Whew! You made it to the second trimester—cheers to that!
By now, you might finally be getting past the nausea, starting to enjoy food again, and feeling a little more like yourself. Maybe the shock of finding out you’re pregnant is starting to settle in. You could be excitedly planning your baby shower already, or just going with the flow and taking it one day at a time. Either way, I’m here to help you navigate this next chapter and figure out what’s really going on with your body.
So let’s talk about that lower back pain that might be creeping in (or already making its presence known). Pain that starts in your back and shoots down your butt or leg?
Yep... that could be sciatica.
Now before you roll your eyes and think “Ugh, everyone keeps saying that’s just normal pregnancy stuff,”—let me break it down a bit more for you.
So What’s Actually Causing It?
Yes, your body is changing and adjusting to growing a whole human—but that’s not the only reason. A few things could be making that pain worse:
- Your sleeping position: You may not even realize you’re sleeping more on one side, but over time, that can throw your whole body off balance.
- The weight of your growing uterus: As baby grows (and leans more to one side), your uterus puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back, through your butt, and down your legs. That’s why you might feel numbness, tingling, or pain that gets worse when you walk, stand, or even sit too long.
- Joint relaxation: Pregnancy hormones are loosening things up—which is great for birth, but not so fun when your pelvis feels wobbly or off.
- A tight piriformis muscle: That’s a deep muscle in your glutes, and when it’s tight? It can press right on that nerve and cause even more pain.
What Can You Do About It?
If you haven’t already, now’s a great time to start adding a few things into your routine that can actually help:
- Prenatal massage (yes, focusing on your glutes is a game-changer!)
- Chiropractic care
- Stretching or prenatal yoga
- Maternity support belts
- Adjusting how you sleep (Try a pillow between your knees or under your belly for better support.)
Getting regular massages that target specific areas like your glutes or back can make a huge difference. It can help relieve that tightness you feel when you’re walking, turning over in bed (like a rotisserie chicken—IYKYK), or making those middle-of-the-night bathroom trips.
Well lucky for you—our clients are able to lay on their stomach during their massage!
We use pregnancy-safe positioning that allows you to finally get that deep relief while still being completely comfortable and supported. You’re coming to us for relief, so our goal is to make sure you leave with exactly that. This position gives us more access to those problem areas so we can maximize your comfort and results.
If reading this post sparked more questions, don’t keep wondering—book your free consultation here.
And if you have a friend who's also expecting and going through the same thing, send this their way too! You never know who might need a little extra support.
You've got this—and I’ve got your back (literally)!
