Can anyone else not bear to sit unless there’s a heavily cushioned surface? I’m currently in the car because I was in literal agony sitting in a chair at the Mexican restaurant. It feels like I’m sitting on all my bones with no cushion.
@2589 yes! It hurts so bad. I think I’m going to count myself out of road trips or even really eating out much until baby is born. Today was me finding out there are some physical limits now. Gosh it hurts so much.
@Austenista my "vagina bones" as I call them hurt all the time, but I also find myself shuffling back and forth butt cheek to butt cheek trying to get comfortable when sitting on uncushioned places.
Sorry that you are sitting in the car. That stinks
@Austenista I’m so sorry that it’s making you miserable too. It sucks how even a quick trip to somewhere like the bank where I end up sitting on a shitty chair for 10 minutes can actually ruin me for the rest of the day. It sucks not wanting to leave the house because you know your hips can’t stand around for long, but not knowing what kind of chair you might find to sit on that might make things even worse!
From what I understand of anatomy, the piriformis muscle is a super irritable little muscle right behind the ischial tuberosities (informally known as the sitting bones) and when the piriformis gets tight it squeezes right on the sciatic nerve. Since that little guy is already inflamed from the rest of your pelvis shifting around, sitting on it makes it even worse. And makes all your other muscles tighten up. And once it’s tight, it’s a bitch to get it to let go again. I’ve had DH use the tennis ball to massage my butt cheeks several times and that seems to help the most. (Sorry if it’s not interesting to you, my nurse brain has to figure out the why's and how’s.)
@2589 I have had issues with piriformis issues in the past and have found this stretch so helpful! There are a couple other stretches that target this but the relief is so amazing! If @Austenista is having true piriformis issues maybe this can help?
I don’t have issues with my sit bones (maybe because I don’t have much butt so just have always had to learn to live with it? Idk), but when DH lost 55 lbs a large chunk was from his butt (he had my dream jlo booty before that lol), and I remember the first time he sat in a wooden chair for a long period of time he was like HOW THE EFF DO YOU SKINNY PEOPLE LIVE LIKE THIS?? he was in so much pain. And it never even occurred to me it could be a thing.
I hope y’all struggling with it find some relief, though. These last weeks of pregnancy are...........an exercise in pain tolerance, for sure.
@stephcat421 it’s a bit harder to get into a deep stretch with that one with the bump being in the way, but it does offer some relief! I had piriformis issues as well with my disc injury, so when DH rolled the tennis ball over that area while he had been massaging that whole hip and lower back and I about flew through the roof I knew immediately that it was that little sucker acting up again
@2589 that’s so helpful to read. Thanks for sharing that. Considering it’s hard to explain to someone else beyond my crotch/undercarriage is murdering me, this helps so much for ME to understand what’s happening. I’m finally home now and finally have the toddler in the bed, and have sworn off long trips, chairs that aren’t filled with cushion, and a multitude of other things until baby comes.
@stephcat421 thanks for the tip, maybe it will work.
@doxiemoxie212 a lesson in pain tolerance indeed. I am of the flat butt persuasion myself in spite of not being skinny by any means. This though? This sucketh hard. Riding home I decided I wanted an epidural for this birth. By that point, I feel like I’ll have been through enough to cut myself some slack.
I haven't had much pain from my sit bones. Occasionally, if I sit too quickly, I'll get a shooting pain, but that's about it. I have been struggling with the pressure in my belly, though. Every time I stand, it is just this painful, strong pressure pulling down on my belly. I constantly feel like I need to pee/poop when I'm standing, but the feeling goes away as soon as I sit down (including on the toilet - insert eyeroll here).
