Sciatica and childbirth

[Ariana87]

Hoping someone has advice or has experience to share. I’ve had both sciatic and pgp issues through the pregnancy. The sciatic pain first appeared around 24 weeks and then seemed to tail off after a while. It suddenly appeared again last Wednesday and it’s even worse than before. I can just about get up the stairs, it takes me around 10 minutes to even get into bed, I can’t sit on the sofa etc. I’m 4 weeks from my due date and becoming really stressed out how will I remain active during labour when I can’t walk even a few steps without horrendous pain, let alone manage to give birth. Has anyone else experienced this? What was your birth like? Did it go afterwards?

Any help would be much appreciated

if you can find a good acupuncturist I’d really recommend a few sessions. I was like you similar stage with my DD could barely move & had to slide down stairs!

After 1 session it improved massively, after 2 it was gone.

When I had sciatica with my first pregnancy and went into labour I can honestly say it just seemed to disappear. I have no idea how or why it just went and never come back.
Im not sure if its just that my brain had blocked it out at the time or if something in my body changed, i dont know but it didn't affect me at all in labour I didnt even think about it.
I hope you're okay as its truly awful!

Have you seen a physiotherapist? Your ligaments are a little bit stretcher while pregnant so the joints in your pelvis that are normally fixed start to move, and they're not supposed to!

I had sacroiliac joint pain especially in my second pregnancy. It was load bearing that involved being on one leg that seemed to be most aggravating, walking up stairs etc was a killer. But sometimes it was fine. You can get bands etc to support your pelvis.

In childbirth I was mainly on all fours and it really wasn't something I even noticed. The issues seemed to magically resolve just after birth as I weighed less and I assume that little bit of wiggle room is no longer needed so your ligaments harden up again.

@PrettyLittleStars I am so glad to hear that. There’s surprisingly nothing on google about how it affects birth. Not sure I could deal with both contractions and this pain! It’s definitely one of the worst pains I’ve ever had. Don’t think even my two previous births were this painful. It’s just appeared out of nowhere. Fingers crossed I have the same experience as you did! Thank you for sharing. Has made me feel there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

@Laserbird16 I did speak to the midwife yesterday and said it’s probably pointless referring to a physio at this stage. I stupidly refused the referral earlier in the pregnancy as I honestly thought it was just age related aches and pains plus it’s been over 10 years since my last pregnancy. I’m so glad it just disappeared for you too. It’s such a horrible feeling not being able to do the most basic things and having to rely on DP and children to do almost everything at the moment. I’ll definitely remember the being on all fours, just hope I can get into that position somehow! Thank you

I couldn't move the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy. When I went into labour I found the contractions so unbearable that the pain from the sciatica disappeared in comparison... sorry probably not quite what you wanted to hear!

It also went after giving birth but it took me about 3 weeks to feel natural walking and moving properly again after being immobile. I had forgotten how to walk until my partner pointed out I was still walking like I'd poo'd my pants. Unfortunately a waiting list for a physio is so long unless you can avoid to have a private session.

Congratulations on your imminent little one.

I’d also say definitely try acupuncture. You didn’t comment on *iknewuouwerewautingforne”s post? Give it a try it helps

@Crimblecrumble1990 that’s ok I appreciate the honest truth. My biggest worries are having to lie down in labour and slowing it down, not letting gravity be able to do its thing or if someone just yanked my legs...I think I would just snap. I guess I won’t know until the time comes but I do remember contractions being all consuming eeek! Thank you for the congratulations, I really can’t wait now it’s been a long 9 months!

@sundowners sorry I didn’t even see the first comment 🙈 I have a phobia of needles. I’d honestly rather go through childbirth than have a blood test. It sounds so pathetic I know

It's possibly not true sciatica but Pyriformis Syndrome cause by the muscles contracting and tightening around the sciatic nerve. I had this with both my pregnancies and for some time after. I was given exercises by the physio which helped massively. If you can get a physio app you can you tube exercises to help pyriformis syndrome and give them a try to see if it helps

I have sciatica and PGP and have done for about 2 months (7 months pregnant atm). They weren't so bad at first, I would only be in pain when I would be in bed. I'd wake up every now and again with aching hips but it was bearable.

