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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

SPD sufferers - when did you finish work?

44 replies

helsi · 03/01/2006 09:47

SPD is getting worse andI could cry with it. Painkillers work short term, crutches are ok but impractical with a 3 year old, belt is useless.
18 weeks to go and trying to work out when would be best to finish work to rest as even driving is killing me now.
Didn't want to start mat leave 11 weeks before as wanted more time off at the end with the baby.

OP posts:

Enid · 03/01/2006 09:56

sorry to hear your spd is so bad so early on. Are you having physio?

I don't have spd but i do have ppp - posterior pelvic pain, similar to spd but at the back IYSWIM. Mine is painful and I have occasional bursts of agony but I still function pretty normally. I am seeing a physiotherapist AND an acupuncturist who really helped during my last pg. It is all very expensive though.

if you qualify for additional maternity leave then you could leave roughly at the end of Feb - the earliest I can go is 12 Feb and I am currently 23 weeks pg.

Enid · 03/01/2006 09:57

sorry meant to say I can go on normal maternity leave on the 12 feb, but if you add on additional maternity leave (£106 a week) I dont actually have to go back until next Feburary

morningpaper · 03/01/2006 10:07

What about working at home?

If you give up, will you still be able to have childcare for your 3 yo? To be honest, going to work is MUCH easier than looking after a child if you are suffering with SPD.

I worked right until the end with SPD with my first pregnancy - it was agony but colleagues were very helpful, lifting me in and out of car, wheeling me to the toilet and helping me in and out etc. It would have been awful whereever I was, to be honest, and at least at work I had help. But driving wasn't a problem - it was only getting in and out of the car that I couldn't manage and people helped me with that.

morningpaper · 03/01/2006 10:09

I didn't bother with painkillers - it didn't make any difference. What helped was the advice from the physio but it took discipline to follow it to the letter. It didn't stop the pain but it helped me to be more mobile. I went fortnightly.

Enid · 03/01/2006 10:15

yes agree with mp that the only thing that made any difference to me in my last pg was to follow the advice of the physio TO THE LETTER. I never bother with painkillers - you can only take paracetamol anyway and they are rubbish with this kind of pain

Helen38 · 03/01/2006 10:17

Poor you
If it is this bad already could you not get signed off sick for a bit rather than start mat leave early?
My experience of SPD has taught me that if it hurts you prob shouldn't be doing it, is your mw sympathetic? have you talked to her about your options? Belt may not seem to help but it will be holding things together even if it doesn't seem to be helping, I somehow forgot to put mine on christmas day and really knew about it afterwards.
Am sending lots of hugs and empathy to you and enid too, I have got 8wks to go of 3rd pg and get it each time, did you get it last time? I know that each time it has gone after baby arrived so that keeps me going, hope you can sort something out and get some rest

trace2 · 03/01/2006 10:42

oh helsi i had SPD from 21 weeks spent a lot of time in hospital for bed rest, i couldnt even travel in car because every bump was very pain full, physo didnt work, i went to 38 weeks, last 3 in hospital and they tried to start me off but didnt work so i had a c section

bossykate · 03/01/2006 11:20

get physio! it really helped me.

btw, until 4/6wks (check this - it's no earlier than 6wks anyway) before your due date you can be signed off sick (i.e. not on mat leave) by your gp even if the ailment is pg related - so you can get time off w/o triggering the start of your mat leave.

hth and good luck.

kate100 · 03/01/2006 11:35

I was off sick with SPD from 28 weeks, but as I was a teacher I really couldn't do my job. Your maternity leave won't start automatically until 36 weeks even if you're off sick and if it's pregnancy related it doesn't get counted as 'normal' sickness.

hornbag · 03/01/2006 11:47

I intended to work until 2 wks befoe due date but ended up finishing a week earlier than that -looking back I don't know why I didn't finish even sooner as I was in agony but, like you do, you carry on.
Colleagues were good to me though and, because of the nature of my work at the time, my workload was minimum by that stage as I'd handed cases over/finished my involvement/ or cases were deemed unsuitable H&S-wise.
I found the belt didn't help. Crutches did but I didn't have those until the last 3-4wks.
Good luck helsi

Mae1 · 03/01/2006 12:40

I was signed off sick by my consultant at 6mths (planned on working up to 8th month) - my maternity leave didn't kick in until month 8.
I was working in an office and the consultant recommended no more work as sitting in one position for a long period of time (ie at a desk) was not on! Took me by surprise but SPD & Sciatica was really painful. I'd speak to your consultant and raise the problems you're having.
Good luck.

Original poster

helsi · 03/01/2006 12:46

Thanks everyone. Been to midwife this am and she has recommended that I speak to my GP as she thinks he may sign me off for a bit. She said that as the baby moves up it may get better but as she moves back down again ready for birth then it will return. Great.
I am now sat at work totally fed up with painful bits and bum and noting is working.

Sorry to whinge but I am really fed up. Thanks for listening.

OP posts:

Helen38 · 03/01/2006 12:51

Sounds like that would be the best, go see gp soon. Resting really does help, mine has been better without the school run to do. hope it improves soon for you.

Original poster

helsi · 03/01/2006 13:34

going at 3.30 today

OP posts:

twirlaround · 03/01/2006 13:35

My GP agreed part time hours for me - that helped a lot

Enid · 03/01/2006 13:35

mine is agony today as went swimming yesterday which has definitely irritated it.

hope you get signed off helsi.

SantaClausFrau · 03/01/2006 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

helsi · 03/01/2006 14:19

I have made subtle enquiries with HR and if I go sick they will start Mat leave at 11 weeks before.

OP posts:

Enid · 03/01/2006 14:20

yes you can go 11 weeks before - hence I could start my mat leave on Feb 12 (soooooooooo tempting ) despite not being due until April 30.

Original poster

helsi · 03/01/2006 14:29

I just didn't want to finsih that early as wanted more time off at the other end. I am due 9th May so 21st February is very early. this means I might be signed off sick today for 2 and a bit weeks. If I take a further 4 weeks leave at the end that means I would return to work in Spet and my baby would only be 4 months old

OP posts:

bossykate · 03/01/2006 14:30

helsi

that is not right. your employers cannot force you to start mat leave for pg related sickness absence any earlier than 4 wks before your due date.

see this

Original poster

helsi · 03/01/2006 14:34

bossykate I didn't read it like that. My sickness is pregnancy related and would start before the 4 weeks before I am due - have I missed something?

OP posts:

bossykate · 03/01/2006 14:42

ok, i'm not a lawyer or employment expert, but i read...

"If the sickness absence is before the last 4 weeks of the pregnancy the absence should be dealt with in line with the usual sickness procedures which would apply to the woman"...

as - if you're signed off for a pg related matter before 4 wks before your due date, then you are simply treated as sick, just as any other ee would be. they can't make you start your mat leave before 36wks even if your illness is pg related.

Original poster

helsi · 03/01/2006 14:52

ah yes I see what you mean bossykate thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

helsi · 03/01/2006 16:46

I've been to Dr - he wants me to have a week off. have given me stronger co-codamol and said they are safe but have read leaflet and not too sure. Tried to ring boss but he'd gone home. will have to ring him in the morning.

OP posts:

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