What should a pregnant woman do if she cannot walk due to sciatica?

At nine months pregnant, I experience pain resembling sciatica—located above the buttocks—whenever I lie down for a nap at noon or just before falling asleep at night. What should I do about this?

What to do when sciatica in pregnancy makes walking difficult

In general, if a pregnant woman develops sciatica severe enough to impair walking, the first-line recommendation is to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as sodium diclofenac or sustained-release ibuprofen capsules, to alleviate pain.

Additionally, complementary therapies—including acupuncture, massage, Tui Na (Chinese therapeutic manipulation), and heat application—can be used synergistically. Pregnant women are strongly advised to rest adequately in bed, preferably on a firm mattress.

Such rest aids recovery and helps reduce pain. Patients should also avoid cold, damp environments and ensure proper warmth. Dietarily, spicy, stimulating, greasy, or fried foods must be avoided; instead, emphasize fresh vegetables and fruits, and drink plenty of warm water.

Gentle physical activity is highly beneficial. Try the “chest-knee position”: kneel on the bed with your chest and knees resting on the surface while lifting your hips upward and supporting your upper body on your elbows. This posture helps prevent excessive posterior tilting of the uterus and may relieve discomfort.

Sciatic pain during pregnancy may also stem from calcium deficiency; therefore, appropriate calcium supplementation is advisable. Consuming bone broth regularly—for example, daily for approximately three days—may yield noticeable improvement in some individuals. However, pharmacological calcium supplementation is generally discouraged during the first trimester, as it may adversely affect fetal development.

We hope the above information proves helpful. Wishing you a pleasant and healthy pregnancy!