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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Anyone else finish work as early as 15wks???

30 replies

Nichola2310 · 19/03/2018 21:11

I am 15 +1 with my first child and only lasted 3 hrs in work today and don’t see me being able to go back. I’ve posted previously about being demented with sciatica since 4.5 wks and it just continues to get worse. I’ve spent the last 2 weeks trying to convince my work to let me work from home (I’m an accountant so very doable) but they’ve said no.

I only have 10 days paid sick leave and I have 20 days holidays, but but that will leave about 19wks of pregnancy where I can’t earn. Also it will mean I will lose about half of my maternity pay.

Therefore it’s a big financial worry as well as the fact I’m going to lose my mind at home for this length of time. I’m fully expecting to be house bound as driving is a nightmare.

Anyone else in a similar position? How did you cope? I’m already completely fed up as every weekend I’ve just been lying on the sofa resting in the hope the pain would lessen, but instead it’s getting more severe.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

StylishDuck · 19/03/2018 21:18

I've got no advice about the work thing but I had SPD when I was pregnant and found that going to a chiropractor helped massively. You could try something like that to see if it would help the sciatica?

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 19/03/2018 21:20

You need a physio. I had terrible SPD and a women’s physio helped so much. Try that before you start your mat leave so early.

YorkieDorkie · 19/03/2018 21:20

I've had horrible sciatica and made it to 38 weeks. Try out some stretches and exercises. I went from not being able to walk to just having a buzzing pain in the background. There are definitely things that can help.

YorkieDorkie · 19/03/2018 21:21

And I will just add that I work with 4 year olds!

Ohhgreat · 19/03/2018 21:23

Maternity pay is based on what you earn in weeks 17 to 25, so if at all possible you need your earnings high then. What could work do to help? New chair? Movement breaks? Reduced hours possibly (Tho obviously monetary impact there)? Chiropractor is a good suggestion. Does swimming help?

PragmaticWench · 19/03/2018 21:25

Do you know if it's from spd or a disc issue? Would your GP refer you to a physio or an orthopaedic specialist, or could you go private?

I had dreadful spd in pregnancy and physio helped, but no sciatica then. I now have dreadful sciatica as I ruptured a disc recently so can sympathise over the pain!

Original poster

Nichola2310 · 19/03/2018 21:27

I’ve been to a chiropractor, physio, acupuncture, reflexology, and an osteopath. Honestly I’ve tried everything. I’ve had sciatica on and off before pregnancy and had surgery 3 years ago for it.

I had been doing physio led Pilates in the 6mths prior to getting pregnant to help ensure my back would hold up, and was exercising 4 times a week.

I honestly don’t know what else to do. Work have let me use the first aid room to lie down, and I can take breaks, walk about as necessary but the pain is excruciating. I prob only did 20 mins actual work today in the 3 hrs I was there.

OP posts:

QueenNefertitty · 19/03/2018 21:28

Osteopathy is your friend. If you're in London I can suggest an excellent osteopath who is very experienced at pregnancy related back pain - she kept me on my feet to 41 weeks, with awful PGP.
She also successfully induced my labour with craniosacral techniques - after being told a few hours earlier that I a) needed an induction immediately due to high BP and b) no way was he going to come on his own, quickly enough for their liking.

The really vile consultant I'd seen was rather shocked when I strolled in 10 hours later as she was clocking off her night shift, fully dilated and ready to push

The magic of osteopathy!

QueenNefertitty · 19/03/2018 21:28

Ah just seen you've seen an osteopath :( sorry!

traumwerk · 19/03/2018 21:30

I was signed off from 15 weeks until I could take maternity leave. You have my sincere empathy because I know how awful this sort of pain is! Be prepared for people to not 'get' it though, and tell you how they worked up until 42 weeks pregnant and went back to work the day after giving birth 🙄

Original poster

Nichola2310 · 19/03/2018 21:35

Thank you traumwerk! I have no incentive to not work, I’ll lose pay, lose my maternity, and probably lose my sanity. I’ll lose touch with my team, with our workload. I have pleaded with them to let me even get another couple of months by working from home.

I’ve been in a lot of pain for the last 10weeks (along with normal nausea, sickness, tiredness, and side effects of painkillers) and in that time I have missed only 9hrs from work. I want to be there but I’m crying in the toilets in pain, I’m shouting with pain when I’m driving, I am using crutches and can hardly walk, it’s obvious to everyone that I should not be there.

