Awful lower back pain

[peachypetite]

20 weeks and last few days I’m feeling really uncomfortable. If I sit in the same position for a couple of hours I can barely stand up. What can I do to try and ease this?

Hi OP. 29 weeks and I work at a desk or from home. I have to get up every hour (ish) and have a wander around and do a few hip circles otherwise I seize up and it's super painful and uncomfortable. Been like it for a while now.
The bigger baby gets the more often it will happen.
Try not to sit in one place for too long. Have a little walk about when you can and a few hip stretches and rolls to keep everything supple.
When you're on the sofa, try and put your feet up instead of sitting upright too.

Thank you, do you find exercise helps?

It really does! I walk my dog twice a day. Starts off a little painful but once I get going I feel loads better afterwards.
I'm going to start pregnancy yoga once the classes are back on in a couple of weeks, which will help even more I reckon x

I'm 19 weeks and have been experiencing the same over the last few days. Unlike PP, mine gets bad if I have overdone it, particularly chasing toddler around, picking him up etc. The only thing that has helped is proper rest

People will be bored of me saying this! Try a birthing ball, I had hip pain early on and then back pain. The birthing ball makes such a difference evening for me - I do bounces and hip rotations/rocking side to side while I watch tv. Any time it feels sore I go on it.

I'm having this now at 23 weeks. But along with really bad discomfort from sitting at my desk. I now Have sciatica. Today it was so
Bad I turned a funny way and yelped in pain. My legs almost gave way. I've cried a lot today with it. I really need to know a way to release it. I might call my midwifes and see if there are specific stretches to do.

Try deep freeze patches, they're totally safe to use as they're unmedicated and even state on the packet they're formulated for pregnancy related back pain. They work like a dream and give a good few hours relief but they are on the pricey side so I wouldn't recommend for everyday use, just when the pain is really bad.

Thanks all. I have ordered a ball and will up my walking. @futuredreams that sounds awful you shouldn’t have to suffer so definitely see what help you can get.

@futuredreams have you considered seeing a chiropractor? I have one for my frozen shoulder but we have discussed my pregnancy at length and he said that he can help with back pain, SPD, Sciatica etc so it might be worth a consultation to get some help, as you really do sound like you're suffering!
As I have a TENS machine he said he can show me how to use it properly and safely in my lower back and hips without causing the onset of contractions as you have to super careful when using it in the lower back area when pregnant.
Hope you feel better soon! 💐

@peachypetite sorry - didn't mean to hijack your post. I just wanted you to know I was around the same weeks and I just got it so it must be pretty common in this stage of pregnancy I have a midwife appointment next week so I'll ask. And I also looked up some stretches so I'm going to try these too.
@lockdownpregnancy thanks! I might try that. I did sign up to a program when I was booked in that allows me access to a physio through the NHS but they aren't actually seeing people in person at all so I don't know how they can help. It only started in the last few days - I've had back pain like peachy has for weeks but this is new. That's why I was grateful to find this post. I'm hoping it's just a trapped nerve and it will get better too.

No worries at all, the more advice the better!

My GP surgery is offering physio consultations online.
There are specific pregnancy/sciatica exercises you can do, so maybe worth investigating.

I can try and describe them, but it is a bit long:
Lie on your back on something soft on the floor - an exercise mat of folded duvet.
Keeping head and shoulders flat on the floor, gently bring both knees up to your chest. Hug them close for a minute. Gently slide your feet along the floor to straighten legs. Repeat x 3.
Then do the same thing but with one leg at a time. Do each leg x 3.
Then repeat with 1 leg, but gently roll your knee over to the left, as far as you can while keeping shoulders as flat as you can. Then bring it back to your chest, then gently straighten your leg.
Repeat both sides x 3.
Never sit up straight from lying down. Always roll onto your side, then sit up. Ditto with getting out of bed.
Hoovering is really bad for your back when pregnant.
An ice pack is good for sciatica.
Also comfortable shoes with a thick, cushioned or air filled sole.
I was taught these exercises years ago by an obstetric physio and found they really helped.

That should be roll right leg over to your left/ left leg over to your right. It is difficult to describe, but essentially the purpose is to gently stretch the spine in all directionsto stop the squeezing of the sciatic nerve.

My ball arrived! Already had a bounce and think it will really help.