I just had my 3 child. I found out I was pregnant with the last one when my second was 8 months old. The last half of the pregnancy, I had a horrible time walking. My hips would shift and give me sciatic pain and it felt like my groin muscles were stretched to the max. I am a photographer and had to hire someone to carry everything for me and toward the end, even my camera felt like a strain. I thought it would be better once I had my daughter but she is 10 days old and if I walk around, say from the kitchen to outside, take a break, then get up again...and do this for a couple of hours... I was hurting so bad that I couldn't walk for the rest of the day. I have a hard time getting on underwear or getting into bed--so I have to pull my legs up with my hands so that I don't hurt my muscles. Also, when I seem to start getting the worse pain...I seem to start bleeding more. I'm just wondering if this stuff is normal at all? I didn't have this before but I thought maybe I have a weak pelvic floor and this is causing all this pain. Also, my doctor had mentioned me having diastasis...and I think I do...as I have a 3 finger spread between my muscles right now. Not sure if that could affect it. Any opinions or advice on how I'm feeling or the diastasis? I just want to get back to normal and be able to take care of my kids!
A.,
I looked up diastis on the internet and came upon this very informative website, http://www.befitmom.com/abdominal_seperation.html
Hope this helps.
Many blessings,
M.
I experienced the same with my one and only. I sat on a donut pillow for months. I kept telling my doc that I was in pain (felt like my pelvis was tearing apart). Six months post I was referred to Nuclear Medicine who did a bone scan....the pelvis was indeed inflamed. I went to physical therapy and got realigned and was able to strengthen my abs so that it got better over time.
Still, if I lift something heavy and have lots of time on my feet I can feel it (seven years after) as a dull ache or pulling sensation.
My advice is to take it easy and try to do gentle exercises to strengthen the abs.
Sounds like you have SPD Symphasis Pubis Dysfunction basically a separation of the cart. at your pubic bone due to all those ligament relaxing hormones during pregnancy.
The good news it that it will get better over the next few weeks. It's important to protect your Pelvis from excess strain. Once the pain is managable you can do some yoga excercises that will help realign the pelvis and strengthen the muscles. I also recommend Chiropractic care.
Have you considered a chiropractor for treatment?
HI, I had some of your problems not all. But my suggestion is to call your doctor. I had some phisical therapy...which sounds difficult with three kids but may be worth it if you can fit it in. Also you have to give yourself some time. Your hormones are still ruling your body and it took some time before I could walk well after the birth. But it sounds like you are having some extreme problems et some help if you can with the kids, family etc. And see your doctor:) Good luck I hope you feel better soon:)
I agree with Samantha and Rebecca. I had the same problem and after talking to multiple doctors, NONE of them wanted to admit that I had that pelvic problem. Nor did they help me. Your explanations sounded exactly like what I had. So I did some research on the internet and did some exercises and the like to fix it myself. You will HAVE to take it easy, as sudden jerking movements will send it right back. Mine went away after 3 weeks.
Why haven't you been to a chiropractor? Even during pregnancy? Sciatica is what a chiro treats and all the added weight of a baby can put your spine out of whack.
No. That is not normal from pregnancy. Get checked for ALS and other muscle abnormalities. They can hit anytime including during pregnancy. Good luck.
A post maternity girdle could help. It would support your abdominal muscles. I didn't use one after my first pregnancy, but I did after my second one. And I found that it helped a lot. It helped my abdominal muscles get back into shape more quickly.
I had really bad problems with the groin muscles and my pelvic muscles after my second child. Someone mentioned that maybe it was due to Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, which is when the pelvic bones don't realign properly after giving birth. I wonder if this could be another problem you're having. The problem with not being able to raise your legs up sounds like some of the problems I had.
One thing that can help with this problem is a special belt to help pull the pelvic bones back together. You wear it tight and low across your hips. I don't know what it's called because I was in Japan at the time and got one there. I didn't start wearing one until more than 6 weeks after giving birth and really wish I had started wearing it earlier. It's different from the other post-maternity girdles because it's not focusing on your abdominal region, but really on pushing your pelvic bones together and keeping your hips tight. It helps the groin muscles right away because you also cannot spread your legs too far apart when wearing it. The belt is a bit of a hassle because you have to take it off to use the bathroom and it's not always very comfortable when sitting for really long periods of time, but it does help. Here's an article about it:
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/pubicpain.htm
I hope you're feeling better soon!
Sam
It sounds like you might have SPD - symphasis pubis dysfunction. I had/have it, and it's AWFUL!
What helped me was Motrin (which is safe to take if you're nursing, don't worry), slow movements, and time. It took a long while for the pain to subside. I still felt it when my daughter was 6 months old, but shortly after it did really improve. Now my daughter is 16 months and I feel no effects of it whatsoever.
