Pregnancy-related pelvic discomfort and common health issues

 

Pelvic pain in pregnancy|Common health problems in pregnancy

Pregnancy-related pelvic discomfort and common health issues
Pregnancy-related pelvic discomfort and common health issues



incontinence during pregnancy

During pregnancy, some women may experience pelvic pain. This condition is also known as symphysis pubis dysfunction or pregnancy-related pelvic girdle discomfort (PGP) (SPD).

PGP is a group of uneasy symptoms brought on by stiffness in the pelvic joints or an unequal movement of the joints in the front or back of the pelvis.

The signs of PGP
Although PGP is not harmful to your baby, it can hurt and make movement challenging.

PGP patients may experience pain:

over one or both sides of your lower back in the region between your vagina and anus (perineum), extending to your thighs, across the pubic bone in the front in the middle, nearly level with your hips
In the pelvic region, some women may experience or hear clicking or grinding.

Pain may intensify if you're:

Walking standing on one leg when ascending or descending stairs (for instance, when getting ready)
rolling over in bed and spreading your legs (for example, when you get out of a car)
most PGP-afflicted ladies can have.

If you get pelvic pain and find it difficult to move about, consult your GP or midwife.

it aches to turn over in bed or get out of a car.

Going up or down stairs hurts.

These could be symptoms of pelvic girdle pain brought on by pregnancy.

Update on the coronavirus (COVID-19)

It's crucial for the health of both you and your unborn child that you attend all of your visits and scans if you're feeling good.


Medications for PGP

Acquiring a diagnosis as soon as you can can help reduce pain to a minimal and prevent chronic suffering.

You can request a recommendation from your midwife for a physiotherapist who specialises in treating obstetric pelvic joint issues.

The goals of physical therapy are to reduce or eliminate pain, enhance muscle performance, and enhance the posture and stability of your pelvic joint.

This might comprise:

Exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor, stomach, back, and hip muscles manual treatment to ensure that the joints in your pelvis, hip, and spine work normally
counselling and tips for water exercises, including positions for labour and delivery, caring for your child, and sex positions; pain management, such as TENS technology; and, if necessary, crutches or pelvic support belts.
These issues typically don't
Hospitals and clinics make sure it's safe for you to attend appointments if you're pregnant.

Speak to your midwife or the maternity team if you experience COVID-19 symptoms or if you are ill with a different illness. They can provide you advice on what to do.

Managing pelvic discomfort during pregnancy
To relieve your pain or to make it easier for you to move around, your physiotherapist can suggest a pelvic support belt or crutches.



Planning your day to avoid things that hurt you can be helpful. Avoid using the stairs more often than necessary, for instance.



This other piece of advise is provided by the Pelvic, Obstetric & Gynecological Physiotherapy (POGP) network:



Stay as active as you can while still adhering to your pain tolerance and avoiding things that aggravate your pain

rest whenever you can

Ask your family, friends, or partner for assistance with daily tasks, if you have one.

Put on supportive, flat shoes.

Sit down to get dressed; for instance, when putting on jeans, do not stand on one leg.

POGP advises staying away from:


balancing on one leg.

lifting while stooping and bending, or carrying a baby on one hip

bending your knees

seated on the ground or in a strange position

long periods of standing or sitting

lifting large objects like grocery bags, damp laundry, or a toddler

vacuuming

pushing hefty things, such a grocery cart

carrying everything with just one hand (try using a small backpack)

The physiotherapist need to be able to offer suggestions for coping with the psychological effects of dealing with chronic pain, such as the use of relaxation methods. You should inform your doctor or midwife if your discomfort is giving you a lot of distress. You could need more medical attention.



Download the POGP pamphlet for expectant mothers Pelvic girdle discomfort associated with pregnancy.

pelvic discomfort during labour and delivery

Many pregnant women who experience pelvic pain are able to give birth vaginally normally.



Make a birth plan in advance and discuss it with your birth partner and midwife.



So that the persons assisting you during labour and delivery are aware of your condition, include a note in your birth plan stating that you have PGP.



Write down the labour positions that you find most comfortable in your birth plan.



You might want to consider having a water birth because being in the water can lighten the burden on your joints and make movement easier. You can talk to your midwife about this.

Your "range of motion without pain"

Find out your pain-free range of motion if you experience pain when you open your legs.

Open your legs as wide as you can without hurting yourself while lying on your back or sitting on the edge of a chair.

The distance between your knees can be measured with a tape measure by your partner or the midwife. Your pain-free zone is here.

Try not to open your legs further than this during labour and delivery to protect your joints.

This is crucial because if you receive an epidural during labour, you won't experience the discomfort that signals when your legs are being separated too far.

Make sure your midwife and doctor are aware if you receive an epidural


Pregnancy pelvic pain: who experiences it?

PGP is thought to have some effect on up to 1 in 5 pregnant women.



Although the actual cause of pelvic pain in some women is unknown, it is believed to be related to a number of factors, including previous pelvic injury, unequal movement of the pelvic joints, and the size or location of the baby.



The following elements may increase a woman's risk of developing PGP:



a background of lower back pain or pelvic discomfort

pelvis injury in the past (for example, from a fall or accident)

possessing PGP from a prior pregnancy

a physically taxing occupation

gaining weight

having a pregnancy with multiple births

On healthtalk.org, women are interviewed about their experiences with pelvic pain during pregnancy.


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