Has anyone felt concerned about their physical health before giving birth but managed ok?

[123456kent]

I’m 39+1 weeks. 35 y.o. Slim build but not particularly ‘fit’ outside of pregnancy really. When I was around 15 weeks pregnant I developed pelvic pain and since then for 3 days a week when working I would probably walk for a total of 30 mins a day, and the other 4 days a week maybe 10 mins of walking a day. I’ve spent a huge % of my waking time lying down in pain. I haven’t been shopping or anything like that since January, when I managed to go to 3 shops before coming home. Since finishing work 5 weeks ago the pain has got significantly worse.
As a result my fitness and physical health are in an absolutely dreadful state. I can hardly move. If I send a text message I get out of breath. I can’t stand up long enough to make a sandwich. I take the stairs in 2 stints. When I get up to wee in the night it takes minutes for me to get there because I’m in so much pain. If I try and do anything involving my arms like drawing I get breathless.
If it wasn’t for current lockdown situ perhaps I would have crutches or something but as I can’t go anywhere, I don’t. I havent been on any walks or anything.
I have a 2.5 year old daughter so this has not been easy, I feel depressed.
There’s nothing that can be done for me, I know I’m a lost cause. But what does concern me is how on earth I am going to give birth when I can’t even breathe. I am genuinely concerned that I won’t be able to make the walk from the car park to the ward (even with no contractions).
In my first pregnancy I spent 39+1 walking around Brighton all day, in very little pain (and my waters broke that night).
I’m not exaggerating when I say I feel (and look) like I am 90 years old.
And of course, midwife can do nothing, because I can’t see her.
Is this normal? Has anyone felt like this?

Hey, I’m so sorry to hear you’re suffering

No this doesn’t sound normal - my first thought is have your bloods been ok, have you ever been anaemic? That can make you utterly exhausted, weak, dizzy etc

With regards pelvic pain, I had SPD in my last pregnancy and managed a natural water birth, all in all it was a great labour. I had SPD after the birth too but eventually managed to get fixed through a physio program

I think definitely call the midwife unit at the hospital and ask for advice x

Havent got any experience but just wanted to say I'm so sorry that sounds so incredibly difficult. I really hope your labour goes ok and you have baby soon so you dont have to suffer for any longer than necessary.

You ought to call 111 as the breathlessness could be a sign of something else, such as as pulmonary embolism. There is an increased risk during pregnancy, particularly if you’ve spent a large amount of time immobile.

Thank you @gedticker. Yes my bloods have always been totally fine, same with urine, blood pressure etc. No signs of anemia.
Maybe a water birth is the way forward... not sure. No one has asked tbh.
The current situation makes any advice almost totally irrelevant, its horrible. I have spoken to my midwife on phone, who referred me to an obs, on the phone, who said there’s nothing they can do in the current climate.
My last midwife appt, on the phone, she asked if i was ok, physically, i said no, i’m dreadful. Her response was if you are worried about the baby (movements etc) or flashing lights, swelling etc, call labour line. I dont blame her at all, but it’s such a crap time. I’m stuck, with no one to help me!!

Even if you were unfit before pregnancy, it’s simply not right that you’d have physically deconditioned to the point of being unable to send a text message or draw without getting out of breath. This really needs looking into further. Please do something about it.

Thank you both for your responses. I dont believe there is anything wrong with me from an urgent point of view - pulmonary embolism sounds very serious? I dont feel i’m in immediate danger, I just feel very very very physically poor.
Also, definitely not Corona related in case anyone suggests - completely symptom free
Thank you for listening!

I can kind of relate though maybe my breathlessness isn’t quite as extreme as yours. However I do get quite out of breath walking up the stairs (I’m 12 weeks) so much so that it takes me a while to catch my breath after sitting down it feels like an effort to get my breath back.

I do get days (like today) where I’ve spent most of my day led down as I’m just extremely tired and feel very weak.

I’ve had bloods at my booking in and suspected j may have had low iron levels but no one has picked it up.

Many years ago I was diagnosed with mild chronic fatigue and I also have pernicious anemia (vit b12 deficiency) maybe yours is something similar or even vit d deficiency - ask your doctor to check for vit b12 deficiency as don’t think is checked in pregnancy.

I’ve realised that the being out of breath isn’t really linked with the activity I’m doing -
So i can suddenly be really out of breath doing nothing at all, or if I’m sending a text, or if I’m buttering some bread - it just happens. I guess I don’t think there’s anything seriously wrong, i’m more concerned i’ve got myself into such a poor physical condition that I am in no fit state to give birth and it will be too late before i see anyone medical wise and that could mean things going really wrong.
My GPs is closed i believe, so no testing.
Thank you all

I had this level of pelvic pain from 5 weeks and couldn’t sit up for a couple of months. I went on maternity leave at 7 weeks. I could barely walk but didn’t experience any breathlessness, perhaps the two things are unrelated?
I had a preterm section for another problem. Could you have an elective section?

A degree of breathlessness is definitely normal at this stage - I think if the baby is lying in a certain way it can make a difference too?

Keep calling either the midwife or 111 if you feel worse though? You aren’t wasting their time, and it’s better to keep in touch

Do you think the stress of it all might be getting to you? That would be very understandable especially at the moment! Can you call a friend for a chat, have a bath, listen to a podcast - anything that makes you feel a tiny bit better. You are so important, try to carve out a tiny bit of time for yourself where you can (I have a toddler too and know how ridiculous that sounds!)

Regards the SPD pain, do you have a pillow to put between your legs at night?
Heat can help ease the tightness and pain.
Take small steps when walking.
Wear good flat shoes or barefoot (no crappy slippers etc - pelvis needs help to keep stable)
Sit tall on a good chair - avoid deep sofas unless you’re lying on them!

Good luck
Keep us posted if we can help any more, you’re not alone x

I really think you need to get this further checked out. I had severe SPD in pregnancy but didn’t have any breathlessness. Some breathlessness later on is normal but I think getting breathless sending a text message is extreme.

@GirlCalledJames everything like that is completely off bounds in my trust - sweeps, inductions, elective c sections. There is no choice left at the moment.
Perhaps I will escalate this a bit. I’ll try and analyse when I am feeling these things and how often tomorrow and take note of it more. I know i’m in a bad way.
Queries about mental health (anxiety) causing this - yes I’ve considered that. I was in a dreadful place when this all first happened in mid March and while I’m a lot calmer, of course it’s taking it’s toll. As for the breathlessness being from how the baby is lying - yes possibly! Who knows. For all I know, this baby is breach and the first we’ll know is a foot coming out - with no face to face appointments how do they know how we are, and how the baby actually is. It’s so hard.Thanks for your time on this. I dont want to call the maternity ward because i dont believe its an emergency but perhaps i’ll call the midwives again on monday and see if they can listen.

Please take the advice of others here. You cannot be certain its nothing serious and nor can we. You've obviously posted for a reason so it's important for you and your baby that you get checked properly. Try 111 or your GP on Monday.