I don't get butt pains from sitting cause I got lots of cushion lol. But sitting in chairs is uncomfortable just cause of my extra short torso and bump. Like I can't slouch at all... have to sit so so straight, which then gets uncomfortable. This is why I love my couch right now.
also, I can't wait to not need to blow my nose every morning. Annnd it not being all bloody.
me:35 DH:34 DS: born oct 2012 TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16 BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17 BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18 fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
@catlady1215 I wouldn’t say I have a short torso but possibly for 5’9” but I have been feeling like a can’t slouch when I sit too. It’s like it feels like my ribs are digging into my bump. I either have to sit up straight or lean way back and arch my back.
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
@krashke@laceybee522 I'm only 5'2" so babe is basically my whole midsection lol. Yah! Like either super straight or arched way back. Or if I'm one the couch, I lean to one side, propped on an elbow on pillows. So glad I don't work onsite so I can basically sit anyway possible while working. Forgot how uncomfortable this part gets.
me:35 DH:34 DS: born oct 2012 TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16 BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17 BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18 fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
@austenista have you looked into carrying a pillow with you for sitting? (Old lady style, I know.) My friend's mom does this because of back pain issues. Maybe a small throw pillow?
Sorry. I have occassional lower back pain pregnant or not. I think because of poor posture/slouching. Butt and hamstring stretches help.
@llamamama14 I actually had my bed pillow with me last night from road tripping but I think I had irritated my bottom too much by the time my DH brought it in from the car. I could tell the people working at the restaurant were like "really?" haha when I stuck that up under me, but I was too uncomfortable to care at all. I kept a proper cushion with me last time, and you've reminded me to ask my DH to help me find it and throw it in the car. If I'd had it in the first place I probably would have been fine.
I don’t have sit bone problems because I have enough cushion too, but everything else pelvic related hurts. I don’t remember any of this last time. I walk like I’m broken.
My face has completely broken out in dry skin. I have a rash like patch to the left of my left eye and another one on my right cheek, and my forehead, nose and chin are so flaky. It came on so quickly and my night/day creams only relieve it for a little bit. Off to google safe topical creams because I left my safe meds list at home.
@LaceyBee522 if you haven't already, I would get some of the Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter. My nips were so dry that they were itchy and I was hurting them by trying to scratch them. It has really helped. And you can use it while nursing and not have to clean it off.
@becca_123 I have always been super oily but pregnancy has made my skin do a 180. I have stuck to all of my same moisturizers for the day but I have started using a heavier moisturizer at night. My favorite combo has been to do the Lush Oatifix fresh face mask and follow it up with Belief Aqua Bomb.
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
I was thinking it wasn't possible because my torso is so long, and DS never came close, but this baby has found my ribs. It's not misery or anything, more like like an annoying constant ache.
@Austenista welcome to the rib club! Hopefully it doesn't get too painful for you.
AFM I was up for a while last night with some low level cramps, almost like period cramps but not nearly as bad. No matter what position I tried I couldn't get comfortable. So now I'm a zombie this morning. Why do all the worst pains come when I'm trying to sleep?
Me 30 Him 30 Married August 2015 DS born 5/23/2018 TTC #2 July 2020
All you girls with babies in the ribs. This little man won't get out of my hip... maybe groin in a better description. I don't even understand how I could possibly feel him in my hip (yah know. Anatomy and all) but it's been his favorite spot for wks and wks and wks. I sit with my legs curled up, on my left hip kinda sometimes and I don't think he likes it.. must be squishing his head lol.
me:35 DH:34 DS: born oct 2012 TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16 BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17 BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18 fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
@catlady1215 add me to the hip club. All I feel is movement down low. At my appointment yesterday, the NP thought it was head down and I was feeling hands. But the head must just be wedged in there because I have to sit with legs open (I feel like a man) otherwise it hurts!
@dinadna3 yaah, it'll feel like he's wiggling his hand around in my hip. craziest feeling.
