PGP & Hypermobility - do I get signed off?

[Meadows89]

Hi all,

I just wondered if anyone else has had the same problem?

I'm currently 23+1 weeks pregnant and have had PGP since 14 weeks. It has been made worse by hyper mobility and carrying a giant baby (90th percentile ). I've now got to the point that walking or sitting for longer than 10 minutes is just unbearable and my right hip will completely lock out with no warning.

I was WFH for the last couple of weeks (I commute to London) but even that has become impossible as I'm not able to sit down for long enough to actually get any work done. I have regular sports massages and seen an Osteopath who's advised the problem can't be fixed due to the hyper-mobility, so anything he does is purely pain management.

I guess my question is, am I taking the pee getting signed off now?

My work are pretty good when it comes to sick leave and I'll have full pay until 36 weeks which is when I'm going on MAT but I'm more concerned this will reflect badly on me.

My boss is understanding to a point but we had a lady in my team go on early leave because of pregnancy complications and she's done nothing but moan about it the last year.

I just can't bear the thought of forcing my way through the next 12 weeks when I know the pain is only going to get worse :(

Hi @Meadows89

You’d be better off with a physiotherapist to manage PGP and hypermobility. Have you tried a pelvic/bump support band too?

But to answer your question, if you cannot work despite trying reasonable adjustment (WFH), then yes of course you should get signed off. You are legally protected because it’s a pregnancy associated illness. Your boss will just have to suck it up

I was signed off at 29weeks with PGP. I went to see my GP because I was in so much pain and couldn't sleep and she signed me off there and then and said I was unfit for work. Also have hypermobility.

@Nelbert19 Thank you - I guess I'm more worried about how my manager is going to be. I'm waiting on a NHS physio which is taking a quite some time unfortunately due to a back log. I was using a bump support then got told that I shouldn't really be wearing one as I have a low lying placenta at the minute and this could cause problems there. I'm taking baths to help and using a pregnancy ball when I feel really wonky but obviously that's only a short term relief.

@Littlewelshridinghood, did you find anything that helped? The thought of being this uncomfortable for another 16 weeks makes me feel a bit sick.

Try sleeping with a pregnancy pillow and stay active, that's my only suggestion really 🤷‍♀️ it's an awful condition and you have my sympathies.