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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Pelvic girdle pain and birth?

20 replies

baby2due · 16/04/2022 17:11

So I've posted before about having what I think is PGP. It's not been diagnosed or anything. My midwife just dismissed it and now it's worse than ever. So I'm going to speak to her and the doctor this week to see if there's anything they can suggest or give me to help.

Anyways. With about 7 weeks to go until my due date I'm starting to panic about this PGP. Has anyone had to be induced early or have a section because of it?

Anyone went on to have a natural birth? Just worried that the pain I'm feeling is doing damage to my pelvis in some way? The baby is weighing well above average at this point. I had a growth scan and they said everything looks fine but when I was 28 weeks I was measuring 33cm and at my 30 week growth scan they said she was 3lbs 9oz.

Paranoid about the pain and how big baby will be. People say PGP goes away after birth but I'm worried mine won't.

OP posts:

Original poster

baby2due · 16/04/2022 17:50

Anyone?

OP posts:

Pinktruffle · 16/04/2022 20:51

I find the midwife quite dismissive of my PGP in my first pregnancy (sadly it's back with my second but much earlier this time).

It doesn't tend to caluse any type of permanent damage to the pelvis, a friend had it so severe that she needed crutches but it went away as soon as her daughter was born. She had a vaginal birth, and it didnt cause any further complications. Personally I had a C-section and it also went away after birth. I know you can request to see a pelvic physio if you want so may be worth doing that?

Padderbadger · 16/04/2022 21:02

I had PGP - It was so bad I could barely walk for the last month of the pregnancy (and we lived on the 4th floor which meant I stayed in)and I really struggled with extreme pain when lying down on my side or back. I had a vaginal birth which went well, no issues with the baby etc but in hindsight I would've asked for an epidural earlier because I couldn't get comfortable between contractions and was in quite a lot of pain and very tired because of this. I gave birth in a foreign country and they were less willing to do epidural early but eventually when I had it, it was much better and I could rest between contractions. After the birth it still hurt for a while, several weeks I think but gradually got better I'm now 5 month post partum and it's mostly gone, except if I lie on my side for too long.

Padderbadger · 16/04/2022 21:06

Also my baby was 9lbs when he was born so not a tiddler!

SecondhandTable · 16/04/2022 21:13

I had PGP in my second pregnancy, it was so painful. I struggled during the pushing part of the labour in terms of finding comfort positions to push in. My midwife was really good though, I told her straight away and she would suggest loads of different positions and I would give things a try and if it was uncomfortable I would tell her straight away and she'd help me out of the position and suggest something else. This went on for a long time because I ended up pushing for two hours and then had a ventouse delivery. DC2 was 8lb 6. Not massive but much bigger than my first and much bigger than expected from growth scans. I don't think the PGP had anything to do with the unsuccessful pushing or mode of delivery though - as I also had a ventouse delivery with DC1 who was only 6lb 14 after 2 hrs of pushing, and I didn't have PGP in that pregnancy at all.

With DC2 It was particularly painful being in stirrups for the delivery and stitching but they got me out of them as soon as they could and I never had any other issues after. Was a little sore, but within 24hrs of the birth all the PGP pain I had for months and months had completely disappeared. It was magical tbh as I'd suffered so badly with it for many months.

OldTinHat · 16/04/2022 21:34

I had PGP, had to wear a girdle, use a stick, had physio (was told it was my fault btw) with both pregnancies pregnancies. Both born vaginally with (threats of but...) no intervention. TENS machine with first, TENS and gas and air with second because he presented brow first.

Ilikecake05 · 16/04/2022 21:45

PGP in all 4 pregnancies.

1st 9lb 11oz
2nd 8lb 11oz
3rd 5lb 6 oz (5 weeks prem)
4th…. She’s not small. I’m 28 weeks.

Had support belts, crutches… even a wheelchair at one point with my 2nd. My pelvis overlaps and crunches and pops constantly. It’s agony, particularly in bed at night and I have to be really careful turning over.

Births have all been very easy (with the exception of the 5lb baby as she was breech) and babies arrived quickly and safely. Apparently having a nice, loose pelvis helps with that part

Pain went almost immediately after having each child and didn’t return again until the next pregnancy.

Original poster

baby2due · 16/04/2022 22:15

@OldTinHat omg why did they say it was your fault??

OP posts:

Original poster

baby2due · 16/04/2022 22:19

@Ilikecake05 Oh well, maybe PGP has a silver lining. I'm praying for an easy birth! Never had PGP with my first, she was 2 weeks overdue, had to be induced, Was im labour for 17 hours, they had to use forceps to get her out, needed a blood transfusion

Hopefully my loose pelvis is a blessing in disguise.

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Snowflakes1122 · 17/04/2022 05:23

The midwife can refer you to physio. I was recommend Pilates by the physiotherapist and sitting on a birthing ball seemed to help with the pain.

I had a water birth, and it was just perfect. My pain went as soon as she was born, so hopefully you will experience that relief too.

