38 weeks and can't walk, options?

[Meeting]

I'm 38 weeks and the pain in my pelvis is so bad that I can barely walk. I have a toddler to look after and DH works long days, I'm really really struggling.

I have my next MW appt of Friday, will she be able to offer a sweep or anything to try and get things moving? Or would you just keep going the best you can? It's only started in the last couple of weeks so I haven't discussed it with her yet.

Can you call the Community midwife team?

Sounds like pelvic girdle pain which is horribly painful, I remember it clearly many years on!! The main thing is to keep your knees together at all times. You can Google exercises for this but at 38 weeks the main relief will be from not being pregnant.

When you have your baby it's important you let the midwives know about the pgp as there are positions (with your knees wide apart) that you need to avoid in labour.

Call your midwife, she may be able to arrange a physio review for you and should also be able to hopefully supply you with a band to support your pelvis - tubigrip or similar - it might just help get through the next couple of weeks. It’s really common but can be super sore, if you google “pelvic girdle pain” you should be able to bring up some written info on exercises to help and things to avoid. Try to take it easy if at all possible and ask for help with toddler if you can so you can just rest. Good luck :)

Wow I had no idea that this was an actual 'thing'! Thanks so much, I was hoping to wait it out until Friday for my appt but giving them a call may be best. Will hop on Google in the meantime

Just throwing it out there, when I was pregnant I had terrible hip pain. People kept telling me that it was pelvic girdle pain but it really was my hip. I went to a physio-osteopath and she did an ultrasound. My hips had opened preparing for baby and one side had opened too much which then put the ball and socket joint of the hip out of place. I could barely walk and ended up waddling about but then that hurt my knees, feet and back. Oh it was awful and you have my sympathy completely! On the plus side it does go away after baby arrives. It’s an immediate relief and then about 6 weeks PP it’s totally gone! Just a couple more weeks girl (possibly less), you’ve got this! 💪

I know your pain! Similar situation with PGP and a young child already. I've had it since first trimester and its gradually been getting worse. Ive found the tubigrip and belt really good but I've also been using crutches since the 2nd trimester. It was initially managed with exercises which do help, especially done in the morning and at regular periods during the day. I found the physio team informative and helpful with tips for doing the exercises. The care team are happy to induce at 39 weeks, although baby is measuring in 90th percentile and they are trying to avoid c section if possible for medical reasons. They are open to inducing earlier if needed so its definitely worth discussing with your midwife. Different trusts and no two pregnancies are the same but worth a try if you are really struggling. Not long left xxx

Edit: I was also prescribed cocodamol to try help manage the pain on days its really needed. I find it makes me very drowsy though so not much use when DC is my responsibility. If I know I need it (wake up from pain) then I take it really early so the drowsy effect has worn off before DH goes to work.

I was referred to physio by the midwife. Regualr physio appts, belt and they did talk about crutches. They also offered me acupuncture, which I tried but had no impact for me.

The only thing that really helped was seeing an osteopath. I saw him weekly towards the end of my pregnancy and it honestly felt like the only thing that kept me mobile.

I think:

1. if you cannot walk you cannot care for a child. You’d DH needs to immediately take parental leave from work or hire a babysitter to help you.
2. call your gp or midwife and ask them to assess.
3. try a well recommended private osteo if you can.
4. ask for an early induction or c section to get baby out?