Avoid sharp movements (like jumping up from the couch or bed), take it as easy as you can, and give your body time to heal. It does get better!
Please, PLEASE don't take a diagnosis from this site, from a person who knows nothing about you. No professional would diagnose you via chat. 10 days is a relatively short time to expect to feel normal, but only you can tell if it's severe or not. My youngest is almost 3 and I have such terrible hip pain that it is debilitating at times. Since it has only gotten worse, my research tells me that I have tears in the labrum that have to be surgically repaired. I had one hip done already and am just waiting for a good time to do the other. There is no way to know what is going on with you without expert evaluation. First, call the OB and ask all the questions you asked on here. If it is just the muscle spread, I had that too and it did heal. If you don't find answers from your doc, keep asking!
Also, though, give yourself a break. You have a very good reason NOT to be up and down. Let your husband bear the brunt of the physical work and let your body heal. It needs more than 10 days. If you are hurting, it's your body telling you something...listen to it! :)
I am sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I think it is time to go to the doctor and be honest about your ailments. You cannot be a happy and good parent when you are feeling so bad. But something has flared up inside of you and needs to be taken care. Bleeding is a sign of doing too much. It also makes you weakened. I still think a trip to the doctor is worth while.
i am currently pregnant, but with my last pregnancy, i was miserable, even long after i had him. severe sciatic pain, pains all over the place! i felt like i was falling apart. finally, when it got to the point where my hubby would have to help me out of bed, he made me an appointment with a chiropractor. boy, i was all messed up! my pelvis was tilted forward, and one side was twisted forward more than the other side. anyhow, i also had diastasis. after many visits to the chiropractor, my back, neck, legs started working and feeling normal again so i started using a balance/stability ball to strengthen my core. this pregnancy has been a dream compared to the last, i believe it's all due to regular chiropractic adjustments.
if i could recommend anything to you, it would be visit a chiropractor!
i hope you start feeling better soon....i know how hard it is to be in pain and take care of kids....miserable! i hope you find help soon!
I think you definitely need to have this checked out medically. I got sciatic with my last 2 pregnancies but it went away after delivery or gradually over a short time. Rest up as much as you can - this won't be hard if you're breastfeeding! Give your body a chance to recover but look into this soon if it persists. Pain is a sign that something is wrong.
You might want to look into going to a Chiropracter. A friend of mine was having pelvic pressure postpartum and after getting readjusted it suddenly stopped. Personally I have never been to a Chiro. but I have wonderful things!
Good Luck
Hi A. - my name is K. and I am so excited to hear about your beautiful family!!!
In reading your request.....my heart goes out to you with the pain which you are experiencing....to be exact...your bones. I am 6' tall -- with a medium man's skeletal structure.....(not always dainty ;-).....anyway....I have recently learned that one of my legs is almost a whole inch SHORTER than the other.....this has caused me some extreme pain in my lower back, hips and legs!!!
I would like to suggest that you contact a good /fantastic chiropractor. Mine is Dr Craig Riffel in Clinton Twp - his number is ###-###-####. Dr Riffel has had great success in relieving my pain. From what you shared in your request.....I think that this is your best option.
If you have any additional questions feel free to contact me @ ____@____.com or ###-###-####. I'd be more than happy to spend time with you and encourage you through this tough time, physically, in your life.
I trust that all will go well. Many blessings!!
~K. T~
ps.....I apologize for the lateness is my response.....my summer has been packed and I'm a little bit behind on my MamaSource correspondences ;-)
Hello A.! I know your pain!!! I had exactly the same problem. I had it with my 2nd, 3rd and the 4th pregnancy was the worst!! I was told by my midwife and my chiropractor concured that it was caused by evil doses of a hormone called Relaxin. Ususally it starts being produced around the 6 month to allow the pelvis to relax for birth, but this hormone doesn't know exactly where to go. Therefore that is why many woman experience the dropsies with hands, and feet spreading. Mine started at 2 months!! I was miserable!! I also have a weak pelvic floor too! AND at after delivery it doesn't go away right away, you have to wait til it gets out of your system!! With my fourth baby I had to have my first C-section and with the stomach way wacked(I also had diastasis) my OB/gyn sinched my stomach muscles tighter while I was open.
While I was recovering in the hospital the nurse saw my problems and gave my a binder. A heavy duty one!! It so helped me and I used it for the next several weeks! My son is now 2 months old and I feel much better.
You will too!! Just hang in there and get a binder. I just saw one at babies R us the other day.
Good Luck
T. K.
You're only 10 days out, you need to give your body time to heal. Bleeding more is a sign that you're doing too much. I don't know anything about the diastasis, but I've had two twin pregnancies with 2 c-sections, my last being 6 months ago, and I can tell you that you are still in the normal range for feeling sore and bleeding. Give it time and take it easy. If you are really worried, contact your OB.
