Lucy's Story*
Step 1
Lucy discovered what mattered
Lucy (she/her) is a 32-year-old teacher who was 22 weeks pregnant with her first baby when severe pelvic girdle pain began affecting her ability to work, exercise and prepare for the arrival of her baby. Her pain had become debilitating - she could barely walk her dog, getting dressed was painful and she was terrified about how she would manage labour if she couldn't even roll over in bed. She'd been told this was just "normal pregnancy pain" and to rest, but Lucy knew there had to be a better way and found us after doing a google search. Working together, we discovered that Lucy's pain wasn't just coming from her pelvis. Her fear about labour, worry about caring for her baby, poor sleep, and the belief that she "just had to put up with it" were all contributing factors. Her teaching job involved prolonged standing which was aggravating her symptoms, and she had developed leg cramps at the end of the day and wrist pain in the mornings.
Lucy's Pelvic Health Goals:
- Understand what's causing my pelvic pain and know that it's treatable - I need hope that this can improve.
- Walk my dog again without tears - those walks keep me sane.
- Sleep through the night without pain waking me up when I roll over
- Get rid of the leg cramps and wrist pain - it's all too much.
- Feel confident and empowered about labour instead of terrified.
- Learn skills that will help me during birth and afterwards with my baby.
Step 2
Lucy restored what mattered
Lucy embraced her treatment plan with determination. Education about pain science helped her understand that pelvic girdle pain was not due to "pelvic instability" but rather factors she could address. With hands-on treatment and a pregnancy belt for immediate relief, Lucy also improved her pelvic floor and abdominal muscle strength and practiced daily breathing exercises that calmed her nervous system. For her leg cramps and wrist pain, we addressed sleeping positions and workplace ergonomics. As Lucy's confidence grew, we incorporated birth skills preparation - relaxation techniques, movement and positioning for labour and breath awareness. She learned how to use these same skills for both pain management in pregnancy and labour later.
Step 3
Lucy enjoyed what mattered
After 3 months, Lucy was walking her dog daily, sleeping better, and her pelvic girdle pain had reduced significantly. She felt prepared and positive about labour, equipped with practical skills and confidence in her body. She had a positive birth experience using the techniques she'd practiced. Three weeks postpartum, Lucy took her daughter out in the pram for their first walk with the dog - all three of them thriving!