another pregnancy question..... and rant.........it's long..........

[rookie]

My body is falling apart!

 

Can my pelvis literally crack? I am walking around in fear of this happening at only five months of pregnancy. I have had my coccyx fracture during delivery and that was NO fun. Every step I take it feels like my pelvic bone is going to give way. I have started wearing a belly band to try to remove some of the pressure, but truly, I do not know how I will walk through the next few months!

 

Also, I have had every-worsening circulatory issues with each pregnancy. Well, my legs are now crisscrossed with blue/purple bulging varicose veins from top to bottom. I am using circulatory hose to deal with that pain (if I don't it is like my legs are on fire or made of lead).

 

I also have headaches on a regular basis and my neck is killing me. I can't sleep well at night because of all of these discomforts -- oh, add in: perpetually stuffy feeling in head and shortness of breath -- and I am so tired.

 

I have other kids to tend to and all I want to do is curl up in my own fetal position and not move.

 

I am forcing myself to take a walk every day. I also take a vitamin, eat & drink very healthy, do take a break in the afternoon (that's what I am doing now) and have gotten some help with the housework, BUT I am still a physical wreck.

 

Each time I have become pregnant, my body seems to have taken it worse. This time, it is a whopper! I do not know how women with +6 can physically take the pregnancy.

 

I have no problems with the babies and the dc - it's the pregnancy that is bringing me to a grinding halt.

 

So, first, can my fear come true? Can my pelvis just crack open? Can I stop it? If it does, what will that mean?

 

Next, how can I help my legs? Is there a way to stop the damage (which never gets better after baby).

 

Any other words of wisdom?

 

Please take pity on me. I am not a drama queen - at all. I am a woman on the verge of a physical breakdown who has to get it together and keep raising a family while the next member finishes developing!

 

Thanks.

Edited February 16, 2010 by rookie
typo

[teamturner]

I don't know about your other symptoms, but could your pelvic pain be this? I think I had diastasis symphysis pubis with my last pregnancy. From what I read about it on the internet back then, it is well known in Europe, but not so much here in the states. My OBGYN didn't have a clue what I was talking about. However, my chiropractor (whom I began seeing specifically for this problem and had much experience w/pregnancy chiropractic care) made some adjustments that helped alleviate the pain quite a bit. I continued to see my chiro throughout the pregnancy and it helped a lot.

 

I hope you find some relief! :grouphug:

[5forMe]

I just had baby #5 and I am 39 years old. While I have healthy pregnancies, I did notice that with each subsequent pregnancy after the 1st, I felt everything even more. This last pregnancy, the round ligament pain could bring me almost to my knees, it felt like charlie horses in the sides of my abdomen. I had varicose veins only in my right leg that got worse with each baby and with the last one, the bulging went all the way down to my foot.

 

When the pelvic joints seperated to prepare for birth, I could definately notice the aching more this last time and after the birth the afterpains, makes a natural childbirther like myself wish for an epidural.

 

I would definately discuss it with your OB/midwife. I hope you are feeling better soon. The second trimester is when you are supposed to feel your best during pregnancy.

[Guest home handymum]

Sounds like symphisis pubis dysfunction to me, too. I haven't have it badly with mine, but a friend had to have crutches with her third pregnancy, and rest LOTS. She was in agony.

 

A physiotherapist specialising in pregnancy would be a good idea - but make sure they really are qualified to deal with pregnancy issues - you don't want someone who doesn't really know what they're doing - you could end up with permanent back damage.

[Heather in OK]

Get thee to a chiropractor. ;)

[MariannNOVA]

Ask your doctor if a 'prenatal cradle' will help. I wore one for most of my pregnancy when I was carrying the twins. I began wearing it at about 15 weeks, and I wore it until the day I delivered. I cannot tell you the relief it gave me instantly. In fact, I ended up buying three or four of them. I had broken my tailbone a few years earlier, and the pressure I was feeling everywhere was just overwhelming AND that was still in the first trimester. My perinatologist told me to try wearing one of these, and I was so happy that I listened to her. I bought mine at JC Penney's but I think they are widely available. I found this photo of one on amazon.