Geranium1984 · 17/04/2022 05:57

I got PGP pretty badly at about 20/25 weeks pregnant. Was dismissed by the midwife but it got so bad I couldn't get in or out of bed and struggled to find a comfortable position to sleep.
I sought help through a private physio. It was lockdown spring 2020 so was via video.
I did all my stretches she gave me religiously everyday, took over an hr plus a bit of gentle yoga when things were improving.... joys of lockdown with no children! I'd say in a few weeks it got about 80% better for the rest of the pregnancy so was doable. Wasn't an issue in birth. I was in labour for about 24hrs (contracted whilst on my knees) before getting an epidural.

Definitely try to seek help with it as it is unbearable.
I'm very early pregnant with my second and if it comes back I've no idea how I'll manage all the stretches with my toddler around.

mrssunshinexxx · 17/04/2022 06:22

@baby2due had very bad pgp in second pregnancy had her Nov 21 could barely walk the last month was worried how it would affect me in labour but shouldn't have as soon as the contractions started I forgot all about the PGP it disappeared mostly straight away but I had v bad posture from it so was walking terribly for a while

Original poster

baby2due · 19/04/2022 15:13

As if things weren't bad enough I have pelvic pain that's just getting worse and now I think I have PUPPP I just have no luck in this pregnancy. Still 7 weeks to go

OP posts:

Lauren0902 · 19/04/2022 18:29

I could barely walk with it and ended up on crutches. I gave birth 2 weeks ago and it felt unpleasant and sore inbetween pushes - i would have to try and straighten my legs in between pushes to try and get some relief. I had started with an epidural and it unfortunately fell out right before i was ready to start pushing otherwise it would have been fine

Ringmaster27 · 19/04/2022 18:48

I had PGP (diagnosed and provided with physio support) in my second and third pregnancies - definitely more painful third time around. I was sleeping on my sofa most nights towards the end, because the idea of coming down the stairs in the morning filled me with dread. Walking up the stairs was manageable pain, but coming down was unbearable.
I Went on to have uncomplicated home births with both. And the relief from the PGP was almost instantaneous as soon as baby was out. Within a day or two, it was as if I’d never had the PGP. The only reminder I have of it now is a very loud left hip It pops and cracks incredibly loudly all the time. More so if I’ve been sitting for a while and then stand up, or when I stretch my legs out when im in bed! DP always looks at me in shock that my hip can make such a loud noise!

marplemead · 19/04/2022 18:52

I had PGP with my second. I was really worried about the birth, but I ended up having a hospital water birth, which was wonderful. Most of the pain disappeared after the birth, but not completely. That took a few more months and everything is back to normal now. I didn't have any treatment for it.

NameChange30 · 19/04/2022 19:01

You can often self-refer to the NHS physio (you can where i am) so look into that, it would certainly be a quicker route than having to persuade an unsympathetic midwife to refer you... having said that there will still be a wait for any kind of help so it's probably a bit late for you now.

The best thing is to go private if you can afford, find a manual therapist (osteopath or physio) with experience in treating PGP. Mine was amazing.

I had PGP in both pregnancies (worse in the second) and managed two vaginal births. The first was not a good experience (not because of the PGP) but the second birth was fine, I gave birth on all fours and all very straightforward.

Have you looked at the Pelvic Partnership website? There's loads of advice on there including advice about birth options.

Snoopy28x · 19/04/2022 19:15

PGP is horrendous!!! I'm pretty sure most midwives havent experienced it otherwise they would treat it more seriously. Baby #2 I suffered badly, could barely walk. They referred me to physio which wasnt much help. I had a natural pain relief free birth. To be honest I didnt notice any extra pains because of the contractions.

I'm currently 35 weeks with baby #3 and again been suffering. They just suggested not walking more than 10mins and rest after before doing anything else. Then also told me to keep active.. so make of that what you will.

I do carry huge babies, which may play a part. Baby #2 10lb 3oz. Baby #3 estimated 10lb 5oz.. however I am going for a natural birth again, although they are wanting to induce me at 38 weeks due to GD rather than PGP. Which I'm all for now!

After I gave birth things were alot better, however if I walked alot of pushed a buggy or trolley slot then I would get the pains back. It never fully went away. They have told me this time to make sure I get referred for physio after the birth so that they can help me. So definitely worth pestering your midwife for a referral xx

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 19/04/2022 22:10

I had pgp from quite early on. As you said midwives were quite dismissive, other than thr obvious pain etc it caused no issues with the actual pregnancy or delivery (I was induced early).

Flockameanie · 19/04/2022 22:22

I had it quite badly in first pregnancy. Helped a lot by accupuncture. Birth was fine. By that point it had actually got a bit better anyway (or maybe just the discomfort of being heavily pregnant distracted me from it).

Between my first and 2nd pregnancies I did a lot of physio with a women's health specialist. Lots of work on deep abdominals, etc. It came back earlier in my 2nd pregnancy but no where near as badly, which I put down solely to the physio.

NHS were utterly useless, by the way. I just paid out of pocket for the accupuncture and physio and it was very much worth it.

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