PGP- ANY relief stories?!

[AiRoo]

Hi all,

Am 32 weeks pregnant, mild discomfort in my pubic area/centre of pelvis started at 26 weeks I think.

it is now, very intense, whilst still or mobile …. I barely made it up the stairs tonight and sobbed in church watching my 2 year old see Santa for the first time- not from cuteness, from agony.

My wife gave birth to him, this is the first baby I’ve carried, this far anyway.

im not on social media, but my wife is on a Facebook group and from what she reads out to me it sounds like it’s all pretty much doom and gloom;

“pain killers are pointless, physio often comes too late and nhs support is lacking”

I consider myself to have a relatively high pain threshold (had a broken spine for 5 years and just kept quiet about it, thought it would ‘go away’) but this is something else!

I’ve read some women are given c-sections/inductions as early as 37 weeks if their mobility is badly impacted and their mental health is suffering from dealing with this.

I don’t have a birth plan yet, meeting the anaesthetist consult on Tuesday to see if a epidural is at all possible if needed (due to aforementioned spinal issues and subsequent fusion), I also have a 7cm fibroid by my cervix which may prevent a natural birth…. So my options could be limited to spinal tap or general anaesthetic which I don’t want really.

does anyone have any experience and/or words of wisdom to pass on to me as to how they got through this? I’m more than happy to grit my teeth and carry on it if that is literally my only option, but if anyone has any helpful advice- please help a girl in pain out!!

thank you xx

Is a private specialist physio appointment in your budget?

They were some of the best baby related money I ever spent.

at this point I’d sell my two year old….

id find the money from somewhere, you’ve convinced me it’s worth it!

I guess ones trained in this specifically helps? How regularly did you go? Was it the exercises that help or the hands on manipulation?

thanks for replying @ScaryM0nster

I'm so sorry. I had this with my first and it was horrible. Luckily I didn't have any other kids and was wfh so could limit movement and do lots of gentle stretches etc but it was really tough. I didn't have it anywhere near as badly with my second.

I went to a chiropractor who really helped. It was a bandaid, not a fix but got me through the worst of it. I used a brutal massage gun on legs and calves which also helped. I got a pregnancy support band, just one from amazon and that also kinda helped.

Just sending sympathy.

Theres a sub specialiaty of physio Thats women’s health / pelvic health.

Can find them through the POGP website, or the Squeezy app, or looking for places that do a mummy MOT or similar.

I’ve had 6-8 weeks between appointments, and then huge gaps between issues.

The biggest help was the assessment and the really individually focussed advice - working out what could adapt / adjust that was realistic and achievable and would help, and things that might give some relief.

I had good and individualised advice in a session with a NHS physio. Here's what I can remember:

Keep knees together when getting into/out of a car or a bed.
Sleep on your side with knees together and a pillow in between.
On steps, go up with one leg, then join with the other, so you have two feet together. Repeat for each step.
Sit and stand as evenly balanced and upright as possible. No slouching.
Wear a tubigrip round your torso from bottom to waist. Double it over for more support.

You have my full sympathy, because I found it so tough and relentless. On the plus side, as soon as the baby is born, it will ease. I also recommend some good physio after, to help you to recover.

Can totally relate. I’m 28 weeks and PGP started for me 3-4 weeks ago.
I see an osteopath regularly anyway and she specialises in women’s health, so pelvic floor etc. Definitely has improved since I saw her and going back at the end of this week.

The biggest help for me I think has been resting and knowing my limits with standing and walking. Also keeping both legs together. So sitting down to put on/take off pants and trousers. Equal weight on both feet when standing. Avoiding stairs as much as possible. Swinging legs round together when getting in/out of the bed/car/bath. Sleeping either a pillow between my legs.

Also never been much of a bath person, but find a nice soak a few times a week really helps.

Ask if your hospital offers hydro physio for this, mine did.

You should be able to refer to physio. If you can’t, your midwife should be able to refer you. I had horrendous PGP from July until I had my baby a couple of weeks ago. The physio team got me in for an appointment the day after I was referred because my pain was so severe. It might also be worth getting a bump support band or tubi grip just to help take some of the weight off. I’d roll over in bed sometimes and would feel my pelvis click 🤢

PGP really does suck so hopefully you can find something that gives you a little relief.

