20 weeks, carrying low and huge

[HighlyStrung1987]

I'm pregnant for the second time (had a MMC at seven weeks at Christmas) and I'm 20 weeks along. I think I'm carrying low and my bump looks more like a 30 weeker. It's absolutely exhausting heaving it about and people keep commenting on how big I am, asking if I'm sure it's not twins, or I'm further along than I am etc (do they not think I would know by now if either of those things were the case?!) My back hurts, my hips and thighs BURN, I've been in maternity clothes for months, and doing everyday tasks like tying my laces are difficult. I also have bladder weakness. I think this is all because I have an extremely weak core and zero strength or gone in my abdominal muscles, so everything has stretched out very easily and baby has been head down by my cervix from pretty much day one. I'm so conscious that I still have 20 weeks to go and I'm really anxious about how I'm going to be affected by my huge bump in my third trimester. Also that my back and pelvic floor will be fucked forever. I have a pregnancy ball that I use for doing physio recommended exercises, see an osteopath for my back pain, and do pelvic floor exercises almost daily. Is anyone else/has anyone else been in this situation? What did you do? How did your third trimester and labour go? Do you still have problems post-birth?

Hey @HighlyStrung1987 , I too was just huge with my first. I got the ‘are you sure it isn’t twins?’ comment on multiple occasions! I got so big but from around 7 months I did stop growing. I remember thinking ‘surely this bump can’t get any bigger’ and actually, it didn’t. I kinda did all its growing early on and then stayed the same for the last 2 months. I had awful pelvic pain for weeks and cringed every time I had to get up from the sofa! But it does go away and it’s short lived - just doesn’t feel like it in the moment!
Despite being so big and baby was engaged for weeks, I went overdue and had to get my waters broken in order to start labour!

I would recommend getting to a pregnancy pilates class if you can where they can help you work on your core and protect your back and pelvic floor.
Pregnancy yoga would be the next best thing if you can't get to pregnancy pilates.

Im currently 14weeks with no2 but bump is the same size as when I was 25 weeks so think I am heading in the same direction as you! I'm almost embarrassed when people ask how far along I am and I say only 14 weeks!
I've been doing pregnancy pilates videos on YouTube

commiserations! I am also 20 weeks along and started struggling with pelvic girdle pain and a bit of stress incontinence much earlier this time round but my midwife has been really helpful and referred me for physio so do ask yours. And I agree this is the time to start looking into exercises that might help like pilates, yoga, maybe swimming? Can make a world of difference even just to your morale.

Also the baby can still rise out of the pelvis at this point so it may not always be sitting as low as it is now. You may find that some of this eases through the next few weeks rather than only getting worse.

Thanks all who have responded, I'm glad it's not just me but sorry if it's happening to you too! I have been referred for physio already and do the exercises, as well as seeing an osteopath. I am hoping to start swimming soon but it's hard to fit in around work and renovating the house. I HATE yoga for various reasons so will not be doing that 😂

This is my third pregnancy and I'm showing much earlier and seem to be a lot bigger than my previous ones too. I'm only 18 weeks near enough and clearly visibly pregnant whereas it was definitely later with DC2 and much much later with DC1. I have put a little bit more weight on earlier this time though so I attribute a little bit of it to that. Otherwise it's just because as you say the more you have the quicker you show really.

My advice would be:

• Ask your midwife for a referral to a pelvic health physio.
• Download the Squeezy app and do at least 3 sessions of pelvic floor exercises a day ideally 4. Both sets of long and short squeezes each time.
• Exercise as much as you possibly can tbh to build strength and flexibility particularly in your core. Theres tons of short videos on Youtube for this, I do a 15 minute one a day so it's easy to fit in.

@WeightoftheWorld Thanks. have been referred for physio already and do the exercises, as well as seeing an osteopath. I am hoping to start swimming soon but it's hard to fit in around work and renovating the house.