Can I call midwife triage?

[UmbrellaStand]

I’m 17 weeks pregnant now and I’ve been having some hip and pelvis pain for two weeks, but getting much worse over the last few days. I went to GP yesterday and he’s not sure what it is and he sent me for loads of blood tests and told me to rest. I wondered if it was some PGP or SPD, but he implied I am too early for anything pregnancy related causing this pain.
He’s rang me this morning with my blood results. He says I’m slightly anaemic (but my levels are almost identical to when I booked in at 8 weeks, and according to google (I know) they should drop slightly in second trimester) He wants me to take iron tablets. I’m not sure they are necessary given my results, the normal range he quoted to me is for non-pregnant women.
Do you think it is ok to call my midwife triage to ask them for advice, or is this not what they are for? I don’t want to do the wrong thing.

I don't think you need to ring midwife triage for this. I would think (and I'm a HCP) that midwife triage is for serious, potentially life threatening problems or querying whether you are in labour.
If you don't want to take the iron tablets, don't! Try and ensure you're eating a good variety of iron rich foods.

Thank you @blueuggs

I thought the same about triage if I’m honest, and I would never want to waste their time with something so trivial if they are for serious calls only. I’m not seeing my midwife til I’m 24 weeks now, and I was just worried about taking the tablets when I’m already taking a pregnancy vitamin with a small amount of iron in. I just panicked after I put the phone down to the doctor and thought of a million questions I didn’t ask him, but I wasn’t expecting the phone call!

It is not too early for your hip problems to be pregnancy related. It does sound like it could be pelvic girdle pain. You could see if you can self refer for physiotherapy in your area they may even have a woman's health physio department. If you can't self refer see if you can speak to a different GP and get them to refer you. You could also phone your community midwife and ask her to refer you.

Have a look at the pelvic partnership website.

My buttock and hip is hurting already and I'm 9+5! Who knows if I'm guna be in pain all the way it's an awful achy bone pain. I also have misleading blood results. My midwife said my bloods were fine borderline for some things but she was happy with them. Doctor rung me the same day and I've had repeated bloods because she's positive I'm aneamic?! I don't understand how they say conflicting things. But at 17 weeks it can defo be PGP hope it gets better for you xx

When I looked at all the symptoms of SPD or PGP I have most of them. The gp didn’t seem to know much about pregnancy, although he is being very thorough with everything else. I just worry about wasting peoples time. It was unusual of me to even go to the GP yesterday!

I think that’s the main thing I’m worrying about, misdiagnosis rather than the iron tablets really. He did say he would see me again in two weeks and he’s signed me off work until then. I do have a phone number for my community midwife so I could call her. They are just so busy though and I would feel awful taking up her time.

Definitely call your community midwife, this is exactly what they are here for, she will give you better advice than the GP too as it's what she does

My levels were low in early pregnancy but not enough for me to need iron. When I went into labour they tested and I was incredibly low. I had some bleeding after episiotomy and needed 2 units of blood to get me back up plus iron for 6 months after. I felt like crap. Give your midwife a quick ring

Have you already had your 16 week appointment?

It's not a maternity triage issue it's something to mention to your community midwife. Most areas have antenatal physiotherapy that you can be referred to if problems persist.

Your iron levels will be tested regularly throughout your pregnancy but if they are already on the low side it's best to start trying to build them back up again as soon as possible by increasing your intake of iron rich food and vitamin c, and yes possibly taking some iron tablets or supplements. The sooner and more gently you can do it the less brutal it will be on your digestive system, having to go on a higher dose of iron later on in pregnancy is definitely something to avoid if at all possible!

Yes I had my 16 week appointment last week, but pain was only really mild then and I just thought I’d over done it in work so didn’t mention it. Wish I had now!

Thank you everyone for not making me feel silly, I just had a panic after the unexpected phone call.

@pastabest that’s a good point about doing it early. I will take the iron tablets.

Triage isn't an appropriate referral, but the community midwife will be able to make a referral to physiotherapy and can advise you on your blood results and whether iron is appropriate.

Book in to see your community midwife at the next available clinic. They're more likely to give you up to date and accurate information. GPs don't deal with pregnancy anymore and can become confused because blood levels are different limits when pregnant.

You don't have to wait for each routine appointment, you can add in extra appointments. The 16, 25, 28 week etc schedule is the minimum number of appointments that women should be seen by a consultant and/or midwife during pregnancy, so if you want to see the midwife, book in as needed.

And pelvic pain can occur early in pregnancy, it's not common for it to be so early but it does happen, the earlier it's discovered and treated, the easier it'll be for the rest of your pregnancy. Also, ligament pain is really common at this stage of pregnancy, which can be particularly painful, so it could also be that causing issues.

@GuntyMcGee How do I book in extra appointments? Do I need to speak to the midwife, or can I ring the GP surgery and book into her clinic?

