Nerve-type pain that starts in the lower back during pregnancy and radiates down toward the knee — and is still there three months after delivery — is often sciatica: pressure on the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that feed it. It's common enough during pregnancy, but pain that persists well past delivery isn't something to keep waiting on; it's worth a proper evaluation by a physiotherapist or orthopaedic specialist.

Why sciatica-type pain shows up in pregnancy

During pregnancy, the growing uterus shifts your centre of gravity and posture, pregnancy hormones loosen the ligaments around your pelvis and spine, and the baby's position can put direct pressure on nerve roots in the lower back. Any of these can irritate the sciatic nerve or the nerves that form it, producing pain that runs from the lower back or buttock down the back or side of the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or below.

Why it can still be there months after delivery

Delivery doesn't automatically undo the mechanical changes that caused the nerve irritation in the first place. Postural habits built up over pregnancy, lingering ligament laxity, and new physical strain from carrying and feeding a newborn can all keep a nerve irritated well past the point most people expect pregnancy-related aches to resolve. Pain that started in pregnancy and is still present three months postpartum has effectively stopped being "just a pregnancy thing" and become its own issue worth treating directly.

How this is different from ordinary postpartum back pain

  • Ordinary postpartum back ache tends to stay localized to the lower back and eases with rest, posture correction, and time
  • Sciatica-type nerve pain radiates — it travels down the leg, often on one side, and can come with tingling, numbness, or a burning quality along the path of the nerve, not just an ache at the site
  • Nerve pain that persists for months, rather than easing week over week, points toward ongoing nerve compression that needs to be identified and addressed rather than pain that will resolve with rest alone

What evaluation and treatment typically involve

  • A physical exam to localize where the nerve is being compressed and how severely
  • Physiotherapy is usually the first line of treatment — targeted stretches and strengthening to relieve pressure on the nerve and correct the postural patterns keeping it irritated
  • An orthopaedic or spine specialist referral if the pain is severe, not improving with physiotherapy, or the exam suggests a structural cause (such as a disc issue) that needs closer imaging or management
  • Your OB-GYN is a reasonable first stop to rule out any pregnancy- or delivery-related cause and get directed to the right specialist

Red-flag symptoms — get seen urgently, don't wait for a routine slot

  • Numbness or weakness in the leg or foot that's new or getting worse
  • Any loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Numbness in the saddle area (inner thighs, groin)

These aren't typical sciatica symptoms and point toward a nerve being compressed severely enough to need urgent attention.

Pain that began in pregnancy and is still radiating down your leg three months after delivery has earned its own diagnosis and its own treatment plan — it's not something that automatically resolves just because the pregnancy is over.

Frequently asked

Can sciatica really start during pregnancy and continue for months after delivery?

Yes. The mechanical and hormonal changes of pregnancy commonly irritate the sciatic nerve, and that irritation doesn't necessarily resolve on delivery day — it can persist for weeks or months if the underlying compression or postural pattern isn't addressed.

Should I see my OB-GYN or a physiotherapist first?

Either is a reasonable starting point. Your OB-GYN can rule out any pregnancy- or delivery-specific cause, and a physiotherapist can begin targeted treatment — many patients end up seeing both, in either order.

Does this mean something went wrong with my delivery?

Not typically. This kind of nerve pain is usually related to the cumulative mechanical changes of pregnancy itself, not a complication of labour or delivery.

When should I stop waiting and go get this checked?

If nerve-type pain (radiating, tingling, or burning down the leg) is still present at the three-month mark, that's a reasonable point to seek evaluation rather than continuing to wait — and any numbness, weakness, or bladder/bowel symptoms warrant being seen right away, not on a routine timeline.