You see, I have a condition in pregnancy called pelvic instability. I've had it the last 3 pregnancies so knew what I was in for this time around but it seems to have gotten worse with each pregnancy. I have lived with this for so much of the last 5 years and yet realised that by just referring to it as "my hip thing" a lot of my close friends and family don't even know what "it" is. I also really want others out there who experience this to educate themselves (not the 3rd time around either!!) so they can get help.
Basically I produce too much of the hormone "relaxin". So from about week 8 of pregnancy my ligaments and muscles stretch and relax eventually causing a lot of nerve pain and difficulty walking especially as the baby gets bigger and heavier. By the third trimester, I have to use a pelvic brace and am some days unable to weightbear on my right leg (my more flexible side!) It also is exacerbated by lifting and use of stairs - both of which I do a lot of - what with looking after a 13kg toddler and living in a 2-storey house! i find it incredibly frustrating being so restricted and not my usual active self but know that it slowly resolves after the births of our beautiful children.
Check out the Pelvic Instability Association of Victoria for more info on this condition!
So the last week I have been in a lot of pain - also having the complication of lots of braxton-hicks/contractions (worryingly so earlier in the week) AND having Kieren away all week with work. The midwife recommended bedrest. Hmmmm....with 3 kids and on my own?? Difficult!! But I have made it through this week with lots of help from friends, family and relatives. Thank you all so much for every little thing - meals, washing, ironing, helping with bath times, collecting and dropping off my girls to kinder/school, phone calls to see how I was going..... I have never felt so cared-for in my life and have been so humbled by everyone's offers of help. So thank you again...all of you - you know who you are....
I have another 10 weeks to go until this baby is due and have to diligently pace myself to get through them day by day. But I am definitely feeling more positive than last weekend as I won't have Kieren away for a whole week again and I am so blessed with such caring friends and family.
So that's my week. And now I'm going to get my heat pack and go do the bed rest thing. Again.
:) By the way, that's so much more boring than it sounds.
This is me at 27 weeks during the kids' treasure hunt on Easter Sunday.
6 comments:
I'm so glad you updated. I was going to email you this week & ask how you're going. Sorry to hear you've had a time of it. I hope the pain settles down soon - will it go as soon as bub is born?
You look beautiful in the pic!
Hi Renata! the pain eases a lot usually after the birth but it takes as long as I'm breastfeeding to settle right down as I still produce relaxin until I wean. I plan to trial pilates classes or something like that after this baby to help through the breastfeeding phase!
Hi Christy,
yes, so great to have an update! But I'm sorry to hear about 'your hip thing' ;) - it sounds painful, and I know full well that feeling of frustration when you just want to take care of everyone, but can't! It can be so so hard.
I know in general for me my pregnancies got harder each time; my body had lots of extra troubles with Will's pregnancy.... It does make it hard to keep up, but isn't it great to be taken care of too? Enjoy your friends, and let them care for you- it's only 10 weeks, and they will love doting on you. :) That little one will be here before you know it!! :)
All the best,
Saminda.
Lovely to hear from you. Sorry to hear things have been hard for you. Its great that you have people to help but still having three little ones needs to meet is hard enough without pain and discomfort. Can't believe your little one is only 10weeks away. It seems to go so quick when someone else is pregnant but of course so long for the one that is lol. You look absolutely beautiful pregnant (you always do). I pray that you find some comfort and rest and that the next 10 weeks come and go quickly and that little cherub will be safely in your arms.
Love Tan xx
You look so happy and healthy in that photo - and thanks for your comment on my blog!
Oh I have so much sympathy for you - I also have had pelvic instability with all my pregnancies. It was very mild with my first, but progressively worse with each subsequent one. In fact with my last baby (who was not supposed to happen due to an operation which failed - obviously) I remember saying to my husband one night "It's really strange. My hips are aching so bad just like when I was pregnant" and 10 days later I found out I was. So it started at the very beginning. I hope you can get the rest you need, but you probably know that lying down for too long can be just as painful as moving around. Good luck, I hope the last 10 weeks just fly by.
Thanks Mum-me! I'm getting better at balancing the needs of my little-uns with the needs of my body!! Thankfully the baby has dropped which I find stabilizes my pelvis more...not quite so much pain as a fortnight ago... But the braxton-hicks/contractions haven't let up so I'm still supposed to be resting lots :) What a great juggling act motherhood and pregnancy is! Hope you had a lovely mother's day with your 1/2 dozen :)
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