@marcus7676 most of mine is super low also. even down below the bump closer to my pubic bone. as of last week on my scan, he has his head down in the lower/hip area.. so he must be hands I'm feeling. sometimes he'll stretch out and get his feet up in my upper right abdominal area.
me:35 DH:34 DS: born oct 2012 TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16 BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17 BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18 fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
So this might belong in randoms, but reading this thread reminded me of a thought I had at about this point in pregnancy #1: How in the hell do those women not know they are pregnant on that reality show?!? I know all bodies are different and people experience different symptoms - but can you seriously imagine not feeling ANY movement or experience any of the ailments we're dealing with? It boggles my mind!
@katelynrae86 girl, the mind boggles. I mean I guess everybody and pregnancy is different. But AFM some days I feel like all I am is pregnant, as though my body isn't doing anything but being pregnant. I feel this baby every where right now and I am perpetually uncomfortable. I'm not saying it's not possible to not know you're pregnant, but I will say, it's impossible for me and anyone close enough to listen to me whining to not know I'm pregnant.
@katelynrae86 I have thought about that for the past couple of months!! How do they not know?? I mentioned it to a friend of mine. And her comment was, "well, they aren't the brightest bulbs." Lol! I think she has a point.
@katelynrae86 I could see it up to 24 weeks. I really had zero symptoms until then. I was gaining weight but not crazily. No nausea. After that? No. Def pregnant.
Fun fact: a friend of a friend didn’t find out she was pregnant until 7 months. She was very very overweight and an alcoholic and went to rehab. She lost a lot of weight because she stopped drinking. She had some stomach discomfort but chalked it up to other things. Finally realized she was pregnant at 7 months. She stopped drinking about a month or so into her pregnancy. She was lucky her baby was 100% fine.
AFM I went to the osteopath today for my rib and spd pain. An osteopath who specializes in OMT/OMM is sort of like a chiropractor but they press on micro areas instead of cracking if that makes sense, and they have a lot more training. This was my first time seeing this one and I liked her a lot. She has a med student doing an externship rotation with her so she was explaining as she went. Basically my whole right side was fucked. My ribs feel sooo much better.
Some interesting things I found out are that while I have a long torso, I have an abnormally long and narrow rib cage. The intercostal space between each of my ribs is very wide. So baby girl really has no room to go up there.
She gave me so exercises to do for the SPD pain I thought I’d share. My spd pain is caused by hyper mobility so if yours is due to pelvic floor dysfunction (I think maybe you’d know this bc feeling it in your vag more? Like a heaviness there as opposed to pubic bone?) this might not be everything you need? But I don’t think it would hurt:
Lie on the floor on your back with your knees up. Place a ball about the size of a tennis ball (or an actual fist if your SO will help you) between your knees. Press your knees together ten times. Then take away the ball, put your knees completely together and put a belt or something around your thighs right above your knees. Tighten completely. Then pull your knees apart (without them actually coming apart bc the belt is holding them together) ten times. This apparently forces the pubic bone back together.
I felt way better after we did it in the office, but then I walked home and baby girl stretched waaaay out in my pelvis, and now I’m totally broken again. BUT my ribs still feel so much better so at least I can sit if I can’t stand/walk lol.
Also for spd: no squatting unless my legs are closer than hip width. No Taylor sitting (cross legged ). No cat cow unless my knees are closer than hip width. You get the idea. Basically my knees must stay inside my body confines as much as humanly possible.
@doxiemoxie212 those restrictions are really interesting because they are the exact exercises I was told to be doing every night by my Bradley instructors. I'm not suffering from SPD so I am still going to do them but it would be interesting to see what your instructor says.
ETA: obvi would trust the dr over the instructor but just to see if they agree with the dr as well.
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
@krashke my instructor actually already agreed that for spd I shouldn’t do those things. She was wary of even the modified versions with my knees together. So it’s really weird but I guess it makes sense. Those exercises help open your pelvis which is normally great but mine is already TOO open.
