Anyone with hypermobility ??

[lj123]

I'm currently 10weeks and 3 days pregnant.
Back pain and cramps for the last 3 days.
I called in sick today because my back just aches and I work with children so involved a lot of bending and lifting etc.
Any experience??

I'm only 5 weeks pregnant but marking my place with interest...I have hyper mobility in my wrists and ankles. The impact of pregnancy on this does worry me but my physio told me to just ramp up my exercises. I'd be really interested to hear other peoples experiences.

I have always suffered with my hips an back, this is my 6th pregnancy but will be 1st baby (has to work this time)
I'm under the impression that with hormones telling your body to relax muscles and joints etc when they are already lax isn't going to be without a bit of discomfort but usually I take cocodamol for bad days, however only being able to consume paracetamol isn't really touching the sides.

I have (and always have had) hypermobility in my knees, hips and elbows. I am 24w3ds pregnant.

If you see a physio already - they will be able to recommend exercises etc to help.

If not, and apologies if this is stuff you already know - pilates is your friend. It will help build the muscles around the joints as well as teaching you how to move for your body. That and swimming - just make sure you use very controlled leg movements if you have it in your hips. Also, get your midewife/GP to get you a physio referral. I only had to have a couple of (pre-pregnancy) sessions (to learn the exercises) but it made a world of difference learning how I should/should move/sit/stand and it has been a massive bonus to my pregnancy.

Make sure you get a decent maternity pillow. Having something I could wedge between my knees/thighs and have support my bump and torso has made sleeping much more comfortable.

The bonus is that there is no sign yet of me losing the ability to shave my legs/do up my shoes

Thank you :)
My midwife did say she will refer me to have a support fitted!
I use to do Pilates but it got pricey.
I already sleep with a pillow wedged steen knees lol I think I always have, good force of habit I guess but I will invest in a decent pillow.
How did you find back pain?? X

I have just had my second baby and am hypermobile. I was diagnosed after my first as i had a very bad tear (which unfortunately can be worse for hypermobile people).

this hmsa link may be useful for you.

Paracetamol is ok to take during pregnancy and it will help. Along with a heat bag or hot water bottle on your back as required.

Listen to your body and take things easy, its around 17-19 weeks when the relaxin hormone kicks in.

Cravingcake, thank you for the link.
I'm hoping this pregnancy sticks, feeling more positive, I'm actually not fussed about a tear as long as I get there lol shame it's more popular for us but if it has to happen then so be it I have a bad habbit at the moment for while drying my hair I'll find I'm putting the hair dryer air on my back lol I do have a nice microwave hippo. X

How are you getting on, lj123?

I have HMS too, I'm only 8 weeks and no extra pg related issues yet but I've made a few adaptations just in case.

I have had two children, and am hypermobile. It affected my hips most of all. With my DD1, I didn't pay a lot of attention to it, but ended up with very sore hips towards the end. Second time round, I was much more cautious and avoided the things that set off the pain, (pushing supermarket trollies, long walks etc). Also, was very careful getting in and out of cars, taking small steps etc. Both times, I found it was much more relevant in the 3rd trimester due to the extra weight. Saw a physio, wore a hip band. These all helped.
Had two relatively speedy labours (4-10cm in 2 hours), think this can be one bonus of hypermobility in pregnancy. :) But, it is also a good idea to get it into your notes, to help your midwife be aware of any positions that might cause you pain.

Hi I'm hypermobile and had dd 16 weeks ago
All I can say was being pregnant was painful don't over exert yourself. Paracetamol baths hot water bottles all helped and don't over so it at work and if you need to stop then stop. I was due in December but had to go off sick in July. I felt so guilty but it was the good of me and baby.

Also with hypermobile puts you at risk
Of early labour and rapid labour.
I kept telling my mw about the rapid labour. The community me was fine but the labour ward me wouldn't believe me so make sure you get your point across as I had dd in 4 hours (from first contraction to holding her)
Make sure it's written in your notes that's you're hypermobile.

X

Me =MW

Thank you for starting this thread! I have hypermobility in my hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders (so all of my arms basically) and for the last two weeks have had huge puffy hands and my fingers, wrists and elbows have been incredibly sore. My fingers feel arthritic and I wake up in such pain sometimes and can't hold things properly. I'm now at 35 and a bit weeks.

So given what you have posted and from the experience of others, it is to do with the hypermobility. It never occurred to me that could be a problem in pregnancy. I will ask my consultant about it but I guess there is not much we can do apart from stretches and a few exercises?

I found my pelvic area and back pain improved with pregnancy yoga and going for walks. I have a bit of hypermobility in that area but not to the extent of my upper body. As well as going to the physio I'd recommend a good class or dvd. They normally advise you to start from 14 weeks so in the second trimester.

This explains a lot! Thanks once again and hope you find some relief soon.

ooh, thanks for this thread! had no idea hypermobility could lead to rapid labour, now I need to speak to my MW! am 26 weeks and getting more severe hip pain and pain in my lower back/SI joint. I have a feeling I've got a tilted pelvis which means I've always had gip in my hip, but it's been far worse this week. I need to stop doing things in the garden and pushing it with the cleaning etc. but it's very tempting to just get stuff done! Will maybe see if GP can refer me to a physio...

I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and hypermobility, currently 31weeks pregnant. I have SPD and round ligament pain - which is an increased risk in hypermobile preggos.

