What is the sciatic nerve and is possible to experience in early pregnancy?

Answer 1

In simplified terms, the sciatic nerve is a nerve that runs from your spine to your legs. Irritation of the sciatic nerve, commonly known as sciatica, is a medical condition where the nerve root, upon leaving the spine is irritated. The irritation of these nerve roots can cause Back pain, and if the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve are irritated, then pain can be felt in the leg of the affected side, and this is known as 'sciatica'. The nerve roots can be irritated in many ways: the discs between the lumbar vertebrae can protrude and squash the nerve root as it leaves the spine (such as in a lumbar hernia, after lifting a heavy weight in a bad way for exemple); the spine can like any other articulation can tend to wear out, and the inflammation or formation of small protruding bones can also cause the nerve roots to be irritated. In the case of pregnancy, sciatica can happen. As the pregnancy evolves, the weight of the fetus will mean that the mother's spine slightly changes in shape to better support the weight she is carrying. As the mother has to hold herself in a unusual position, it is possible that the nerve roots passing by the vertebrae on their weigh out of the spine get slightly compressed and cause sciatica, assuming no other underlying condition exists.