How bad can/does PGP get? In terms of pain and walking…

[Pinkpeonies2]

I’m 27.5 weeks and first noticed symptoms of PGP - specifically lower back pain and crotch pain - about three weeks ago. However, over the past week I have been concerned by the rate at which it’s got worse.

I’m sore when I get up/stand up. I’m sore walking around the supermarket. Walking down the road is painful. I’m constantly aware of my lower back.

I do have an upcoming NHS physio appointment, but at the same time I’m feeling very aware I have three months of this to go! How bad does it get?

Hi OP, I had bad PGP during my pregnancy from about weeks 15-25. It did actually ease off itself after this and I felt ok for the remainder of my pregnancy. I remember being terrified that it would get worse and worse but it didn’t. Midwife said that up to about 20 weeks ish is when your body starts making room for baby so it’s likely PGP will ease after that.
You have my sympathies, it’s shit.

Hey, firstly I'm so sorry you're in pain. It can get so awfully painful and nobody understands! My experience is an overly bad one I think so don't let it scare you.

My PGP started at 25 weeks. Came on very quickly and worsened even quicker! Within 6 weeks I was in agony and could hardly walk. My baby shower was at 32 weeks and I remember barely making it to the venue, it was on the Saturday and I'd informed work I was going on mat leave the following Monday. I think I should've listened to my body and gone off the week before, as even though my pgp didn't get any better as such until baby was here, when I stopped working it stopped getting much worse.

My physio appointment came through a week after I gave birth 🙃 so I didn't have any physio to see if it helped or not.

In my experience, the literal hour my baby was born, the pain disappeared. I hopped up after my epidural wore off and the pain never returned.

In short:
It's very painful and I'm sorry you're experiencing it!
Get a bump support band, it helped slightly
Rest!!

Xx

I had PGP with my first and it was very painful but manageable with some physio, using a belt to hold my pelvis steady and painkillers. I also made sure I avoided things that make it worse like pushing a trolley or hoover. I also slept on a satiny sheet to make turning over in bed easier and used a support pillow. A woman I know who had a baby at the same time as me also had PGP and was on crutches. When we had our second babies she ended up using a wheelchair as it was so bad. That is extreme but it can happen. Mine didn't ease until after I gave birth and the hormone that relaxed the ligaments was out of my body

Sorry you're experiencing this.
Mine came at 35 weeks and was hideous, I was agony doing anything from lowering myself to go to the toilet, going upstairs and generally getting around. I had to use crutches but even with those it was agony and I could only manage around 5-10 mins max walking. I went on mat leave a bit earlier than planned because of it.

I was so worried it wouldn't go once baby arrived but thankfully by the next day after birth I could feel improvement and by day 8 I was out for a walk on my own with baby and dog.

It's so very hard to deal with so be kind to yourself and try all that you can to help it/yourself.

Mine started about 20 weeks and was manageable until I hit 30 weeks. Then it became intense pain and I could barely walk . I had regular physio appointments with NHS and needed crutches to walk. It weirdly eased up at 37 weeks and thankfully as soon as the baby was born they pain disappeared immediately. The physiotherapist was certain I would need support after birth but I was fine. I was given exercises to do to after birth which I did even though I felt better.

I've had it twice. both times pretty bad. go to see an osteopath, they're magic. the relief lasts about a month so regular appointments may be key.

there's an elasticated belt you can buy to strap across your hips and can provide some relief.

Also worth speaking to occ health as they can make adjustments for you. I was able to wfh from about 20 weeks onwards.

I had it from week 18 in my second pregnancy and it did get worse as in more painful more often as time went on. Sleeping was my biggest issue as the pain was terrible and I slept so badly because of it the last few months. I took codeine now and again for the pain after speaking to my GP.

I found pregnancy massages and warm baths helped. Hot water bottles/heat on sore areas. I did have a few physio sessions (privately), they gave me some exercises to do which I did, dunno if they helped or not. I also got a bump support belt from physio who checked it fitted right etc and that seemed to help, I wore it most of the time out and about.

I stayed as active as possible and I felt that did actually help tbh. I did pregnancy yoga classes and then pregnancy aerobics and/or pregnancy HIIT right til the end. My instructors were great and would give me alternative movements for anything they thought would be a problem PGP wise.