My NHS physio told me to breathe the pain away as it was all in my mind. I asked her for a belt, turned out they didn’t have one big enough (my bump wasn’t particularly huge). To this day I am not sure how a misaligned pelvis could all be in my mind!

I had some manual therapy/massage from a private physio which was nice enough but didn’t really fix it.

What did help… was giving birth! Immediate relief. The c-section recovery seemed like a breeze because the pain of the PGP had gone away.

I had this, though it was worse with my second pregnancy than my first (apparently that’s common, if you’ve had it the first time around!) - though I will say I struggled with mobility around 6 months pregnant but found it did ease a bit towards the end, if that is in any way reassuring.

Get a really good pregnancy pillow, and / or lots of normal pillows / quilts / anything you can find. If you can align your hips, knees and ankles in bed (by putting a pregnancy pillow or other props between your legs,) the relief is amazing.

Don’t twist while getting up. Try to clench your core, and move in one direction at a time.

Sit down while trying to put on clothes.

Physio gave me exercises to do on an exercise ball, but they didn’t hugely help. I’ve also held bump supports are good but you shouldn’t get one without having it recommended / checking with your medical team.

Sending hugs, it is brutal! But does disappear instantly once baby is out, so there is that!!

Currently 35 weeks and this started for me around 30 weeks. I self referred for NHS physio and was seen fairly quickly, they gave some exercises and were happy to see me again. It was pretty bad at its peak (second pregnancy, first time none of this so really took me by surprise). The exercises did help but it's hard to find the time with an older child! as well as lots of the advice above like keeping knees together etc. ultimately I had to cut my hours to WFH more and that made the biggest difference (on my feet a lot and lots of twisting around equipment/tables/bending over etc which was awful for my hip). Pregnancy pillow for sleep. Avoid unnecessary stairs. Accepting that I couldn't do everything that I was able to do in first pregnancy/early trimesters. And am clinging onto friends' telling me that it all melts away once baby is out. Good luck, it's pretty intense especially with another child to care for.

Well-fitting crutches, rest but moving a little often, small adaptions to help with things like bed and cars, and grit (and I have a lot less of this than you!) got me through.

I wondered if you might be a little encouraged to hear that I managed a waterbirth (agony getting in, but childbirth is agony anyway), and then I was helped out out the pool afterwards (some time afterwards because I'd delivered the placenta and fed the baby) and...

I walked across the room without needing crutches! A bit uncomfortable, but basically pain-free joints! I wish the same for you.

I had awful PGP in my second pregnancy. Worse than with my twins. I believe it impacted the pain I experienced in labour because it was so intensely crushing in my pelvis.
My husband used to shake my hips for me every day, which really did offer some relief. However, I still struggle now with stiffness, clicking, and discomfort. I was seeing a chiropractor, which helped and also worked on strengthening my deep core.
The large majority of the fiscomfrot goes after birth. For now, focus on each day at a time. Stretch when you're able!

I had terrible PGP in my first two pregnancies and it was incredible the difference in my third with basically some simple daily exercises (and knowing my limits and resting too). If you want to try: you lie on your back with your knees up/feet on the floor, and use an exercise band to pull your knees apart and back together again. You should feel the clicking and if you keep building up that strength (I did sessions morning and eve) it might help. I was kind of shocked how much better it all was from something relatively simple.

Good morning all, apologies for the radio silence, the pain was so intense over the weekend it really impacted my mental health so turned off my phone and had a break from life!

id like to thank you all for your replies. I will take all the tips and examples of exercises you have given to me. We have exercises bands and pregnancy balls in the house so I’m going to seize the day and start now.

I will also discuss hydro physio with my midwife as the bath does give me some relief. My standard physio referral was put in 4/5 weeks ago now so I’m not holding out hope I’ll be seen, I think I’m just going to have to be my own physio!

im taking taking heed and comfort from those of you who’ve said relief comes once the baby is here. I’ve read of women who have the pain linger for months afterwards, so it’s reassuring that that doesn’t seem to be the majority rule.

thank you ladies, just having the words of support, wisdom, sympathy and hugs have meant a lot to me to read this morning.

this little lady will get a stern talking to on delivery aka a massive cuddle and uncontrollable tears from me!

have a lovely Christmas everyone, when the time comes x

Checking your hospital has a hydro pool that will give you a good idea - good luck!