SPD/PGP and Work

[CalFairy]

I’ve been suffering with PGP since around 20 weeks, it eased slightly but has came back terribly (I’m 30 weeks). I’ve been seeing a physio, got a Serola belt, resting when I can etc.

I had hyperemesis until around 20 weeks and was off work for quite a while with it. Work have since let me come in once a week and WFH the other days (I’m usually only in 2 days anyway).

I have a long commute of around 1hr 30min each way and I’m starting to struggle. I’ve asked if I can WFH completely until 36 weeks when I go off and work are being resistant saying I still need to come in once a week.

I don’t want to go on sick leave and trigger earlier maternity due to minimal pay etc. Any suggestions? It seems unfair they’re insisting but I don’t want to seem like I'm taking the piss when they’ve been flexible for me. If I struggle through will I damage myself more?

No advice on this as work can be a nightmare but I feel you as also have spd / pgp waiting on a referral for physio to get me through this last trimester 😫

@snoopy18 horrible isn’t it! Turning over in bed is awful and I’m waddling with it. This pregnancy has not been a breeze! Hope you manage to get some help.

Your maternity leave will only trigger at 36 weeks if you go off sick.

Turning in bed has been dreadful here too. I genuinely dread getting in bed 🤦🏾‍♀️ So very glad it’s my last pregnancy. Yes the waddling too and smaller strides. Dreading the coming weeks to be honest as i am only at 29 weeks.

Could you request occupational health referral? This seems like a reasonable adaptation they could make and might help if they have a recommendation to back this up. Sorry you’re going through this!

Have you seen a private physio?

Maternity leave can't be triggered until 36 weeks so don't worry about that.

I would get a GP appointment and request a Fit note with adjustments such as avoid commute/exclusive WFH etc. Work can't say no to that.

Can I ask what pgp feels like? I've been having pelvic pain when walking, going up stairs and turning over. But not sure if its just me having pulled something.

This sounds like pgp / spd. Speak to your midwife & they should give you referral for physio.

@snoopy18 thank you, have an appointment with the midwife today so will be sure to let her know x

Thanks all. It’s horrible how it makes you feel guilty isn’t it! But it’s not my fault I haven’t had a plain sailing pregnancy like others do. I’ll see how I go over the Xmas break with stretches and resting etc but by the sounds of it PGP just gets worse! Good to know it’s not triggered until 36 weeks but a fit note could work too.

@snoopy18 dependent on the waitlist for NHS and how you are for money, a private physio might be quicker/easier. I looked on the pelvic partnership website and found a recommended local one. Even if you just got the ball rolling with one initial appointment and some recommendations from them :)

You could get a fit note from your GP which states that you can only work from home? Or get signed off sick?

@SoIRejoined yes think I’ll look at fit note in the new year. Don’t really want to go off sick as don’t get sick pay and technically I’m fine to work, just not with the commute and six flights of stairs!

Is it really six flights of stairs? Is there no lift? You shouldn't be doing stairs with PGP, it's the worst thing. It's also a health and safety risk if there was a fire.

I was in almost exactly your situation 5 years ago (20 weeks of severe nausea in my case, then straight into SPD with a 1.5 hour commute). I really, really wish I had pushed for more help and reasonable adjustments, because by the time I went on mat leave at 37 weeks (planned c section booked for 39 weeks) I was a mess and I really struggled mentally with work the last six weeks or so. I had to go in twice a week and it was just impossible.

In my experience the break didn't help - I remember my first commute back in January I sat down and cried halfway to work from the station (less than 10 minutes walk) because I was in so much pain. After that I got the bus, which added half an hour to my commute. Daft, when I look back.

Mine didn't go away properly after the birth so I saw a women's health specialist physio (which worked wonders), and she said I should have had crutches or even a wheelchair. Have you been offered those? It might help make it a more visible disability. Could your physio get you some crutches? I would definitely suggest a trip to your GP to request a fit note, and let your midwife know you're struggling too in case there's anything she can do to help. I found the NHS physio before the birth utterly useless, so don't hold out for that.

@SoIRejoined Yes - well maybe more like 4.5-5 flights. No lift. And the toilet location means I have to go up and down 2 flights each time.

@SnapdragonToadflax Wow really similar situation, sorry to hear you struggled so much particularly after birth as well. You’re right though, we focus so much on being good employees etc rather than on our health and well-being. My commute is driving rather than public transport but using a manual car for that amount of time plus sitting upright on my coccyx and needing a wee - it’s not enjoyable at all! They haven’t mentioned crutches yet, I’ve been seeing a private physio. I can hobble around, some days are worse than others. Getting up in the night for a wee is absolute torture or if I’ve overdone it I’ll pay for it afterward.

I’ve been considering looking for private help as I don’t want this to impact Labour and delivery if I end delivering vaginal again. The referral has just been done on Friday so I’m going to give it a week or two and see if I get an update meanwhilst doing things which helped during first pregnancy with the same.