The short answer: no, it's not too late
We hear this question almost every week: "I'm 34 weeks. Is it even worth starting now?" Yes. Some of the most rewarding work we do happens in the last 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy.
You don't need months of visits to feel a difference. Many moms feel real relief from sciatica or pelvic pain within the first one or two sessions, because we're working with what's irritated right now, not building a long-term program from scratch.
Why sciatica flares in the third trimester
As your baby grows, your center of gravity shifts forward. Your low back arches more, your glutes and deep hip muscles work overtime, and relaxin loosens the ligaments around your pelvis. That combination can irritate the sciatic nerve as it passes through your buttock and down your leg.
The good news: most pregnancy "sciatica" is driven by muscle tension, joint position, and how you're moving through the day. Those are all things we can change.
What a third-trimester PT visit looks like
At Awake, every visit is a full hour, one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. For late-pregnancy pain, that usually includes:
Hands-on treatment to calm the muscles around your hip, glutes, and low back (myofascial release, gentle joint work, and cupping when appropriate).
Positions that take pressure off, for sleeping, sitting at work, and getting in and out of the car.
A few targeted movements you can do at home in 5 to 10 minutes a day.
Daily-life strategies, like how to roll over in bed, climb stairs, and lift your older child with less pain.
The bonus: birth prep
Starting PT in the third trimester also means you get birth preparation. We teach you how to relax and lengthen your pelvic floor for pushing, positions that open your pelvis in labor, and what to expect in early postpartum recovery. Moms who come in for pain often leave saying the birth prep was the most valuable part.
[patient story: a mom who started at 34-36 weeks with sciatica and how she felt by delivery]
Ready to get some relief?
We see pregnant patients from Woodbury, Stillwater, Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove, Hudson, and across the east metro. Call (651) 432-0250 or request an appointment. Let our team know how far along you are so we can get you in as soon as possible.
Ready to get some relief?
We see pregnant patients from Woodbury, Stillwater, Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove, Hudson, and across the east metro. Call (651) 432-0250 or request an appointment. Let our team know how far along you are so we can get you in as soon as possible.
