birth ( haven't had a great deal of help with NHS physio and can't afford a chiropractor)
Dr said shooting pains are more likely to be baby pressing on a nerve, and this is a bit more difficult to deal with as the baby isn't going to stop moving! My DH finds my involuntary yelps and gasps a constant source of amusement though.
Sorry can't be of more practical help. But totally feel for you. Hang in there!

Hi - another one experiencing the same sort of thing! If I sit still too long, I literally have to hobble afterwards as my right leg and lowerback seems to seize up. The shooting pains in the cervix area just adds to it all! I am, like you, just guessing this is because at 35+4, am feeling baby moving in and out of the pelvic area. He/She has pretty consistently been on my right side so that must be why that side feels worse as well as my legs/pelvis having to carry a stone or so that it isn't used to!

Agree that water bottle is a good treatment and I try to do some yoga stretches most days. Think its just a waiting game unfortunately!

Hi, I suffered with sciatica prior to getting pregnant which had almost gone due to exercise and weight loss but now it's back with vengence at 36+2. On my really bad days I have to take two paracetamols and I find that it takes the edge off.

Unfortunately it does seem that this is just something we have to get on with and it'll probably get worse before it gets better, I've visited the dr's but I just had an "aww it'll all be over soon, chin up!" response! The only thing you can really do is rest up, avoid doing anything that inolves standing for too long or lifting because you will pay for it the next day! and don't try to push through the pain because it just makes it worse!

Your not alone x

Hi all!

Thank you for your support-good to know I'm not alone, even though it's a common thing to experience you do feel like you're the only person in the world sometimes!

I can't afford physio and when I went to see the doctor the first time I started to experience the symptoms I was fobbed off and told it was growing pains-I knew full well it wasn't but the thought of waiting my entire pregnancy just to see a physio (coz that's how long it takes round here!) filled me with dread. Got an aromatherapy massage booked for Friday instead :-)

So yes, now I'm trying to manage it as best I can with cushions, paracetamol (rubbish) not sitting around too long etc. I've tried to do some gentle yoga stretches but they do hurt.

I just hope it's a sign that he's starting to engage now...PLEASE!!!