It’s been a week of lasts, as I start looking forward to all the firsts. First there was the last antenatal class last week (am I meant to feel ready to have a baby now? I bloody hope not!) and tonight is my last night in this yoga group – next week I make my way up to the Big Mama group for 30+ weeks. I’m also counting down to three big dates – 11 weeks until my due date, seven weeks until I go on maternity leave and three weeks until we move house. Eek!
There wasn’t really anything of note in the last antenatal class. It was basically two hours of local health visitors telling us about what they do, along with how to put baby safely to bed and how to bath them.
The most eventful moment of the last week was my midwife appointment. I mentioned last week that I’ve been feeling like I’ve been kicked between the legs and while at yoga I was advised to see a chiropractor. As soon as I mentioned it to the midwife she said I had pelvic dysfunction (previously known as Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction), handed me a leaflet and said she’d refer me for physio. It was only while reading the information while she was updating my notes that I realised what I was in for.
For those not in the know, pregnancy hormones soften the ligaments in the joints in the pelvis to prepare for labour. This can cause pelvic or low back pain, aggravated by walking, lifting and such. The good news is the pain goes away not long after the birth.
How to help:
- Rest as much as possible, in a comfortable position
- Don’t spend too much time on your feet
- Avoid walking
- Avoid straddle movements – getting in and out of the car/bed/bath
- Climb the stairs one step at the time
Since I’ve tried to do the above, I’ve noticed that the commute makes it worse! Bus seats are quite low and there’s not a lot of leg room and it can actually be quite agonising when I get off the bus! Or when I move too quickly or at an angle on the sofa or in bed…
Here’s the really fun part – any pain medication that I have while in labour will mask the pelvic pain, meaning it can take me longer to recover afterwards. The midwife said not to rule out an epidural but it’ll mean I’ll think I’m capable of more than what I really am. I’ll also be giving birth on my hands and knees, which I’ve thought might be more comfortable while at yoga, but sounds odd now that I’m thinking about it. Although they can’t do internal examinations at that angle, so I’ll be in and out of the bed for those. Joy!
Unlike most pregnancy symptoms, which disappear pretty much straight after birth, the pain is likely to linger for a good few weeks. Here’s what the handy leaflet recommends:
- Bed rest for 24-48 hours
- Move gradually, using elbow crutches or a walking frame
- Lift nothing other than baby – avoid this if someone else is around
- Don’t do housework or shopping for 3-6 weeks
- Continue to avoid straddle movements
- Avoid physical exercise until discussed with physiotherapist
When I called in at the doctors yesterday for my whooping cough vaccine, I checked to see if my referral for physio had gone through yet. It hadn’t – five days after my midwife appointment she still hadn’t written up my notes – so I’ll be chasing it again in a couple of weeks.
Have any other mummys/mum-to-bes experience pelvic dysfunction? Have you got any other tips or tricks to help with the pain?