OP posts:

BellyBean · 19/03/2018 21:40

Surely it's a reasonable adjustment? Any chance it could come under disability regs?

Bumblealong1 · 19/03/2018 23:38

That sounds awful.
If the work is doable from home, why do you think they are refusing to let you do it?!

Original poster

Nichola2310 · 20/03/2018 09:49

I genuinely don’t know, it’s a huge company, but they say they don’t have a policy for it. They’ve said it’s onlu acceptable as an adhoc thing, I’ve worked from home during the snow and after hospital appointments as location wise it doesn’t make sense for me to drive back. I also know when my cousin broke his leg, they wouldn’t let him work from home either. However that has a 6wk recovery period so I can almost understand that.

OP posts:

balljuggla · 20/03/2018 09:56

Have you had a risk assessment?

www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/pregnant/health-and-safety-during-pregnancy-and-on-return-to-work/

user380968 · 20/03/2018 10:04

Why don't you try an ostheopath?

Some women really have difficult pregnancies. I worked until 37 weeks with both children but was going to do it until the very end.

user380968 · 20/03/2018 10:07

Can you go part time perhaps or do 3 days in the office and 2 from home?

scoobyloobyloo · 20/03/2018 10:07

Try acupuncture - its very effective with lower back pain in pregnancy. Infact, I think NICE/NHS may actually fund it, depending on your area. However, you're likely to get a medically trained midwife - it will help, but not as much as seeing a fully trained, professional acupuncturist.

You could also go off sick, you can do this until 36 weeks. I had to go off sick from 24 weeks for medical reasons and mat leave started at 36 weeks which was when I was planning on leaving anyway.

Astrid2 · 20/03/2018 10:10

Yeah I would definitely consider going off sick rather than maternity. I am sure your gp would sign you off as you're obviously struggling! That way you wouldn't lose any pay and would start mat leave at 36 weeks!

Original poster

Nichola2310 · 20/03/2018 10:17

I do mean that I will go off sick, and start my maternity at 36 weeks, but I only get 10 days paid sick leave.

I have been to an acupuncturist, after 2 treatments he told me he couldn’t help me. I have also been to ab osteopath and he told me if I didn’t feel any relief after 48 hours, that there was no point in coming back.

I had initially suggested part time working from home, or reduced hours. This week is booked a day and a half of holidays to break up my week, but I still couldn’t last past 3 hrs yesterday.

I’m off today. I woke up in no pain. Got up, went to the bathroom, walked into the kitchen to put the kettle on and was barely able to walk as far as the sofa. That’s how quickly I go from no pain to agony. I still haven’t made that tea as I’m too sore to get off the sofa.

OP posts:

FranticallyPeaceful · 20/03/2018 10:20

Sorry if it’s already been mentioned but have you tried pain relief for now? It isn’t a solution but it will help you get through weeks 17-25. You’ll be prescribed codeine which is very safe. I also saw somebody on this forum was given tramadol for really bad SPD

squiglet111 · 20/03/2018 10:22

How long did you work with a chiropractor for? Sounds like you need some realignment and a chiropractor could help with that. But it could take quite a lot of appointments to do it.

Original poster

Nichola2310 · 20/03/2018 10:26

I’ve been on cocodamol 30/500 for the last 9 weeks. It’s take the edge of slightly for a couple of hours, but I can definitely feel it becoming less effective.

I had a full X-ray pre-pregnancy and went to 3 sessions with the chiropractor but he told me there wasn’t anything out of line. I found it completely useless.

OP posts:

PragmaticWench · 20/03/2018 11:37

It sounds as though you've tried everything possible and nothing has worked. Surely there must be some legal angle you could use to persuade your company to let you work from home, perhaps ask on the employment or legal boards on here? It makes no sense for the company to have you not working!

As for the pain, and I truly sympathise as I'm working from home with a ruptured disc, could you go back to see your orthopaedic surgeon? I see you had surgery previously, but would spinal steroid injections be an option at all?

PragmaticWench · 20/03/2018 11:40

Also could your GP look at any other painkillers that are more effective on nerve pain, like naproxen or amitriptyline? They should be able to check and see what can be taken whilst you are pregnant.

It might be an off the wall suggestion but you might also try hypnotherapy soundtracks. If they can help with the pain of contractions, they might help with this?!

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