Just recently, it has been every night, I'd wake every 1-2 hours with throbbing pains down my legs, my hips would just ache and I'd have the pains going across my lower back. The pain then started happening throughout the day too, to the point I couldn't walk. I tried everything I could think of to ease the pressure but nothing worked. The only thing that has really helped me is sleeping on a blow up bed!! Weird, I know . But I sleep all through the night now except to use the loo and barely get any pain during the day!! I'm still careful with doing most everyday things as this can cause pain, but I keep a bar stool for the kitchen so I can wash up and cook so I don't have to be stood for so long but do my everyday things

I wouldn't really accept 'just deal with it' as a management strategy. I'd push to go to a physio if that's possible for you. Especially one familiar with women's health. Worst thing they shug their shoulders and give you a nice back rub. More likely they'll be able to help you figure out how to lessen the impact of the issue. For example I used to sleep with a bolster pillow under my knee as the weight of my leg when I was sleeping on my side was causing my joints to complain.

I think each pregnancy increases the likelihood of pelvic joint problems.Plus with other children you don't get the same opportunity to rest. If there's really nothing a physio can do at least you can have a lovely chat about how utterly buggered your pelvic floor will be and what to do about that!

I did private physio massage for my sciatica. It cost about £50 each time for 45 mins but it was soooo worth it, the relief was incredible. I'm now doing daily exercises that the physio set me and also I love this video on youtube which I do as regularly as possible (heartburn permitting haha!). It can be so debilitating but little exercises every day has really helped me and I can even walk around the park now without too much discomfort. Good luck!!

@Laserbird16 thankfully this is my last pregnancy. I wouldn’t be able to do this again. I have my 36 week app on Monday so will mention it again as I really don’t want to ignore this and find it stays following the birth. I already feel I’ve failed my two DCs for months and relied on them far too much. They want their sibling to come just as much as me so they can have mummy back to normal again

@Babo993 I really feel for you going through this too. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. That’s interesting about the blow up bed, I haven’t got one at the moment and we have one of those ridiculously high beds so I imagine that is not helping matters at all! I really hope things don’t get any worse for you. Not too long to go but like me I bet every day feels like a week at the moment for you. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that baby is worth every single bit of this ❤️

@yarrow89 I actually tried to do this video yesterday and my DP luckily came in from work to find me in tears as I couldn’t get back up off the floor. I was in my hands and knees and just couldn’t get my legs to move without shooting pains so he had to hoist me up from behind I’m glad things are improving for you, the pain is unreal (they should warn us about these things lol) I’m going to see midwife on Monday and depending upon what she says see if I can see a private physio. I’m one of those silly persons who think they can deal with things themselves. I didn’t even want to take paracetamol during labour last time as I wanted to ‘save’ it for when I really needed it. I was already well dilated at that point and just didn’t realise!

Thank you for all the replies everyone it’s very much appreciated good luck to all too for those who are expecting their little bundles

Hi OP, I’m sorry you are struggling with this. I had a really bad SPD when I had my daughter and it did make things difficult as I also had back labour. My back was in constant pain and then contraction pains came on top. I couldn’t stand up but pethidine helped me get a bit of respite.

I’m pregnant again (23 weeks) and will be seeing a chiropractor this time to try and help. I’ll also be mentioning it to my midwife to get a plan in place for pain relief if it does happen again as the midwives in the labour ward were very dismissive.

For example, being in the birthing pool would have really helped I think but they wouldn’t let me get in

@Teakind it’s really debilitating isn’t it. I had no idea that so many women suffer with this.

I saw my midwife yesterday and she saw how bad it was as I couldn’t get on and off the bed without her help but the pain was significantly less than the last week or so and apparently it can come and go. She said if it is intense in labour I’ll be unlikely to use the pool as if there’s an emergency they wouldn’t be able to get me out fast enough. The pool is the only thing that I believe will get me through the birth otherwise I’ll just be on my back unable to move. The thought of someone trying to manipulate my legs on a bed is horrifying!

Labour pain trumps all. You won't notice sciatica. And it goes once the pressure of a heavy uterus eases off the nerves. Good luck!

@calimommy exactly what I needed to hear thank you!