36 PREGNANCY
SHOOT HIP FROM THE
Pelvic girdle pain is more common than you might think in pregnancy. Dr Sharon Cooley, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Rotunda Hospital, tells TARA CORRISTINE about the very real problem that is pelvic girdle pain.
P
elvic girdle pain or pelvic girdle dysfunction is an umbrella term for people with pain in their pelvis during pregnancy. We used to diagnose pubic symphysis dysfunction, a separation of the joint at the front of the pelvis between the two pubic bones, but because the pelvis is made up of so many bones, there are a number of joints there that can each give difficulty.
There’s no doubt that the primary cause is hormonal: relaxin and particularly progesterone. It causes laxity or looseness in the joints and movement between bones. Research shows that the difference in the pelvis in those women who don’t get pelvic girdle pain is between 30-60 per cent mobility. You have bone moving on bone with cartilage crushing between them and that causes significant pain. Over the course of nine months the aver-
compromised making lifting him difficult. Changing him, lifting him in and out of the bath and his car seat is very difficult. “Weight is a big thing as the heavier you become, the more pressure goes on the joint and more pain you find yourself in. I’ve been trying not to eat for two! A lot of people avoid exercise but it is vital to keep your core strong. I took Pilates in the first three months, which was brilliant as stretching the muscles is good for them. Now I swim regularly. “You are told that the cure is having the baby,
which doesn’t help. People say, ‘I got out of bed after the birth and it was gone, unbelievable.’ “You are limited in how you can treat it, you can’t take anti-inflammatories so I use heat packs and ice packs and I sleep with a pillow between my legs – that really helps. I rest and try to avoid walking distances. A physio support belt is great to take the pressure off the bump. For me that didn’t work because the pain is all in my back. Bring everything you need for the day downstairs to avoid going up and down.”
FROM EXPERIENCE... Laura, 35, shares her experience of pelvic girdle pain during her second pregnancy. “It started to become a problem in week 15 of my pregnancy. My issue is mainly with my back, the sacral joint is too loose, there’s too much mobility. I had it as a result of delivery of my first baby. I find any amount of walking painful and every time I get out of bed, which could be up to seven times a night. Having pelvic girdle pain with a toddler is a nightmare: your balance is
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