25 weeks loose skin and sickness :(

[Rosduk]

I lost 8 stone a long time ago which has resulted in very loose skin around my waist. I was hoping my bump would suck it up but it hasnt and I also think it is affecting my back as I am getting a really heavy pulling feeling over the top of my bump and my back is killing me. I have seen the midwife and she has said it will affect my back but hasnt really offered any advice yet so I really wanted to know if anyone else has experience of this. I also feel like I keep seeing pictures of people with the 'perfect bump' so I feel quite alone in this!

I'm 25 weeks and also still being sick fairly reguarly and nauseous alot of the time. This may be affecting my back too which is really miserable especially since I work in a nursery where everything including the chairs are child height! Just feeling low and need a boost!

Has your midwife referred you for physio? I think that is more likely to help than anything the midwife can suggest.

A support belt might help while you're waiting for a referral, so might sitting on an exercise ball. Could you have an exercise ball to sit on at work too? What about pilates or aqua-natal?

Not the same thing, but I'm 18 weeks and having a problem with both my coccyx and a joint which is making everything painful, so I really sympathise with your discomfort. Some days I walk like a 75 year-old!

I have just bought myself a support belt and a ball so hopefully they will make a difference! work is more difficult with a bunch of 4 year olds and there's not much space so I need to look at my options. At the moment I'm being sick so much I've not been going in but I really need the money as I don't get sick pay! so difficult to know what to do x

It is so hard when you suffer badly from sickness. I'm 22 weeks with twins and have suffered throughout my pregnancy- I've been signed off for 3/4 weeks when I was really bad. It's still on and off now, although I can sometimes go a few days without being sick, then it comes back again full force and knocks me off my feet!

Have you decided when to take your maternity leave?

I am taking early maternity leave at 30 weeks - mainly because I'm not coping but also I don't get sick pay so I'm earning so little it won't make much difference. I'm registering to do child minding at the moment so we decided I can start that earlier after the baby is born if need be. It was a very hard decision as I really wanted to make it til the end if term but Its becoming less and less likely with the sickness etc and messing around my colleagues at the same time.

try these simple excercises to relieve back pain and breathe a lot www.womenfitness.net/top10_yoga_exercises.htm if you get a chance, go swimming. i am 25 weeks and started swimming 3-4 times a week a few weeks ago and it makes a huge difference.
hope you feel better!