Taking drugs whilst pregnant ....

[SilverLining]

OK - heres the facts, pregnant with no 2, 35 + 2 weeks, and have had Sacro-iliac pain for the last 6 - 8 weeks. Its slowly getting worse and I can't sleep at night without biting the pillow and sobbing when DH isn't awake! I've seen a physio who apart from telling me I have a very high pain threshold (show me a mummy who doesn't!!) theres not a lot she can do.

Midwife told me I could take nurofen before I go to bed at night but if that doesn't work to go to the GP. It made no difference at all so went to GP only to be told that taking nurofen is the worst thing to take as it can cause breathing difficulties in the baby! Great!! So now feeling totally guilty about poisoning my unborn child, she said she could prescribe something if it gets "really bad" but otherwise just take paracetamol. I can't believe it could get any worse without me jumping out of the window but I'm loath to take anything stronger after the whole nurofen scare but is it OK to take paracetamol every day for 5 weeks?

I feel such a lightweight and had none of this first time round but I really could cry all day at the thought of going to bed and it starting again .....

Any thoughts very welcome ... SL x

[Nemo1977]

The reason paracetamol is safe is because it does not cross the placenta. So you should be ok taking it for the 5weeks if that is what the gp has said...double check with a pharamcy to get some extra advice

[Rachey1969]

Poor you, I can't advise about your situation but a week ago when I was in agony with a migraine (16 wks preg) I took migraleve at midnight with no-one to ask. When I told the midwife she suggested that I ring NHS direct (24hrs) and ask them - it's the type of thing they are there for. Also, I would always trust a pharmacist over a GP with drugs (whether for myself or a child) they know all the side effects/contraindications etc better than GPs who are a bit rusty in my experience!

[suzi2]

Hi SL. I suffer from hyperflexibility - made much worse by pregnancy and have had a lot of sacro-illiac pain and problems. I believe that taking paracetamol for 5 wks is fine - although you might find that it stops having the same effect after a while.

Non-drug things that help me are... hot (or sometimes cold) water bottles. Rolling my hips on my gym ball really helps. Osteopathy has helped me too - although they are limited in how much they can do when you're pregnant. But deep tissue massage into my gluteals helped.

The problem is the sleep thing - I struggle too as if I do fall asleep I wake in agony from being in one position too long. Hope you find something that works.

Sus, x

[TinyGang]

Poor you SL - how miserable for you and with another child to look after too! So exhausting just when you want to be blooming and conserving your strength for the new babyYou most certainly are not a lightweight - it's horrible to be in such pain all the time.

I had terrible pain during the last weeks with my first dd, but not as bad as you - baby had positioned herself on a nerve and I could barely walk. Hot baths helped and I spent so long in one that dh kindly offered to top it up and accidentally poured a kettle of scalding water on my leg. So I then had a terrible burn too that needed hospital treatment - happy days.

Anyway, I remember I used a TENS machine for the backpain. Some people find they help - I can't say it did much for me really but it took my mind off it somewhat. Others swear by them for pain relief, so might be worth a try. My midwife lent me one.

I would be very cross about the conflicting advice re the neurofen. Why can't these people get the facts right and agree on these things before they advise? It causes such worry.

Really hope you feel better soon.

[morningpaper]

Has the physio tried you with the girdles/belts? There are several on the market. I'm finding it is helped me this time around.

Also avoid sitting down on hard chairs - this is definitely what makes mine 10 times worse.

I'm sure you know all this! There are lots of positions that I can put myself in where the pain is minimalised - during my last pregnancy I gave up sleeping in the bed and slept propped up on the sofa. This helped a great deal.

I don't find that paracetamol actually makes any difference to the pain - do you think it helps?

[morningpaper]

I use about ten pillows and cushions at night this time around to keep my legs parallel (slightly apart) - also I sleep in the spare bedroom so I can get myself into a comfyish position on a double bed. It's not too bad with all of this - although I could do with some staff to help me roll over...

[TinyGang]

Oh yes, I'd forgotten about the 99 pillows etc!

It's so hard to change postion too hauling the weight about, and infuriating because I seemed to need the toilet every 20 minutes.

[Meid]

I understand! Am a sufferer of sacro-illiac pain too. Am also hyper-mobile and pregnant.

I discussed pain killers with the doctor. He said that, other than paracetomol (which doesn't even touch the pain for me) I can take co-codimol (sp?). He said this is fine as long as I don't take it too often and not too near the birth as it contains codine which could pass to the baby.

As you are 35 weeks I expect 'too near the birth' applies to you.

And, personally, I opted not to accept his offer of a prescription.

Agree with the comments of a gym ball.
Also, how about massage - not necessary on the point of pain but to relax the rest of the back that is probably stiffening up in compensation.
My phsyio also suggested that I sleep on my side... with the painful side higher, and the painful leg kind of flopping forward over the non-painful leg. If that makes sense. It then means less pressure/weight on the bad side and kind of stretches the bad side out overnight.
But of course I know any position is hard at 35 weeks. And its natural to want to change positions at night and I can relate to the biting of the pillow!

I would be interested to hear what tips you have been given. I have suffered with this for a few years since having my DD, but I'm now 15 weeks pregnant and its already back. I know as I get bigger it will get worse. So any tips gratefully received!

[SilverLining]

Thanks so much everyone! Made me weepy in my over tired emotional state!!! I've tried support belts but with no success sadly - its not round my bump as such but more my hips and suzi2 you are so right - I get to sleep and then wake in absolute agony. DH is working away this week so am in bed on my own which is a good thing although I have been contemplating the sofa too! I've been getting some relief with pillows between my legs but I do need staff to help with the turning!!!! Is my DD too young do you think???! Poor love had a nightmare last night and was screaming for me with fright and I just couldn't move - kept saying "Mummy's coming" but had to wait for my legs to move!!! She then laughed at me and said "Why do you walk so funny??" took her mind off the nightmare!!!

I'll try the gym ball tonight and Meid's positional ideas - I've tried some paracatamol today and it might have helped so maybe try some more before bed in an attempt to get to sleep - is a strong gin and tonic out of the question??!!!

Thanks so much everyone - glad I'm not considered a lightweight!!! SL xx

[morningpaper]

I'm all in favour of the strong gin and tonic.

The best kind of belts are specifically for this complaint and are worn right around the hips, well under the bump. They are uncomfy and ugly and definitely restrict movement around the (extra fat) thigh area (!) but I do find it helps with the pain, and keeps things 'together'.

The main tip I have had from the physios is to practice buttock-clenching as often as possible - particularly when moving from a sitting to a standing position.