Week 26- Sciatic Pain

Whats Baby S up to?
Your baby is getting chubby. She weighs about 2 lbs and measures more than 9 inches in length. You're continuing to grow, too, which is a sign that you're both healthy! A pattern similar to life outside the womb is starting to develop. You may notice a distinct wake-sleep cycle, where periods of activity alternate with quiet times on a regular basis. Your baby's senses are coming into full bloom. She can't see yet, but she can hear, taste and feel, and her brainwave patterns are similar to those of a newborn. If your health care provider listens your baby's heartbeat now, he or she may notice a skipped beat, which is a condition known as an arrhythmia. Often this is normal and disappears as the heart matures. If it's still present when you are ready to deliver, a fetal heart rate monitor can detect any signs of distress.

I had my doctor appointment this week and everything is looking good. I had the glucose test. I had to have a light breakfast, drink this wicked sugary drink and then they took my blood an hour later. The drink wasn't that bad. Just very sweet. I wont get those results until Monday. The doctor said everything looked good and I asked about my sciatic pain. He said there isn't much you can do. I told him I cant walk alot but have been swimming alot. He said that was the best thing to do. He said it will get better and then might get worse again.

What exactly is sciatic pain, and how can you alleviate it?
Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, providing stimulation and movement to the lower half of your body. The sciatic nerve runs under your uterus to your legs. So it’s easy to see why, when your uterus has grown many times its normal size, it can start pressing on and causing discomfort to your sciatic nerve. Some women describe sciatic nerve pain as a sharp, shooting pain down the back of their legs.

Most of the time the greatest relief you can have from this pain is to lie down on your side and take a load off your back and legs. When possible, lie down on the side opposite the pain – so for example, if you have pain shooting down your right leg, you should lie on your left side. However, that kind of relaxation is not always practical for moms whose job involves a lot of sitting or standing, or moms who are already chasing after little ones at home. If you must stand for a long time, try standing with one foot on the ground and the other foot lifted up and resting on a stool or box. And if you need to sit for a long time, use a donut pillow or a foam support to balance out your weight.
Other ways to relieve the pain include using warm compresses on your lower back or taking a warm bath. You could also wear a Belly Sling or other support system to help alleviate some of the pressure. And of course, even though it may be tempting to put on your favorite set of heels, you should always wear comfortable shoes, particularly if you are having lower back or leg pain.

Swimming is an outstanding exercise for pregnant women and has been known to help relieve sciatic nerve pain. Some women find that prenatal yoga gives them relief and helps them relax more as well. You may also find that a good massage from a licensed prenatal massage therapist can help soothe you and ease your pain. In cases of severe sciatic pain, your health insurance may pay for a physical therapist, who will help you with special exercises to strengthen your abdominal, lower back, and pelvic floor muscles.

With your doctor’s approval, you may also take acetaminophen to relieve the pain, but you only take the absolute minimum that you need, and you should not rely on it as your sole source of pain relief.

The good news is that sciatic nerve pain in pregnancy is usually temporary. It may run its course before you deliver, or it will almost certainly end after you deliver. If it continues beyond delivery, you should ask your doctor for a referral to a physical therapist who can help you.

I cant believe the second trimester is over and I will in the 3rd trimester soon. I have to say that 2nd trimester flew by and I hope the last one does too. I cant wait to meet my little one.

Only 14 more weeks to go!