This is it — at 28 weeks pregnant, you're two-thirds of the way to the finish line as you enter the third trimester. And what a difference a trimester makes!
Gone, most likely, are the days when you could call pregnancy "comfortable" — that is, if you ever did. Now, your baby's kicking may be keeping you up at night (or during the day), your feet may be swollen, you could be feeling more tired again, and your backache could be that pain that just won't quit.
And even though she hasn't started crying yet, it may seem like your baby's getting on your nerves already — literally. As she gets settled into position for birth, your little one's head and your growing uterus may rest on the sciatic nerve in the lower part of your spine.
If that happens, you may feel sharp, shooting pain; tingling; or numbness that starts in your buttocks and radiates down the back of your legs — otherwise known as sciatica.
The pain of sciatica can be quite intense at times, and though it may pass if your baby shifts positions, it can also linger until you've delivered.
A heating pad, warm bath, stretches, or just some self-imposed bed rest can help with the discomfort. So can pregnancy-approved physical therapy and some complementary and alternative therapies.
