Is it normal to feel so uncomfortable at 16 weeks?

[amyem]

Hi all,

This is my first pregnancy so I'm going in a bit blind! Obviously I know I'm bound to become uncomfortable as time goes on and the baby gets bigger, but I seem to be struggling a bit at work already and I'm only 16 weeks.

I work in an office and I'm finding I need to go for a walk around more often which is fine, but I think the main problem is my chair. I get lower back pain and it feels as though a lot of pressure is being put on my pelvis and leaves me feeling really uncomfortable as the day goes on and in a lot of pain by the end of the day.

I've made a conscious effort to improve my posture over the last week or so to see if that makes a difference but it doesn't at all - I think it's more just the way my chair is but it's not very adjustable. I'd ask for a new chair but another lady at my place was pregnant and didn't get another chair until she was about 28 weeks so I just feel like they'll think I'm being a bit dramatic!

Has anyone else felt so uncomfortable this early on? I guess maybe it's one of those 'everyone is different' things but I'm dreading the next few months at work as I imagine it'll only get worse the bigger I get!

There is alot of stretching and bones moving about as baby gets bigger. Your ribs open up more and your hip bones will spread including pressure on your spine.

Have you got a foot rest? Raising your feet slightly can help with the angle of your hips .

Have you tried a small cushion behind your lower back?

Your employer needs to make reasonable adjustments to your workspace to make things better for you. If you are in a larger company you should get a desk assessment by health and safety or similar.

May be worth asking for a new chair as companies will send someone to basically fit you to it and make sure it's the correct height etc for you. You may have to source the company... I think there is a national company called posterite it similar?

Yes I had this from 16 weeks and sitting position was the issue.
I have to prop myself forward so absolutely no sitting back or slouching. Sitting at an absolute right angle which usually requires cushions behind the bottom of my back.

Try that, it might help.

I went through stages all the way through of feeling uncomfortable and struggling with various things. Then other times I'd be fine.

I started getting a bad back at 10 weeks from all the sitting- I have terrible posture sitting at a desk.

Work gave me a foot rest and I knicked one of those mesh back supports for my chair from the supply cupboard- worked a treat and I was fine until I went on maternity leave.

I thought of this thread yesterday. I usually work on a ward but I was in an office for a couple of hours. Sitting on the office chair which was a half decent one was horrible.
My hips dipped ever so slightly lower than my legs which instantly aggravated my sciatic nerve and whilst I appeared quite upright, I was slanted back slightly which made it worse.

You definitely need to get your seating sorted @amyem this will almost definitely be the cause of your discomfort and you have many more weeks to go yet.

Ask for a new chair - they legally have to give you one. And don’t worry about being over dramatic, you’re pregnant and you need to be comfortable.

My Pelvic Girdle Pain started at about 16 weeks - just because you don’t have a huge bump yet doesn’t mean you can’t be uncomfortable and in a lot of pain.

I also suggest getting a little lumbar support memory foam cushion for the back of your chair; they help with posture and take some of the weight from the bottom of your back. Mine’s been a life saver.

Your work have a duty of care towards you. The minute I complained about lower back pain theyd ordered me one of those back support things that attach to your chair.
So even if they just do that it makes all the difference (ive taken my own cushion in just incase aswell)
Have they done a risk assesment with you? Or a desk assesment? To see if your work station is suitable.
Also dont worry about getting up for a wander every now and then, i do it all the time ( i do find myself grabbing my hips just for dramatic effect haha!)

Not always possible but speak to your HR ( mine are in a different part of the country so a bit useless really) or your line manager about risk assesments asap!

I sailed through my first pregnancy with no issues but this time round I’m struggling. I’ve had pelvic pain since about 10 weeks and now at 15 weeks I’m suffering a lot. Work have given me extra lumbar support for my chair. It’s been a bit of a shock to be honest as worried what I’ll be like once I’m much bigger. The midwife said she’d refer me to physio at 16 week appointment as she didn’t think they’d be able to do much when I saw her at 12 weeks.

I was sooo uncomfortable around the same time, I remember it well. A really horrible pressure sensation low down, I cried more than once around that time! I kept thinking I was going in to premature labour or something. Luckily all was well and it was just one of those things, it will pass I'm happy to say, once the baby gets a bit bigger and moves upwards a little bit. The relief is amazing now that it's all a bit higher up, which happened at about 21 weeks ish I think. Really feel for you, OP, it totally sucks! X

I'm about 16+4 and not even showing properly yet, I'm only really finding the clothing issue uncomfortable as my normal clothes dig in but maternity clothes feel ridiculous!

I am feeling tired a lot more and getting a fair bit of stretchy pain though. I also fell off a kerb the other day - think I must be a bit unbalanced!

Your colleague's pregnancy is a different baby, different woman so don't compare, if work already know you're pregnant then definitely ask for a chair.