Anyone had PGP? Any tips on how to manage it?

[looploopy709]

Hello Everyone.

I've been at maternity triage all weekend with bad pelvic pain, been diagnosed with PGP. Just been told to rest and take pain killers but I can't take anything stronger than paracetamol. I'm currently 35W+4. Just wondering what every one else's experiences are with it? Thanks in advance.

[AE123]

Hi,

I’ve had it too - and it started really quite early at about 16 weeks (I’m currently 23!). I referred myself to the women’s health physio and they were able to give some good advice including better sleeping positions (it involves a lot of pillows!) and how to moderate activity.

Hope it gets better!

[Wondering20]

Hello,

This is my second pregnancy (30w+4) and I’ve had dreaded PGP both times. This pregnancy it started at around 20 weeks and has been getting gradually worse. I’m sorry that you are experiencing this as well.

The best advice I received was from my very experienced osteopath. He said to buy a specific belt called Serola to wear around my lower back and hips to help support the pelvis. It really does help - I can’t say it takes away all the pain - but it makes it less! (He was specific about which belt; I had tried a maternity belt last pregnancy but it transferred the pain up my back) The Serola belt is made by an American company and the branding isn’t geared much towards pregnancy or women, but it does work and you can get it on amazon!

Just check the measurements before you buy (I bought a L but would probably have been a M outside of pregnancy - and I wear it under the bump; it’s not there to support that part). It has extra Velcro fastenings so if you know you have to stand a while/do something that aggravates the pain you just tighten these at the side and then you can loosen them after. It is super easy to fit, unlike the pregnancy one I used before which involved reading a small manual every time I wanted to wear it

Other things to try are;

- a pillow between your knees especially when sleeping on your side but I also find it helpful to gently squeeze one between my knees (with my feet closer together than knees) when I’m sitting at my desk or on the sofa.

- Ice on lower back and pelvis for a short time can be helpful (I found it’s not that well received when baby has her head in or near the pelvis but that could be just us!)

- getting in and out of bed/the car with your knees together

- purposefully ‘firing’ your pelvic floor just before and as you move

- if like us you have hard floors in a lot of the house I definitely recommend a good pair of slippers to soften walking; i’m finding fitflops slippers really comfy so perhaps you could give them a go

- invest in a pair of good quality walking boots. They don’t look great I’ll admit, but I’ll take comfort over that any day!

I hope this is helpful - apologies it’s such a long answer x x

[Shey19xx]

Hello,

I got diagnosed with it last week. I am currently 26+6 and have been suffering PGP since week 24. I referred myself to a physiotherapist and she gave me tips on how to sleep, get dressed, undressed, etc. like Wondering20 mentions. It worked, but what is really working for me is doing 'pelvic tilts' have a look online for the exercise. I think that is what is really helping reduce the amount of pain I have

Best of luck with it! xx

[looploopy709]

Thank you all for your replies, it really means alot. I'm going to take a good look into this and hope it starts to help. I'm just sorry that we are all suffering from it. It is not pleasant at all x