You should have a contact number for her or a general number for the team looking after you. Try tuning early in the morning 9am time and ask to speak
To your midwife. She’ll then
Be able to either help you on the phone or book you in to her clinic.

No expertise about the pelvic pain, but do take iron if the gp says - you will likely continue drop during pregnancy and so probably fall below borderline, and then be further at risk following birth, especially if you end up with extra bleeding. It then takes a while for your levels to build up again, and in the meantime you will feel unbelievably tired, which is far from ideal with a small baby! Speaking from personal experience and having gone from borderline to anaemic twice, it's definitely something to avoid.

Thank you everyone. I feel so much better now. I will take the iron tablets to prevent becoming really anaemic, and I will call the midwife about the pelvic pain if it’s not Improving. It’s manageable at the moment because I’m off work (I have a very active job) so I’ll take this time to relax. I’m going stir-crazy being stuck at home though!
Thank you everyone for being kind

I had borderline iron levels at around 24 weeks - dr prescribed iron tablets and midwife said the level was in normal range for pregnancy so I just took half the dose (I struggled with side effects last pregnancy and didn’t want them for 16+ weeks!). I’ve started taking the full dose now (started around 36 weeks) to give a boost before birth. Community midwife is definitely who you should be asking these questions too (they know so much more than drs about this stuff!)

@UmbrellaStand
Have you got a direct number for her on your notes?

If not, call the place that you see the midwife normally, so GP or children's centre.

Hip pain in pregnancy is caused by the hormones loosening everything and not just the extra weight of late pregnancy, gp sounds useless. Midwife said I could self refer to nhs physio direct if I needed to, I haven't done it yet but have certainly had some hip pain from around 16 weeks so it's not too early for it.

I’ve spoken to my midwife this morning. She agrees it is pelvic girdle pain. She’s given me loads of advice, but basically said it won’t get better until baby is born. Feel a bit down about that, because if the pain stays at this level I have no idea how I will work at all between now and my maternity leave. My job is so active and there’s no light duties. But I’m already signed off for two weeks so I’ll just see how I go, I might be ok yet after that 🤞

Has she done you a referral to physio. They can advise you on the best way to keep the pain under control and give you some exercises to help. They can also give you a support belt which helps massively

She said it was too early yet for both physio and a support belt. I just have to see how I get on. The pain is manageable at home while resting, but I nipped out today to take sick note to work (DH drove and I only walked from car park) and I was limping terrible. How am I going to manage to go back to work like this? I feel very tearful about it tonight

I have PGP, have done since week 16/17, and got a referral straight away. Honestly, the sooner you get on with a physio regime the better your chances of stopping it getting worse. Is there an ante-natal pilates class near you? I can highly recommend that for PGP (and your core strength!). Can’t see why your midwife would say it’s too early. I’d ask her again if it doesn’t get better in a week or so (ruling out possibility that it’s a random strain) otherwise a specialist physio, if you can afford a few private sessions.

Check out the pelvic partnership for advice, too - really useful resource. I really sympathise, and hope you feel better soon!

Thank you dinks I will have a look for antenatal Pilates classes. And I will ask for physio referral if it’s not improving by next week. I’m putting loads of pressure on myself to get back to work, and panicking that I won’t be able to. I feel so guilty being off, I’m not ill, just pregnant. I’m a terrible worrier...

Don't feel guilty, you're right you aren't ill but growing a human is harder on your body than most illnesses! I've had NHS physio for PGP and found it really helpful. There was another woman there who was 20 weeks with PGP and could barely walk so it's definitely not too early.

The most useful things I took away were pelvic floor exercises and a long list of things to avoid - basically no exercise at all (even swimming!), no hoovering, no slouching in chairs, no lifting anything heavy, no standing on one leg or with one hip popped out and no standing for long periods of time. Easier said than done depending on your circumstances but I've been doing everything for about a week now and honestly it has made a noticeable difference. You won't be stuck with the pain (or at least so much of it) if you get proper help, I would say ask for a physio or self refer asap. Good luck!

Thank you Holly
I’ve been resting the past couple of days. Not been lifting anything remotely heavy and just sitting with my feet up mostly. The pain is nowhere near as bad as at the weekend, but I fear it would be if I started doing normal activities again. I’m making sure I’m having a little potter about the house too because pain is worse when I’ve been sitting too long. I’m not as upset today and I’ll just see how I go over the next two weeks. Thank you everyone for being so kind. I can’t wait to be up and about again properly. I can’t wait to be able to walk around the shops again!

The referral could take about 4 weeks till you're seen so I would push for that.

Don't feel at all guilty, it's a painful condition. You'll get the odd person who pulls the whole "pregnancy isn't an illness" but it does cause some illnesses and when that happens you're entitled to proper treatment and support.

Agree with dinks - I did pregnancy yoga and it helped me so much. Definitely see if there's something like that near you. Swimming can also help. Being in pain is horrible.