Lower back pain when lying down

[SickAndTiredAgain]

I know back pain is to be expected in pregnancy, and I feel like I was very fortunate with DD not to really have that much.
But I’m 19 weeks pregnant with DC2 and have bad lower back pain but only when lying down (on my side or on my back). Is this normal, does anything make it better?
I don’t think anything is wrong, I’m fine when sitting, standing or walking. Don’t have any crampy pain or bleeding and the baby is moving as normal. This pain has been there for a week or so. So I’m not worried there’s a problem with the baby. But it is really very uncomfortable to even just lie still in bed.

@SickAndTiredAgain I have the same and currently just 12 weeks pregnant so I do sympathise!!

It sounds like sciatica which is what im suffering with. It can be made worse when laying down as it adds pressure onto your spine mine also hurts when laying down also, during the day im fine. I have found some helpful sciatica exercises which do help ease the pain or try and have a bath, I have found this does help (not overly hot)

I have this! Currently 31 weeks and had it for what feels like forever

Can sit all day working / doing whatever but the moment I relax in the evening or go to bed it hits

Will Google sciatica as wasn't sure what it was!

Its shit
My solution was not radical but was time consuming
yoga am and pm
Cat / cow stretches
Stretching when you make tea
Standing desk
3 x walks per day
Time

I've had lower back pain on a few occasions in my life, without being pregnant. Each time it was down to poor movement patterns or muscular imbalance. Easy to sort with the right kind of exercise and stretches, but needs to be identified first so you don't go stretching something that actually needs strengthening and making it worse. Or it could be sciatica, but again needs to be identified. Can you see a physio?

Thanks everyone.

From a quick google, I don’t think it’s sciatica as the pain doesn’t go down to my bum or leg.

I will mention it to my midwife, but can definitely try some yoga as I’ve done that on and off for years. Walks seem to help but it’s hard to get the balance right - too much sitting around makes it worse, but so does too much walking. DD is 2.5 so very active and wants to be out a lot and I need to keep up without making myself worse!

Can you try this quickly? Lie on the floor on your side, then lift onto a side plank with your knees on the floor. From there, lift the upper leg and try to slightly point your heel to the ceiling (so you don't accidentally engage quads and hip flexors). If it's hard, or the leg only comes up a tiny bit and you can't hold it for long, then your glute meds need strengthening. I also find that immediately after doing this walking feels lot looser.

This is my problem, and is quite common as well. Modern lifestyle easily makes us quad dominant and the posterior chain isn't engaging properly, leading to lots of aches niggles.

Go to an osteopath, physio or for a massage. Your pelvis is shifting and widening, it can hurt!