Rebecca Middleton’s Struggle with Pelvic Girdle Pain During Pregnancy

When Rebecca Middleton found out she was pregnant, she certainly didn’t expect to spend the last three months in a wheelchair. It all started with a rough first trimester filled with nausea, then she began to experience intense pelvic pain four months in.

“I could barely walk. I’ve had some lower back pain before, but nothing like this,” she recalls. After expressing her concerns, she was referred to an NHS physiotherapist and later diagnosed with a severe case of pelvic girdle pain, also known as symphysis pubic dysfunction.

This kind of pelvic joint issue is fairly common during pregnancy, affecting around one in five expectant mothers in varying degrees.

Rebecca was understandably scared. “Would I ever walk again? How could I possibly care for my baby?” Those thoughts lingered heavily on her mind.

After she delivered her child, while the pain eased somewhat, basic tasks like walking and lifting her baby remained a struggle. “I was virtually disabled for seven months. I needed help all the time,” she shares. It was an incredibly difficult period, making the usual responsibilities of caring for a newborn feel overwhelmingly challenging.

Before her pregnancy, Rebecca wasn’t even aware of pelvic girdle pain, but following her experiences, she began volunteering for The Pelvic Partnership, a charity dedicated to raising awareness and supporting women facing this condition. The organization emphasizes that PGP is treatable, especially with timely and tailored intervention.

They recommend that as soon as symptoms arise, women should seek personalized treatment, including manual therapy. It’s also suggested to ask for referrals to NHS physiotherapy from a general practitioner or midwife. If initial support isn’t provided, the advice is to go back and request another opinion. This can also include mental health support to help cope with the emotional aspects of living with PGP.

Dr. Nighat Arif, a women’s health expert, points out that raising awareness can significantly reduce the need for wheelchairs or crutches among women like Rebecca. “Without early identification, we risk leaving some women with lifelong repercussions,” she explains.

Dr. Christine Ekechi, a gynaecologist, highlights a troubling aspect: the lack of research surrounding PGP leads to underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment, especially after childbirth. “Many women only seek help when they revisit a clinic with ongoing pain,” she notes, leaving a void in understanding the extent of postpartum complications stemming from pregnancy-related conditions.

Victoria Roberton, a coordinator at the Pelvic Partnership, exemplifies the importance of awareness. During her first pregnancy, she was unaware of what PGP was, and her condition became increasingly painful despite following advice to stay active and attending NHS physiotherapy sessions. “Even sitting was hard, and I was mostly confined to home until my baby arrived,” she explains.

Fortunately, after giving birth, the pain decreased. However, with her next pregnancy, the same issues arose. Given her circumstances, she opted for private physiotherapy since NHS referrals took too long. This decision proved beneficial as she received hands-on treatment that allowed her to manage her pain effectively.

Today, while she still experiences some PGP, her second pregnancy was much smoother since she knew what to expect.

Similarly, Rebecca’s second pregnancy was overwhelmingly more positive. With the knowledge of her previous experience, she was proactive in managing her condition, which prevented it from becoming severe again. Remarkably, she recovered fully from PGP just two months after her second child was born, a stark contrast to the two years it took after her first.

Rebecca notes, “I’m in better shape now than I was before either of my kids. I finally understand the cause of that pain, and I’ve had it treated effectively. Those five years were incredibly challenging due to a lack of awareness surrounding this issue.”