Re: Symptoms {March edition}
Sorry that you are sitting in the car. That stinks
From what I understand of anatomy, the piriformis muscle is a super irritable little muscle right behind the ischial tuberosities (informally known as the sitting bones) and when the piriformis gets tight it squeezes right on the sciatic nerve. Since that little guy is already inflamed from the rest of your pelvis shifting around, sitting on it makes it even worse. And makes all your other muscles tighten up. And once it’s tight, it’s a bitch to get it to let go again. I’ve had DH use the tennis ball to massage my butt cheeks several times and that seems to help the most. (Sorry if it’s not interesting to you, my nurse brain has to figure out the why's and how’s.)
https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/piriformis-stretch
I hope y’all struggling with it find some relief, though. These last weeks of pregnancy are...........an exercise in pain tolerance, for sure.
@stephcat421 thanks for the tip, maybe it will work.
@doxiemoxie212 a lesson in pain tolerance indeed. I am of the flat butt persuasion myself in spite of not being skinny by any means. This though? This sucketh hard. Riding home I decided I wanted an epidural for this birth. By that point, I feel like I’ll have been through enough to cut myself some slack.
also, I can't wait to not need to blow my nose every morning. Annnd it not being all bloody.
DS: born oct 2012
TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16
BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17
BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18
fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
DS: born oct 2012
TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16
BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17
BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18
fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
Sorry. I have occassional lower back pain pregnant or not. I think because of poor posture/slouching. Butt and hamstring stretches help.
https://youtu.be/aVZUVeMtYXc
ETA: Also, dry nipples are FO REAL! I moisturize constantly, but I still wake up with dry/itchy nips. Uncool.
@becca_123 I have always been super oily but pregnancy has made my skin do a 180. I have stuck to all of my same moisturizers for the day but I have started using a heavier moisturizer at night. My favorite combo has been to do the Lush Oatifix fresh face mask and follow it up with Belief Aqua Bomb.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
AFM I was up for a while last night with some low level cramps, almost like period cramps but not nearly as bad. No matter what position I tried I couldn't get comfortable. So now I'm a zombie this morning. Why do all the worst pains come when I'm trying to sleep?
Married August 2015
DS born 5/23/2018
TTC #2 July 2020
DS: born oct 2012
TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16
BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17
BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18
fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
@marcus7676 most of mine is super low also. even down below the bump closer to my pubic bone. as of last week on my scan, he has his head down in the lower/hip area.. so he must be hands I'm feeling. sometimes he'll stretch out and get his feet up in my upper right abdominal area.
DS: born oct 2012
TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16
BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17
BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18
fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
Fun fact: a friend of a friend didn’t find out she was pregnant until 7 months. She was very very overweight and an alcoholic and went to rehab. She lost a lot of weight because she stopped drinking. She had some stomach discomfort but chalked it up to other things. Finally realized she was pregnant at 7 months. She stopped drinking about a month or so into her pregnancy. She was lucky her baby was 100% fine.
Some interesting things I found out are that while I have a long torso, I have an abnormally long and narrow rib cage. The intercostal space between each of my ribs is very wide. So baby girl really has no room to go up there.
She gave me so exercises to do for the SPD pain I thought I’d share. My spd pain is caused by hyper mobility so if yours is due to pelvic floor dysfunction (I think maybe you’d know this bc feeling it in your vag more? Like a heaviness there as opposed to pubic bone?) this might not be everything you need? But I don’t think it would hurt:
Lie on the floor on your back with your knees up. Place a ball about the size of a tennis ball (or an actual fist if your SO will help you) between your knees. Press your knees together ten times. Then take away the ball, put your knees completely together and put a belt or something around your thighs right above your knees. Tighten completely. Then pull your knees apart (without them actually coming apart bc the belt is holding them together) ten times. This apparently forces the pubic bone back together.
I felt way better after we did it in the office, but then I walked home and baby girl stretched waaaay out in my pelvis, and now I’m totally broken again. BUT my ribs still feel so much better so at least I can sit if I can’t stand/walk lol.
Also for spd: no squatting unless my legs are closer than hip width. No Taylor sitting (cross legged
ETA: obvi would trust the dr over the instructor but just to see if they agree with the dr as well.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18