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??

[flymo79]

Fascinating stuff, def going to speak with MW and have asked dp to cancel a trip in my last month as suddenly realised he could've been four hours away and I might be prone to early or quick labour. Yeeks. Knees and hips seem to be getting worse so will check out Pilates link

[Titsalinabumsquash]

The pelvis went back to it's pre pregnancy state which is always bigger than it should be, the pain relief was pretty instant though after DS was born. I haven't done anything other than extreme pelvic floor muscles.

I was advised though when I have more children to go straight to a chiropractor to keep the pelvis aligned to stop it happening as bad again.

[Artistic]

Wow! That's really quick! Did the pelvis get back to normal after? Did you have to do special exercises?

[Titsalinabumsquash]

I have HMS, I dislocate a lot, especially my shoulder and hips.

I had ds3 18 months ago, for the last 5 months of the pregnancy I was in a wheel chair in hospital on very strong painkillers. I think the gap in my pelvis was three times the size it was meant to be by 20 weeks!

The birth was 16 minutes start to finish though the downside was I didn't know I was in labour (same happened with ds2) and gave birth mostly in the lift of the hospital!)

[Artistic]

Hi Everyone, this thread has been a real eye-opener for me.

I suffer from hypermobility of some joints combined with flat feet. In my last pregnancy, owing to the joint softening along with my existing problems, my knees got battered and suffered a lot of permanent damage. At the time I was not wearing orthotics as my flat feet had never troubled me at all. During the delivery I had epidural, which worked well, but left me with a horrendous headache for 48 hours. After the delivery I suffered really painful hips for several months (and never ever considered it was owing to hypermobility + pregnancy). I always blamed it on the excess fat on my hips!!!

But I have to say I had a high-speed delivery. Water-breaking to baby-in-arms in 5 hours. Things moved really fast. This time around, am told it could be faster (only owing to my history, not hypermobility).

Its all making sense now. Thanks a lot for sharing your tips.

[ismarah]

Thanks Elf that's very interesting.

[elfandsafeT]

Ismarah - the first one was a crash section as I was haemorrhaging and baby's heart rate was dipping. 2nd one was by agreement given what happened first time (although I was going to try VBAC as I felt I should try/experience a natural birth! - good job I didn't as consultant said I would have ruptured had I tried once he saw the mess they'd made of my uterus the first time).

So to be fair nothing to do with the hypermobility or the SPD - unless you're more prone to placental abruption with hypermobility - which I don't think is the case!

[Stom91]

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.

[miraculous2]

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!

[ismarah]

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

[ismarah]

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.

[Regressionconfession]

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.

[elfandsafeT]

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).

[Regressionconfession]

Anyone got

[freezingdrizzle]

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.

[Saraswati]

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?

[ismarah]

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.

[angeltulips]

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

[ViviPru]

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?

[ismarah]

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.

[flymo79]

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...

[livingzuid]

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.

[Stom91]

Me =MW

[Stom91]

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

[JaffaSnaffle]

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.