Prenatal chiropractic/Pregnancy/Sciatica during pregnancy
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— PREGNANCY · BUTTOCK + LEG PAIN

Sciatica during pregnancy.

Shooting pain down your leg doesn't have to be part of the deal. Gentle, drug-free relief in Jacksonville and Orange Park.

Request a prenatal visit
01 — WHAT IT IS

It's not just the baby pressing on a nerve.

Most moms are told sciatica is just the baby sitting on a nerve and they will have to wait it out. Usually, there is more to it, and something you can do about it.

As your belly grows, your low back curves more and the hormone relaxin loosens your pelvis. The pelvis can shift out of balance, and the piriformis muscle deep in your buttock tightens to hold things together. That muscle sits right on top of the sciatic nerve. The result is the sharp, shooting, or burning pain in the buttock and down the leg that makes it hard to walk, sleep, or roll over.

Gentle prenatal chiropractic care, including the Webster Technique, rebalances the pelvis and eases the tension around the nerve. No medication needed.

02 — SYMPTOMS

Sound familiar?

Shooting leg pain
Pain that runs from the buttock down the back of the leg, usually on one side.
Pain rolling over
Turning in bed or getting out of the car makes you catch your breath.
Buttock ache
A deep ache in one cheek that gets worse the longer you sit or stand.
Pain walking
Steps and stairs send a jolt through your hip or leg.
Numbness or tingling
Pins and needles in the leg or foot that come and go.
Bad sleep
You can't find a position that doesn't hurt.
03 — HOW WE TREAT IT

Relief that's safe for you both.

01
Find the real source
A gentle exam to tell pelvic, muscle, and nerve causes apart, so we treat what is actually going on.
02
Webster Technique
Light, specific adjustments to balance the sacrum and pelvis on a pregnancy table.
03
Soft-tissue release
Gentle work on the piriformis and hip muscles pressing on the sciatic nerve.
04
Stretches and sleep positions
Simple things to do at home between visits, matched to your trimester.
— NOT TYPICAL SCIATICA
Call your OB or go to the ER right away for a painful, red, warm, or swollen calf, new weakness in your leg, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, vaginal bleeding, or regular contractions before 37 weeks.
— GOOD TO KNOW

Why it often hits in the second half of pregnancy

The pelvis loosens more as pregnancy goes on, your belly pulls your center of gravity forward, and your low back arches to balance it. That is why many moms feel fine early on and then get hit with sciatica in the second or third trimester.

The sooner you start care, the easier it is to get ahead of it instead of chasing it.

What you can do today

Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees. Sit down to put on pants and shoes instead of standing on one leg. Keep your knees together when you get in and out of the car. Break up long sitting with short walks.

These help, but they do not fix an unbalanced pelvis. That is where care comes in.

Your chiropractor

Prenatal patients at Meridian see Dr. Jessica Bellinger, a Webster Technique Certified Practitioner, Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate, and licensed in Florida since 2017. We see prenatal patients at our Southside Jacksonville and Orange Park offices.

Use the form on this page to tell us how far along you are, and our team will call you to book.

— Prenatal & postpartum care

Pregnant and hurting? Let's get you moving.

Tell us how far along you are and save $50 on your initial visit. Our team will call you, answer your questions, and book you with Dr. Jessica Bellinger, our Webster Certified chiropractor.

  • ✓ Webster Certified chiropractor
  • ✓ Pregnancy tables that keep pressure off your belly
  • ✓ Safe in every trimester, and after baby arrives
  • ✓ We coordinate with your OB or midwife

Prefer to talk now? Call (904) 379-9412

New patient offer

$50 off your initial visit

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— COMMON QUESTIONS

Pregnancy sciatica, answered.

What causes sciatica during pregnancy?
Usually a mix of a loosened, unbalanced pelvis, a tight piriformis muscle in the buttock, and the extra curve in your low back as your belly grows. Together they can irritate the sciatic nerve and send pain into the buttock and down the leg. A true disc problem is less common, and your exam tells us which one you have.
Is it safe to see a chiropractor for sciatica while pregnant?
Yes. Prenatal adjustments use light pressure and a pregnancy table that takes the pressure off your belly. We take a full history first and coordinate with your OB or midwife if you have a high-risk pregnancy or any complication.
Will pregnancy sciatica go away after birth?
For many moms it eases after delivery, but that can be months away, and you do not have to spend them in pain. Getting care now also means your pelvis and back are in better shape for the lifting and carrying that come with a newborn.
What can I do at home for sciatica while pregnant?
Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees, avoid standing on one leg to get dressed, keep your knees together when you get in and out of the car, and take short walks instead of sitting for long stretches. Your chiropractor will give you stretches that fit your stage of pregnancy.
When is leg pain during pregnancy an emergency?
Call your OB or go to the ER right away for a painful, red, warm, or swollen calf, new weakness in your leg, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or trouble controlling your bladder or bowels. These are not typical pregnancy sciatica.
Who will I see?
Prenatal patients are booked with Dr. Jessica Bellinger, a Webster Technique Certified Practitioner whose practice centers on prenatal and pediatric care.
— RELATED

Keep reading.

— IF YOU'RE READY

Sleep, walk, and breathe easier.

Webster Certified prenatal chiropractic in Southside Jacksonville and Orange Park.

Request a prenatal visit
Call (904) 379-9412Book a visit