The Best Sleeping Positions For Sciatica During Pregnancy
Being pregnant and preparing for motherhood can be a rewarding experience. However, there are also certain challenges that come with this time of your life. Pregnancy can cause a lot of pain, specifically in your back, buttocks, or legs.
This is called sciatic pain. Sciatica is one of the most common pregnancy conditions, so don’t worry, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll talk about sciatica and how to sleep with sciatica pain during pregnancy.
What Is Sciatica?
Before talking about how to sleep with sciatica pain during pregnancy, let’s explain what it is first.
Sciatica is radiating pain in your hips, buttocks, and leg. It’s caused by nerve compression. This can be from weight gain, a bone spur, even a herniated disc.
Sciatica pain typically occurs on just one side of the body. Additional symptoms may be weakness of the muscle, a numb feeling, and a tingling sensation. For these reasons, sciatica can often make it difficult to sleep. The pain and inflammation bothers you at night.
If you find yourself suffering from this type of back, leg, or hip pain in Baltimore, then visit a specialist immediately.
It could be a sign of a more serious condition like a chronic hip injury.
What’s The Relationship Between Pregnancy And Sciatica?
Pregnancy and sciatica are connected for a number of reasons. You may gain weight and retain more fluid during pregnancy. This creates additional stress on the sciatic nerve.
The expansion of your uterus could press upon the sciatic nerve, which creates discomfort. As the breasts and belly enlarge, your center of gravity changes. This could create additional strain on the muscles around the pelvic and buttocks, which pinch the sciatic nerve.
Additionally, a baby’s head can often rest right on top of the sciatic nerve, especially in the third trimester. Therefore, the final three months of pregnancy puts you at greater risk for sciatic pain.
How To Sleep With Sciatica While Pregnant
Aside from seeing a pain specialist in Baltimore, here are some ways on how to sleep when pregnant with sciatica.
Side Sleeping
This is typically the best sleeping position for sciatica pain while pregnant. Sciatica can get worse in the evening as you sleep. If you sleep on your side, it could reduce strain.
Use Pillows
Aside from mere sleeping positions for sciatica during pregnancy there are also general tips, like this. Place a pillow between your legs or under your back.
This can elevate the lower back and put less pressure on the sciatic nerve itself. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different pillow types and placements.
Use A Warm Compress
Try to relax the muscles in the area by using a warm compress where you feel the pain.
Consider Changing Mattresses
Some mattresses that are too firm create additional strain. In addition, a mattress that’s too soft may make your hips sink and cause a misalignment in your spine.
Try Kegel Exercises
Pelvic tilts can help strengthen the muscles around the sciatic nerve and reduce inflammation.
Avoid Sitting All The Time
The more that you sit, the more pressure will go into this area. Try getting up and moving around more throughout the day.
Stretching and Yoga
Relieving stress on the muscles and ligaments in the area can help reduce inflammation and pain due to sciatica.
Optimize Your Sleeping Environment
Try blackout curtains, low levels of blue light, and even soothing white noise in the background. Anything that helps you sleep can help take your mind off of the discomfort and relax at night.
Get Better Sleep And Treat Sciatica Today
Reach out to the experts today for sciatica and hip pain in Baltimore while pregnant. At Ascension St. Agnes, you’re in good hands. Our qualified surgeons and pain specialists can help diagnose the source of your sciatica.
From here, we can suggest the proper treatment. This may require therapy, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery. I hope you find the day you deserve to enjoy your pregnancy with as little pain as possible.