By EKalman July 10, 2023 - 2:21am

Pregnancy is not for the faint-hearted. It can be excruciatingly painful and overwhelming. As if developing a person inside of you wasn't strange enough, that little life kicks you in the bladder, headbutts your lungs, and makes you want to eat foods you'd never consume on a normal day.

Your body undergoes so many changes in such a short period that it can be rather unsettling. Swollen ankles, difficulty sleeping, and heartburn are common concerns among pregnant women. Then, there are certain complaints that you hear about once you're experiencing them.

Sciatica is one of the less-discussed pregnancy symptoms. The good news is that while pregnancy-related sciatica can be excruciatingly painful, it is usually only brief and treatable. Here are some non-drug treatment options for pregnancy-related sciatica.

1. Chiropractic care
After acetaminophen, chiropractic care is typically the primary choice for sciatica treatment. Your chiropractor can relieve sciatic nerve compression by realigning your vertebrae and putting everything back where it belongs. There will be no more suffering if the compression is removed. Because your posture continually changes, you will likely need to repeat sessions to maintain optimal spinal alignment.

2. Prenatal massage
Few things in life are more relaxing than a massage. Pregnancy brings that bliss to a whole other level. Massage is not only relaxing but also helpful if you have sciatica. Rachel Beider, a registered massage therapist who specializes in prenatal massage and pain management, suggests getting deep-tissue massages regularly. She suggests "working on the hips and lower back, as well as using a foam roller or tennis ball to work deeply into the piriformis and glute muscles."

3. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine-based pain management technique. It entails introducing little needles into your body. According to Eastern medicine, the "qi," or life force, is redirected and opened up by targeting certain locations that coincide with medians or channels. This restores the energy flow.

According to one study, acupuncture treatment may be more helpful than NSAIDs like ibuprofen in alleviating sciatica pain. (However, NSAIDs should be avoided while pregnant.) Western medical research has demonstrated that stimulating specific locations in the body causes the release of various hormones and neurotransmitters. These can aid with pain relief and nerve and muscle relaxation.

4. Physical therapy
Physical therapy can range from osteopathy to exercise therapy and many more treatments. It can alleviate sciatica pain by decreasing inflammation, increasing blood flow, and realigning joints and muscles. A certified physical therapist will not only propose exercises for you at home but also work with you in person to verify that the movements are performed correctly and securely.

During pregnancy, your ligaments become slack due to a hormone called relaxin. This permits your pelvic girdle to spread more freely during delivery. As a result, it's critical to consult a specialist before attempting any new exercises or stretches.

5. Magnesium supplementation
Magnesium is a mineral that is involved in over 300 different bodily functions. It is essential for proper nerve function. Although magnesium is abundant in many meals, many of us are low in it. According to one animal study, magnesium supplementation may promote sciatic nerve regeneration and reduce inflammatory response in mice.

Taking magnesium orally as a supplement or massaging it into your legs with oil or lotion can help relieve sciatica pain. It is critical to consult with your doctor before beginning any new drugs or supplements.

6. Prenatal yoga
Yoga's mind-body benefits are well-documented and widely acknowledged, so it should come as no surprise that a prenatal yoga practice can alleviate sciatic nerve pain. Yoga can straighten your body and ease nerve compression in the same way that physical therapy and chiropractic care does.

It should be noted, however, that yoga during pregnancy might be harmful due to ligament laxity. As a result, it's advisable to work with a specialist. Join a pregnant yoga class to get the extra aid and attention you require.