Physical postnatal health

[Louba4]

Hello,

So once again I’m turning to Mumsnet! You lovely people have honestly been my rock through pregnancy and afterwards

Anyways, this might be a long one! So basically, DS is just over 3 months old and I’m really not coping physically. I’m almosy 24, and this is my first baby, however I suffered with persistent back pain in my late teens. I think I’d had a suspected slipped disc, but the physiotherapist I saw back then wasn’t overly helpful, and I feel as though I wasn’t really taken seriously because of my age and there was no real cause to why I’d be in so much pain. I also had a lot of pain during pregnancy, which I saw another physiotherapist for (lovely) and who had advised to consider having a more active birth, or a water birth.

As you can imagine, this didn’t go to plan and I was (or it felt like) strapped to a bed for 10 hours during labour which was the worst position physically for my back. I also had an epidural to help with the pain, which I’m also told can cause back pain later on.

So now I’m seeing another physiotherapist for diastasis recti and she’s also aware of my back pain but I’ve only been given pelvic floor exercises to focus on.

The pain I'm in now is excruciating, lifting DS who is only getting heavier is becoming a massive struggle, along with all of the other normal things like pushing the pram for longer than five minutes, doing housework. Most of these I can’t avoid or don’t want to.

DP is a massive help when he’s home but he’s due to start a new job soon which means he’ll be out of the house around 12 hours a day.

I’ve been told to get as much help as I can day to day, but all of my friends have babies of their own, and I’m dealing with family members that say they will come over and help, and then cancel last minute. (Except my mum!)

I’m heading to see my doctor shortly, but I’m not sure what he’ll advise.

I just wanted to know if anyone else had been in a similar situation? What helped? Do I just need to get on with it?

Thank you!

hi I hope you’re feeling a little better. I have previously posted about how effective and positive an osteopath has been for me. Personally my experience of physio has been limited and not that effective. May be worth having a look around locally for an osteopath or chiropractors who can look at your back issues and they can manipulate the body. Works absolute wonders for me and I shall be going to mine for my back now I’m over the 6 week check. This is just my experience and for you a physio may be the answer but worth considering?

Have you been to the GP yet OP? What have they said? I hope they haven’t just fobbed you off with pain killers.

Thank you @EmsDods a chiropractor is probably a really good idea, although I’m not sure we could afford it at the minute with me being on maternity, but definitely something to consider for after Christmas I think! Yeah, my experience with physio is that the initial appointment is great, you have a plan of action and exercises to work on, but when they don’t work it seems to just fizzle out!

@JiltedJohnsJulie unfortunately yes, I have been fobbed off with some painkillers! My GP also said to only take one if I really really need to, so I’m not sure what to make of that! He has also told me to refer myself to yet another physiotherapist, as he thinks the hospital ones won’t be any good for my back?!

@zzzzz I’m not no