Postpartum and Arthritis?

I’ve never had arthritis nor have been to the doctor about this (I only go if I’m life or death sick), but wanted to know if other women were experiencing this.

I get we are all tired, but it genuinely feels as though each joint in my body is being hit continuously with a hammer at every movement. It only started after I gave birth.

It’s worse after sleep and is not getting any better despite going for walks. I take all my vitamins, drink all the water etc.

Anyone else?!?

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I have the most awful aching and stiff joints, especially my knees. Getting up off the floor cant be near enough impossible. I suffered badly with plantar fasciitis in the third trimester and it’s gotten worse since LO arrived on Oct.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and have had it since I was 16, the pain in your joins is more like a very strong dull ache that does not go away, you cannot bend or straighten very well without pain. Your joints will also be really swollen and hot. Mine has left me bed bound when I was younger, maybe go to the doctors before it gets worse? But I’m not sure if it’ll be arthritis, more likely just aftermath of giving birth? Mine is under control now with medication so I don’t have any symptoms, but apparently I will flare after birth. Hope you get sorted!

It’s sadly more common than people realise today develop autoimmune conditions post partum! Defo get checked out by your doctor x

To*

How far along PP are you?
My first month or so I was WRECKED. And now I’m 4months PP and my wrist do be hurting bad. I would invest in a baby wearer. Saves my back and wrists.

This sounds exactly like what I feel in every joint in my fingers, hands, arms and legs. Is medication the only thing that fixes it? Can you take it whilst BF?

Mine is starting to clear up at 4.5 months postpartum. I had a bad flare up once before and was able to get control with a primarily anti-inflammatory diet. I've been working my way back to that diet and I'm still struggling a little now but nothing like it was for the first 3ish months.

in our community

Oh my God, oh my God I hope this is not true!!!! I’m kind of scared

I’ve been throwing up and taking a shit all night!!! I just hope that it’s not what I think it is

Small head reported following 20 week scan

Has anyone else had it flagged that their baby is in the bottom 5th percentile for head size?

They said everything was fine whilst we were in the scan and then I got a phone call the next day saying that it’s on the small side and we’re being referred to a paediatric specialist at St George’s. Has anyone else had this and how did things go??

Would you bring 9 week old to a family party of 35+ people?

These are also people who will want to pass the baby around and get a turn to hold him. He just got his 2 month shots two days ago

Exercise 6 weeks after c section

What movement did people start to introduce? I won’t do anything too vigorous until I’ve seen the pelvic physio as I don’t want to compromise anything that may have been extremely weakened through pregnancy! But just wondering what types of classes/movement people started off with?

Induction experience

I just wanted to share my experience with being induced as I wasn’t sure what to expect and thought it may help others.

I opted for the foley balloon which was inserted at 8am Saturday morning, I had to stay in hospital due to hypertension and protein urine however usually you can just go home once this has been done. The insertion of the balloon was not painful, was slightly uncomfortable as there was slight pressure. I actually found having the cervix checked prior to be worse (again not painful at this point just uncomfortable) The balloon had little effect and after having it removed I was still only 1cm. Removal also was pain free and hardly even noticeable.

I then had my first dose of the gel and definitely noticed a difference, I started experiencing period like cramps almost immediately however they were light and manageable. After 6 hours I had another cervix check and although my cervix was soft it was still only 1cm and was only open at the front. I had another dose of the gel and felt an increase in pressure and more intense cramping where I now required pain relief (codeine). After another 6 hours I had another cervix check and I had now dilated to 2-3cm however was still quite difficult to get all the way through so a third gel was recommended which I agreed to.

Almost immediately I noticed the difference and was in considerable pain, I had paracetamol and codeine however the contractions had now become intense and a lot closer together (around 3 minutes apart). After a couple of hours I had my last cervix check and was 4cm and taken down to the Labour ward to have my waters broken and an epidural.

I had been in my room for approx 20minutes when my waters broke by themselves and I was now 10cm and actively pushing…. There was no time for the epidural and my beautiful girl arrived into the world within 2 minutes of pushing.

All in all I would say the cramps/contractions were manageable up until the third gel where it became pretty unbearable however it was for a very short time a gas and air helped take the edge off. The worst part about any of it was actually the later cervix checks where after stimulating the cervix my contractions were at their most painful.

If I had to be induced again I would skip the balloon and opt for the gels immediately as thy had a quicker effect and I would have been out a lot sooner if I had done this to begin with.

One more thing, I’ve never believed when people say “you forget the pain once they’re here” but I can honestly say this is true. It’s been 4 days and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Gave birth (vagina) 5 days ago and yesterday morning and this morning getting lot of pain in my right bottom side and lower back