Hope this helps!

[Lovedtodeath]

Your OB is on top of things? My baby dropped at 5 months and I ended up on bed rest, so I just want to be sure that you are not experiencing an engaged baby before you should.

 

I used to sell orthopedic supplies. Compression hose is used for circulation problems. You may want to ask your doctor which strength to get. You can buy it at bell-horn.com (yeah, that's where I worked. I made the catalog. I wonder if they are still using it. :p)

Edited February 17, 2010 by Lovedtodeath

[keptwoman]

Sounds like symphisis pubis dysfunction to me, too. I haven't have it badly with mine, but a friend had to have crutches with her third pregnancy, and rest LOTS. She was in agony.

 

A physiotherapist specialising in pregnancy would be a good idea - but make sure they really are qualified to deal with pregnancy issues - you don't want someone who doesn't really know what they're doing - you could end up with permanent back damage.

Yes definitely sounds like SPD. I had it very badly in my 2nd and 3rd pregnancy. I was on crutches with C but being very careful from the get-go prevented that with M.

 

Your pelvis can't crack but the two halves are held together by ligaments that can get very loose and it's AGONY.

STOP WALKING NOW!! Walking is BAD news for SPD. Walk as little as possible, if your letter box is down a long drive then use the car to get to it. The thing about it is that it might not feel bad at the time, but you pay with pain later.

For exercise, find your local swimming school or therapy pool that's very warm, gentle walking or free style in the pool is helpful and doesn't create pain. The warm bit is important though, I did it in a cold pool just once and couldn't walk for 2 days afterwards.

Other things to avoid:

Stairs: go up and down as little as possibile, have a basket at both top and bottom for things that need to go up or down (get someone else to carry them) and use your arms on the handrails to support yourself. Take one step at a time, both feet onto it, then take the next step.

Vaccuming: we tend to do this with a legs apart stance, and that is not good. Get Dh or the kids to do it. If you must do it, stand with your legs together.

 

Aim to not carry anything heavy, when you go grocery shopping leave the groceries in the car and get someone else to bring them to the kitchen, no carrying heavy books, boxes, children... anything!

 

Keep your legs together all the time, getting in and out of bed, in and out of the car, sitting and standing, standing in line etc. Never put your weight just on one leg. I used a plastic bag on my car seat to swing around easily to get in and out with legs together.

 

You might also want to consider the positions you use during marital relations, and aim for ones that keep your legs together. I stick with abstinence (poor DH)

 

I had no luck with the physio, although the band they gave me helped a very little when I absolutely had to walk. I have heard really good things about chiropractors for this, but it was too late for me by the time I heard that as I was close to delivery.

 

Hope that helps, the really important thing for me with this was managing it very strictly to keep pain to a minimum. Also my doctor gave me the form to get a wheelchair carpark pass which also helped a lot.

Edited February 17, 2010 by keptwoman

[SonshineLearner]

Get thee to a chiropractor. ;)

 

Yup.. I agree! I was not as bad as you.. but it was bad. A chiro was like a miracle to me. Oh yes... and massages by a really good woman. Beautiful... healing... relief!!

 

OF course, if the chiro can't do it... I'd ask some specialist too. I know that there are things for the outside, too.. like hose and such..

 

Best of Luck!!

Carrie

[teamturner]

Get thee to a chiropractor. ;)

 

:iagree: I'm so glad I found my chiropractor. She knew what I was talking about and she adjusted that area using a very small little tapping device that is very gentle. For the other adjusting, she had a special table that allowed the belly to hang down. It was all done very quickly.

 

I didn't have significant postpartem issues w/this either. Sometimes, when I would go to use the machine at the gym that works your thighs (abductor or something) in the year following the pregnancy, I would feel the pain when I used that machine. My chiro told me how to adjust myself by squating and crossing my hands and placing them on the inside of my knees, with my elbows on the other knee and squeeze my knees towards each other while resisting with my hands/elbows. It worked!

[klmama]

When I was pregnant I saw a physical therapist that specialized in pregancy issues. She was also trained in osteopathic manipulation, and it did wonders for me all three pregnancies.