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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

What can you actually do about PGP?

22 replies

owltrousers · 18/09/2017 15:59

Pelvic girdle pain, It seems to have come on thick and fast. I'm 23 weeks.

It hurts a lot to bend down / over / sometimes just walking. I seem to seize up once I sit down for the day. I'm starting to feel the pain constantly now too.

I'm seeing my midwife next week and will ask her to refer me for physio I've tried a bump band type brace but it obviously squeezes me too much and it gives me digestive issues and then good old paracetamol. , is there anything else?

OP posts:

Fluteytootey · 18/09/2017 16:00

Sorry no advice, but I feel your pain! I'm on crutches now at 35 weeks which has helped with the pain. Only 5 weeks to go!

Lozmatoz · 18/09/2017 18:39

A lot actually. Go to your GP and get referred to physio. With my first, I had a big belt which essentially held my pelvis together when I walked. It made a massive difference. There are also exercises they can give you to do.

Moanyoldcow · 18/09/2017 19:54

A Serola belt helps a lot.

I found a chiropractor more helpful than physio but it varies for different people.

Codeine helps with the pain - see your GP.

PGP was the single worst thing about pregnancy for me and that's after horrendous piles, high blood pressure and being obese during pregnancy.

If you get regular treatment sessions from now you will be in a better position. I had weekly chiropractic for the last 6 weeks and it really helped. I wish I'd discovered it earlier.

meltingmarshmallows · 19/09/2017 09:34

Physio has vastly improved mine. Also wearing a proper belt, I bought one myself and was wearing it upside down lol, and it wasn't the right belt for my PGP so since getting the one the physio recommended it's been a lot better.

It's never gone away (I'm 31w now) and if I walk around outside to go to an appointment or something, the next day it will be bad. But it's manageable and not getting any worse.

ColdFeetWarmHeart · 19/09/2017 09:41

I'm due tomorrow. I have had PGP from 16 weeks. I was referred to physio but mine wasn't very helpful and only saw me twice, informing me it will get better after delivery. If you do get referred to physio push for more appointments and maybe manipulations. My mum's friend has been seeing physio for it and that's really helped her.

I have used support belt and crutches to help me. Also using hot water bottles / wheat bags when I start to seize up. I've found that the most helpful actually.

My PGP has actually improved since about 34 weeks when baby started to drop as there isn't as much weight sitting on my hips. Pain is still there and I still have major issues climbing in and out of the bath or bed but I'm not longer sobbing my eyes out just trying to walk to the toilet!!

savagehk · 19/09/2017 09:46

I didn't have pgp as such but did have a strange twinge both pregnancies. Second pregnancy I went to a chiropractor specialising in pregnancy and she de-twinged me at the first session! Went for a few more to attempt to make sure my pelvis was as well aligned as possible (after a first birth with a stuck back to back baby) and it seems to have worked as second baby arrived without such complications.

Original poster

owltrousers · 19/09/2017 10:07

Thanks everyone. I think I'll see the midwife and push for some physio.

Those that went to chiropractors, was that privately?

OP posts:

Mamabooksbabynumber2 · 19/09/2017 10:08

The belt was amazing and crutches too!

Moanyoldcow · 19/09/2017 10:22

Yes - Chiro was private - about £50 a session so not cheap.

I was on crutches from about 28 weeks until delivery too which were a great help.

savagehk · 19/09/2017 10:35

Yes, private. And booked up fairly quickly too, so if it is something you want to consider worth looking sooner rather than later.

meltingmarshmallows · 19/09/2017 10:48

Sorry OP forgot to mention I had private physio, which was £50 for the first session and £40 for follow ups. I was referred for the NHS one at 22 weeks and haven't heard anything yet! They did manipulations which got rid of the sciatic pains entirely. So agree with PP those were invaluable.

tuxedocat · 19/09/2017 10:51

Worth you-tubing some stretches too because I started to suffer and it's helped just keep you stretched and not suffering.
I also found sleeping with my legs flat instead of around my mat pillow helped stopped and achy pelvis

wowbutter · 19/09/2017 11:05

Fuck all helps really. Some things can minimise the pain.

Apparently not having baths, just showers.
Keeping your knees together as much as possible.
Ice on your public bone.
Codeine.
Chiropractor to put things back where they should be.
A pelvic support belt, worn as much as possible.
Biofreeze on my pelvis and lower back at night.
Tens machine.
A maternity pillow for when I am sat down.
Sleeping wedged in pillows, then sleeping lying flat.

These are just some things that have helped me. I currently have it again, and have had it since I was eight weeks.

Nadinexo1 · 19/09/2017 11:11

sleep with a giant pregnancy pillow between your knees.
Sit down going up and down stairs.
Pregnancy belt.
Holding your bump up a bit while walking.
My first bout of this 5 years ago was horrendous and the doctors didn't know what it was until I googled and told them and even then they said there's not enough knowledge of it to know what to do. Maybe my Dr was just shit I don't know. I was on crutches then wheelchair in the end because I tried to carry on as normal for months and months.
Funnily enough I didn't get it in my second pregnancy as my baby was breech so was not putting pressure on my pelvis but although I exercise and do everything as normal now even after 5 years I get the odd niggle if I move too fast and I'm carrying something heavy so definetly don't try to push through it, take it as slowly as you can.

Original poster

owltrousers · 19/09/2017 14:53

So I bought one of those V shaped pregnancy pillows as the others all look so big and bulky and I don't really like it. I move around a lot in bed and find myself sitting up and trying to rearrange this big lumbering pillow all the time so I've got back to just using a regular square cushion between my thighs.

I feared that the physio might be a long wait.. I'm not sure I can afford £50 for a private session really. Ah well!

OP posts:

lookatthemoon · 19/09/2017 21:49

I just went for my first physio session a few days ago and cannot believe the difference it has made already! Also second the serola belt. I had another bump brace thing that was just too big and no help but the physio showed me how to wear the serola properly and it has really helped!

highinthesky · 19/09/2017 21:50

Codeine helps with the pain - see your GP.

Your GP prescribed codeine? Seriously?!

NotAQueef · 19/09/2017 21:55

I had it in both pregnancies, earlier in the 2nd. Care I received in the 2nd was so much better (1st was given belt and that was it). I got physio regularly to put my pelvis back into place as well as dry needling in my thighs to release tension in adductor muscles which were compensation for floppy pelvis. It kept me going and was all on NHS. Get a referral asap. There are a few things you can do to not exacerbate things such as not sitting with both feet in the couch (as puts pelvis in locked position which makes it worse). Sit down when getting dressed, avoid standing one on leg. Legs together and sort of roll or get out of bed.
Massive sympathy, it is horrible x

NotAQueef · 19/09/2017 21:58

Might have misremembered the bit about the legs on sofa part

NotAQueef · 19/09/2017 22:04

highin I was prescribe co-hydramol in my first pregnancy for spd and was told it was safe though rarely took it

highinthesky · 19/09/2017 22:08

Glad to hear you rarely took it. Best to stick to paracetamol if a belt offers only limited relief.

wowbutter · 22/09/2017 08:53

Codeine can be prescribed in pregnancy.
Even some short studies have shown that tramadol can be prescribed.
It's about weighing up the risks and benefits. I'm taking 60mg of codeine each day as without it I wouldn't be able to move. It's not down to others to judge, it's a decision made by the pregnant woman with the help of her medical team.

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