SPD, work and mat leave dilemma

[GeraldineFangedVagine]

Hi, im 30 weeks pregnant and have been suffering pelvic/hip pain since 20 weeks. I work in an acute nhs setting in a job which requires me to stand for sometimes hours at a time in the same place and to walk round my huge department. My work have made no adaptations apart from allowing me to avoid x rays. My gp prescribed codeine 30mg 6hrly which isnt touching the pain but makes me unable to focus which is no good for work. I do one day at work then cant walk for 4 days. I am awaiting physio. I am going on mat leave at 36 weeks but the midwife has suggested i get signed off sick till then, i have a gp appt tommorrow. I cant even really walk to the bus stop without suffering for it. I feel guilty as ive had 5 weeks off for pneumonia and 3 for hyperemesis. Really im asking is it the right thing to do, how likely will the gp be to agree and how can i stop feeling guilty? Thanks for reading to the end!

I would see the GP and be signed off for a couple of weeks as a time maybe enough rest will help it settle down. The problem with SPD is even when it settles down one day of doing the wrong thing takes you back to square 1.

I was signed off from 26 weeks in my last pregnancy due to SPD as sitting upright in a chair was unbearably painful. I was signed off for a couple of weeks at a time incase it miraculously got better.

This time I am magagjng the pain better by just avoiding things which set it off as much as possible while looking after a toddler ful time and I have found a osteopath who specliases in women's health I have had two treatments with her and I feel so much better. She has worked wonders so if you are signed off for a couple of weeks you could find someone who can really help and you could go back to work for a few weeks so you don't feel guilty.

Thanks for your reply. I thought i might ask to be signed off till the 10th as i have an occupational health appt then, they might be able to persuade my managers to find me some different work to do. Thanks for your suggestions. I would definately rather be at work than not.

Your GP can also issue a fit note stating things that you should avoid eg that you shouldn't stand for more than 30 mins every hour or whatever. Your employer then has the choice to make the adjustments or if they can't then you would be off sick - puts the ball in their court that way rather than you feeling guilty about being signed off.

I agree, talk to your GP and get him to sign you off for a couple of weeks until you've had your occupational health appointment and see what happens then.

I've been signed off for most of my pregnancy and won't go back - GP issued a fit note that work decided they couldn't meet.

My GP signed me off when i asked for a week, i self certified for one week too then i went and did my last week (36th week) at work before starting mat leave. He offered to do a sick note to reduce work loads but i declined at this wouldnt benefit me at all. I was really lucky that my boss was extremely understanding and allowed me to go in late and leave early as she cld see i was struggling! Cld u do this? I would def speak to your gp about being signed off as being at home has def helped my spd.

I would just get signed off.

I sadly don't have that luxury. If I don't work, I don't get paid.

If I had a 'proper' job, I wouldn't hesitate to finish now. I also can't walk, am in extreme pain and would love to be able to be signed off. Sigh.

Look after yourself.

Fit note is a good idea. At some point in pregnancy (can't remember when but you must be close) pregnancy related sick leave means your maternity leave starts then. I've got 28 weeks in mind but may be wrong. I thought it was standard not just the hospital I worked in.

It's 36 weeks for compulsory mat leave mouldy

Many people have resigned at my work recently so the workload is massive. As I am experienced I am often in charge of more junior people so its inevitable that I end up running around and need to support them and by default take on the more difficult tasks. I am often with the bare minimum of people possible and it just isn't fair not to pull my weight. I think my managers understand how hard I am finding work and know I'm in agony but at the same time need to meet the needs of the service. I am hoping occupational health can offer some suggestions but I can't imagine going in knowing how awful my working day will be until some sort of plan is in place. Thanks for all the help and advice.

Are you getting any help for your SPD?

I had it in both pregnancies; first time round midwives were very dismissive and I eventually got a couple of physio appointments in the last few weeks including a girdle/support belt thing that went around my hips and held the together which provided some relief.

2nd time around, different area. Mentioned it to midwife early on again (started around 12-14 weeks both times). She was sympathetic and immediately Referred me to physio who started appts a couple of weeks later. Got physio to knock me back into correct alignment, exercises and support belts (different as I got bigger), fortnightly sessions and although it hurt it didn't get anywhere near as bad as it did first time around.

I didn't need to walk very far nor was I at work which I'm sure would have exacerbated it further. If I had been, they would have given me crutches or a wheelchair - would having either of those help you? Even if you just had one at work it would help to remind others of your limitations and hopefully give you some relief.

And if you don't have a support belt - is there a friendly physio at work that could sort one out for you? My midwife was reluctant to refer me to the physio to get one on the basis of 'they don't work for everyone'. The physio however said they work for a hugely significant number of people (greater than 95%) and should always be tried as even if they don't help they can also stop it from getting any worse.

I was one of the ones that was helped by them and whist I was pregnant it was first thing I did in the morning - put it on. Choice between that and teeth brushing it would win every time if I was short of time - that's how important it became. (not a choice I needed to make very often thank goodness!)

Hope you get all the sorts of support you need sorted out very soon!

Agree with zipzap about seeking PT assessment and trying a belt, there are different ones to try too. The belt does not stop all he pain, it certainly works effectively enough to enable me to manage to get through the day (I am an nhs physio)
Also think that liaising with occ Heath as you mentioned is a good plan- they may well have some ideas about possible modifications to role now you are in the third trimester. Feel better soon

I'm a market trader and have horrible spd. I've been on mat leave since 33 weeks. I just couldn't do it any more without serious pain. I had a belt which helped somewhat but it just got too much. I could have been signed off but would only have got SSP so I just couldn't afford it.
Assuming that you arent work shy and looking for an excuse when not pg, then take the time off. You cant help being pg, hypermesis and SPD are pg related conditions and you can't be discriminated against for having them.
Get signed off and rest and don't worry.

It's absolutely the right thing to do. SPD is ex irritating and 7 years after DD I still get the old twinges and seize up now and then. I'm dreading having it again this time round. Your baby and long term health is fat more important than a job being pissed off for taking justified sick leave.

ps try the Red Cross. You can hire disabled aids. They were a godsend for me - wheelchair, crutches, shower stool, bar by the loo & bath. They were fantastic.

It sounds op like you are verh committed at work which is obviously commendable but you need ti put you and baby first. It sounds like as your short staffed and the experienced one work would struggle without You so they need to consider how to make that work. I saw a physio last week who was brilliant and whilst I have chosen not to have a support belt at the moment- only 21weeks and work are being flexible in your situation I would have.

You need to think I can either be here but will need to sit or I can't be here and consider what they would prefer? I had 3 weeks off to recover from back pain before they knew it was spd and was desperate to get back to work (primary school teacher so understand an active job!) But had to put baby first...