Health workers

PostingGetting real

Browsing through some old pregnancy books the other day I felt depressed all over again at the sight of so many glowing faces and pregnant-yet-still-sexy silhouettes in the illustrations. Not a stretchmark in sight between the lot of them. No 're-purposed' wastepaper bins in evidence. No retching at the mere whiff of a fridge door opening within a half-mile vicinity of their airtouched nostrils. And certainly nothing to indicate that any of the women were semi-disabled by pregnancy-related pelvic pain that made it hard even to turn over in bed at night, much less take part in a photo shoot. I know, I know, publishers have to sell the books, but still.....

An estimated one in five women suffer debilitating pelvic pain in pregnancy - albeit in varying degrees of intensity. But most mainstream pregnancy books, wonderful and informative though they are in many respects, simply don't carry much information about pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy. I don't know why not. My impression - I could be wrong - is that more generally - even in the medical community - there's not as much information available about the condition as there might be. The dearth of information is particularly sad, as any woman stuck at home all day in considerable pain, blaming herself for her immobility, is going to be isolated anyway, or at least limited in her social contact. The lack of information only exacerbates her difficulties. I found my lovely midwife and GP were both sympathetic and supportive, and I'm extremely grateful for all the skilled care I received from them and many others in the NHS during and after both my pregnancies, but it was only when chatting with an old schoolfriend (a physio by background) that I stumbled by accident on the vital fact that innovative physiotheraphy techniques are being pioneered that make pelvic girdle pain treatable. Up until then I'd got the impression it was just something you had to put up with, if you were unlucky enough to be afflicted in the first place. The bad news? This treatment wasn't available in the NHS - not in my part of the country, anyway.

It's good to know that  new charity PINS, which presents a compassionate and realistic picture of what pregnancy can be like for many women, is working to let more people know all about the condition, ranging from the risk factors that may make some women more likely to get pregnancy-related pelvic pain than others, to the latest treatments available. It has hints and tips for managing the condition and personal accounts from its members, so people will feel less alone in their struggles. Even better is that the charity is waiving its membership fee until its AGM next month, so if you have been affected by any issues relating to pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy you can join up for free. Benefits include the charity's quarterly newsletter and the chance to meet on-line and swap tips with others suffering the same difficulties. Even though I'm no longer pregnant (Button turns nine months this week) and luckily my joint pain has lifted, I've joined PINS, so I can support other people with the condition and make better sense of what happened to me.

Posted 21 April 2009 15:16 | Number of comments: 4 | Comments

Health workers Pelvic girdle pain/SPD

PostingHome truths

Not off the hook after all for the home water birth. Not just yet, anyway. Structural engineer got back in touch to veto bedroom for the birth pool. But said our smallest room - the hall - looks like it will take the weight. Husband due to pick up pool, pipes, bleach, colander, heating pad tomorrow evening. Will buy waterproof torch, anglepoise lamp, waterproof sheeting at weekend. Scared? Me?

Unsure about giving birth in hallway. Doesn't feel quite right somehow. Will it be sufficiently private? Can't even remember how much privacy matters in childbirth. Is it a big issue? When was having Beanie, midwife got concerned about daughter's heart rate. Army of green-suited doctors, anaethetists and paediatricians entered through flowery curtain.

"Hello. Where have you all come from?" I asked.

"Did you not see your midwife press the emergency button?" one of them replied.

"Errr... no," I mumbled.

"Don't push," said the midwife, looking up from her notes. "Whatever you do, don't push."

"I'm not pushing!" I said, feeling like small child.

Funny the things you do remember; many of them were wearing clogs. But seemed fine with that. Not embarrassed, the way I would have been. There were phone calls, booking a place in the resuscitation unit, asking if theatre was free. No, we'd have to stay put. They brought out the forceps (I didn't look at that bit). Hauled daughter out of me as fast as they could. Beanie shrieked with displeasure as she emerged. I was a bit sore afterwards. Relief on face of  clog-clad paediatrician posted down bottom end to greet Beanie. "Baby can go straight to mum," she said.

After that drama, I liked idea of giving birth in tranquillity of own bedroom, where, ahem, this whole project started back in October. But do not want to become stupid and obstinate about home birth.

Read cautionary tale about woman who broke down in jealous hysteria when she got text message saying sister-in-law had 'achieved' a home birth. This woman described herself - no, defined herself - as HWBA3C. Yes, my thoughts exactly. Stands for 'home water birth after three Caesareans'. She claimed the Caesareans were violations 'inflicted on her in the name of medical science'.

Spoke to my midwife, whom I trust. Asked if true NHS does unnecessary interventions. "Look at it from a practical point of view," she said. "The NHS is careful with its resources. It has to be. There's not a lot of money available and funding is always being squeezed. Nobody likes to make things more complicated than they need to be. It's expensive to do a section. It's a question of beds and staff time. We only intervene when necessary."

Friend whose wife had their second child last year said: "It's the head count at the end that matters."

Posted 19 June 2008 10:20 | Number of comments: 22 | Comments

Childbirth Daughters Health Health workers Home birth Husband Water birth