Bad back am I just being a wuss?

[Clairejessicamiller]

It's been 12 weeks since my last period and scan next week so will know how far along I actually am. I work in a supermarket doing online grocery so a lot of lifting, pushing, bending etc. 3 weeks ago I was at work and getting shooting pains all across my lower back and lower stomach. I rang midwife who said its most likely just everything stretching and I'd been over doing it but not really concerned as my stomach pain had gone and said to take a few days off work. I've not been back to work since and am due back this Friday. I have some days better than others but I find it's getting worse and in the mornings and evenings I can barely get up and down stairs or out of a chair easily. The pain is right on my tailbone with pain across my hip and into my bum cheeks. Is this just normal pregnancy pains and I'm being a wuss?

Some aches and pains are inevitable in most pregnancies, but that doesn't mean you just have to grin and bear it. Ask your GP or midwife to refer you to physio. They can give you advice about posture and how to maybe adapt the way you do some activities, also perhaps some strengthening exercises. Better to start doing the right things early before baby starts getting bigger and then it's harder to make a difference with treatment. There are probably some really simple things you could do/change that would help.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I rang the midwife earlier who thankfully said she would refer me to the midwife but said she doubted they could do anything about it and would be a cole of weeks until I hear anything. Also being my first baby she said they couldn't tell if it was something that would get better or worse. I have been trying not to slouch etc too :)

Here's a link from the Women's Health physio interest group (UK). You can download the advice booklet.

pogp.csp.org.uk/publications/pregnancy-related-pelvic-girdle-pain-mothers-be-new-mothers

The physio will probably say much the same, but it might get you started and if you feel better later, you can always cancel the physio appointment? You can't always tell if it will get better or worse but getting early advice is surely giving it more chance to get better!

Do your employers know that youre pregnant? They will have to do a risk assessment to ensure that you don't hurt yourself (as you're much more likely to when you're pregnant, as you know!) In the kind of work you're doing I would let them know sooner rather than later, you don't want to do damage to your back which might hang around. Something I find really difficult about being pregnant is not knowing where my limits are - things which I would normally do or lift without thinking about it suddenly are very painful, if not immediately then the next day. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Your aches and pains sound very similar to mine (I'm 26 weeks and my pain started around 17 weeks and ha s gone worse). Pain in tailbone, lower back, bum muscles.

I'm waiting to hear back about physio.

here's hoping we find some magical cure!