You might want to look up the Pelvic Partnership charity if you have these issues as a lot of the obstetric medical bods I've seen simply and wrongly say a physio will only advise you regarding activities. This is not true but you might need to find a specialist physio to deal with you. They also mention osteopathy and acupuncture as possible aids, I've tried neither so can't comment.

My main problem at the moment is trying to make sure i don't dislocate my right hip joint, and pain. Paracetamol is perfectly fine during pregnancy - don't be a martyr if you're inclined to worry about the baby - take the drugs. Also, if pilates has helped you in the past, there are maternity pilates videos on youtube - or available on DVD, so if you can follow the videos at home, cost might not be such an issue.

I have a strong resistance to local anesthetic which my dentist believes is related to my HMS. Have any of you experienced this? Those who have experienced pregnancy/labour before, has your HMS affected pain relief to your knowledge?

I am very hypermobile, and I must repeat what others have said: Pilates Pilates Pilates. You MUST do it. Don't do preg yoga if you have any hypermobility in your back or hips, it may make it worse.

Hip bands helped for me too. I had a elcs as they were worried about my hips being damaged in labour, and it was fine. Be careful after birth too; floppy wrists and flexible backs need to be looked after when you're varying infants around.

Good luck! Xx

Hypermobility and EDS both can affect how drugs work in your system - or don't. Which is one of my concerns about birth, particularly as I'm known to have contrary drug reactions and severe allergies.

Definitely something to mention to your MW.

It's also not a bad idea to be aware of how you should move if you had SPD and just sort of incorporate those anyway. Things like how you get up, in and out of the car and so on, as they are best practice for preggos anyway.

Wow thanks for this thread! I am only 4+4 so just dipping a toe in mumsnet but I'd never even thought about the effects of my hyper mobility on my pregnancy. I have bad wrists, shoulders, toes and hips can be bad so I'll be watching this thread with interest! I've also read that local anaesthetics don't work well on hyper mobile people and have experienced thus myself, I wonder if any of the drugs they give you in labour fall into this category?

I have found that yoga has been my saviour over the last few years and I will continue throughout this pregnancy, anyone got any other advice?

marking place :) 23 weeks with second baby. Ehlers danlos & hyper mobile esp in hips. My first labour was 10 days early & 3 hours start to finish so I definitely recommend making sure everyone involved in your births knows your history. I have a pretty good physio, but I should really be doing pilates. Can anyone recommend a book or website with some exercises? Difficult for me to get to a class at the mo. Thanks.

Anyone got

I am extremely hypermobile and have it in every joint except my elbows. I have a 3 and 5 year old. I did Pilates during my first pregnancy and in fact ever since. In my 1st pregnancy I ended up with SPD towards the end of the 2nd trimester - was shuffling around by the end. However, I was dreading a reoccurrence in the 2nd pregnancy but was absolutely fine, partly as I'd been doing the Pilates for a long time by then, but also I think how low down in your pelvis the baby sits.

So even if you get it in one pregnancy doesn't necessarily mean you'll get it again or vice versa - but agree Pilates helps a lot.

I had a c section both times and the spinal wore off while I was being stitched up with the 2nd one which wasn't pleasant - so maybe It's not just local anaesthetics. Having said that I've just had a micro-discectomy (cumulative effect of hypermobility and carrying heavy children for 5 years!) and in that case it took them an hour to bring me round from the anaesthetic - so the opposite with a GA (but might not be connected).

Anyone got any thoughts on breastfeeding and hyper mobility? I think whilst breast feeding the relaxant hormone is still in the body. My daughter is 9 months and I'm noticing it more now rather than when I was pregnant. Mine is very mild by the way - usually just achey in the morning.

Elf Regarding your C sections, were they by maternak request or medical reasons? I'm curious as I would prefer an ELCS but am struggling to get listened to. I've seen Obs registrars twice and got nowhere and am now booked specifically to see a consultant about this.

It doesn't help that the EDS people I've seen (recent diagnosis) have CC'd Obs on their declaration that a C section is not medically required just because of EDS. I contend that considering my specific medical history, healing / stitches etc as well as adverse drug reactions, I'd rather skip the middle man and go straight to a planned section and not risk ending with an EMCS which is likely to have more complications.

Bringing DH next time to help argue. Sigh.

Freezing I haven't tried this myself but this is just on Youtube: m.youtube.com/watch?v=2qo_nCKpTcM&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2qo_nCKpTcM

Pilates is great and you can do just as much good with a video at home. I like the look of the one posted here (I just watched the intro - I'll do it when my cold gets better!).

Slight word of caution with the arm-swinging stuff - HMS sufferers usually have pretty bad proprioception (your brain knowing where your body parts are in space) so things like windmilling your arms backwards like in the intro has to be done slowly and carefully so you're not throwing your arms through a range of motion that is really way beyond the safe limits of your joints.

Thanks for posting the video!

Bit late to the thread but I find that local anaesetics don't work on me either I hate going to the dentist for that reason but I had gas & air during labour worked fine! My labour was 4 hour first contraction was 11am abd baby was born 3pm (first baby) born jan 2014
I wanted a water birth as the water helps my hms but idols be due to the contractions being too close together. 20-30 seconds apart from start to finish so had to be in a monitor

Also when i was pregnant the MW told me that it's all changed for people with hms now it used to be that you'd have consultant lead care and the option of a c-section but that all changed.