I'm 23 weeks in my third pregnancy and haven't had any at all yet which has surprised me. I didn't have any in my first pregnancy other than coccydynia which was mostly just a problem at work and I used a coccyx cushion there.

Hi, the pain was excruciating for me and it stopped the moment I gave birth. The pain was so severe that I wasn’t able to sit down for too long and had to be signed off sick from work. There were times when I couldn’t even put on my leggings without my husband’s help. I was referred for physio but I got the referral months after I gave birth lol!

https://pelvicpartnership.org.uk/get-support/getting-treatment/what-to-expect/

i didn’t have a positive experience with NHS physio.

I was told they couldn't do manual manipulation needed to help me buy could give me exercises and crutches when necessary. This was both in second pregnancy and third pregnancy several years apart. Basically even all these years on they still don't have the skill set. This impacts on birthing interventions due to reduced mobility.

From a local group I learnt that another woman was seeing a chiropractor under "any qualified provider " scheme. I spoke to my GP who referred me to one with lower back pain. This is what needed the manual therapy to free up the whole pelvis area.

Bloody amazing results. 7 weeks ago prior to treatment I could barely move. In the end I was fully mobile and actually enjoying pregnancy again. Bliss! Home birthed too.

Look up AQP guidelines and protocol.
When speaking to GP make sure you fit it. It is worthwhile speaking to providers to gauge their level of experience in dealing with your condition prior to speaking to GP so you can choose preferred provider.
Apparently you can also take paperwork yourself to provider which shortens wait.

My youngest is now 7 sonetimes I get twinges down there. Got it the other day for first time in ages. Reminded me how fucking awful it was but chiropractor really did help. I still need to strengthen my core though.

Not to scare you but it can get really bad. I was unable to walk and even getting around my house was really difficult for the last few months, i could kind of shuffle a little but it was so painful. I found standing up after laying down was the worst and i couldnt bear weight on my right leg as it would just give way. It took ages to go after birth too, i ended up getting osteopathy privately which helped. Nhs were useless.

Currently going through it all again after it came on at 6 weeks, currently 16 weeks and its not too bad yet, the pelvis/back crunching noises have only just started and its getting painful to change positions in bed at night, but im dreading how much worse it will get! Sorry you have it too, it really does suck.

You need to rest rest rest and avoid anything that aggravates it.

Mine was horrific tbh in part as I didn't know you were supposed to rest and avoid.

Wow, I am glad I started this thread! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and opening my eyes a little. Sounds like I am going to have to change the way I do things, it's a bit concerning.

My worry is my job - I work in the community, driving around and attending appointments in two or three different settings a day. That will continue for the next five weeks (until I am 32 weeks).

I also have a weekend away planned in London in a few weeks' time!

I think I will just have to speak with the physio at my appointment and see what she recommends in relation to work etc. It sounds like it could get very bad indeed, which is worrying...!

I had PGP from around 21 weeks - could manage about 5-10 min walks. The support belt helped a bit. It took longer than expected to get better after birth - maybe a couple of months, but it DID eventually go completely.

It's was really boring not being able to do much out of the house, but frankly I was just happy that the hyperemisis had gone lol. Also, I tried to imagine that all those relaxin hormones would make it easier to pop baby out. Probably no scientific basis to my thinking, but I did have an easy birth! Although I couldn't walk much I managed a lot of strength based exercises, which definitely helped with the birth - it's like a marathon, and being fit helped.

Pretty bad unfortunately, you need to minimise walking now, also be careful what you do, no lifting, sit down to put shoes and socks on, even trousers sit down to pull over your feet then stand up to pull them up. No kicking or pushing things with one foot. Be careful how you turn over in bed and get out of bed, always knees together.
If you need to stand a lot for work put in changes now.
A support band helps (serola or similar). I even had to stop wearing under bump type trousers because they were too much pressure on my pubic bone.

I'm 30 weeks and it really does get very bad and you will aggravate it by persevering with walking lots and exercise etc.

See the physio ASAP. The weekend in London - you may need to rethink it, get ubers etc to avoid walks.

It's extremely boring and frustrating. But note that if you aggravate it, you don't only risk going on crutches, but it can continue after pregnancy. So listen to your physio carefully.

Serola belt will be your friend.

Mine didn’t get that bad - I was walking miles at the end to induce labour.