June 03, 2004

"Pelvic arthropathy"

Here in Belfast I have come across a new reason for performing caesarean surgery on pregnant women: “pelvic arthropathy”. Several of the midwives in this group mentioned that this “condition” was being given as a reason for women to request a caesarean and for doctors to offer it as an alternative to labour.

Having never heard of this condition, I asked for details. Some genius has invented the term to cover the softening of the joints that naturally occurs during pregnancy. For a small minority of women this can become rather disabling, making it difficult for them to walk as the laxity in their hip joints develops and some instability occurs. However, in true obstetric style, a term has been invented for this normal loosening of the joints that occurs as a result of the hormone relaxin combining with the increasing body weight of pregnancy, giving it the status of a “medical problem”.

Once again, a useful attribute of pregnancy - this time, the softening of the joints that enables the pelvis to become stretchy and capacious - is being labelled as a major problem, one that requires caesarean surgery to correct! Women who have excessively loose joints may find weightbearing and walking difficult, but they can count on plenty of space for the baby to move through during the birth and this bonus can compensate for the inconvenience felt during the last months of pregnancy. It is a situation that often gets worse with each pregnancy, but then, babies tend to be bigger with each pregnancy as well. Nature has thought of a woman’s need for extra space for each baby and made this possible.

Trust medicine to take a perfectly normal, adaptive process designed to assist women birth bigger babies and turn it into a “complication” that requires a surgical solution. It is ironic that I have discovered this new condition here in Ireland, the home of the “active management of labour protocol”, another invention designed to rescue women from “long labours”. I can only think that Irish women need to wake up and see they are being manipulated by a greedy and grasping group of medical professionals who are using pseudo-science to hoodwink them into succumbing to unnecessary, expensive surgery.

Now that you have read about “pelvic arthropathy” here, please don’t tell anyone - I wouldn’t want this new “condition” to spread like a plague beyond Ireland! The rest of us will stick to celebrating the hormonal advantages of relaxin and rejoice in our newfound pelvic flexibility, knowing that we’ll have easier births, especially for our bigger babies.

Posted by andrea at June 03, 2004 04:00 PM

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PLEASE can I tell them about it at Selangor?!?!

Posted by: lynne staff on June 10, 2004 09:13 AM

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I am now in the second trimester of my second pregnancy, and my "pelvic arthropathy" (I only found the name on research from the internet, not from my doctor) is becoming so painful, I’m wondering how I will physically make it through the next few months. Although I agree with you that this is no reason for a c-section, I hope you will not scoff at the incredible pain it can cause in some women.
With my first pregnancy I would consider, as did my doctor, the pain normal.
In being blessed with the wonderful gift of childbirth we must learn to deal with the pains that coincide. This does not mean we should not be finding safe alternatives to the debilitating symptoms. I am no longer able to pick up my toddler and will have to take off from my part-time job if the exercises I’ve been recommended do not ease some of this pain.

I respect your attitude on defending the natural changes our bodies must go through, but science has helped ease so much of the pain we can go through, let’s not forget that we should be doing what we can to make mommy and baby as safe and comfortable as possible.

Posted by: tiny on June 24, 2004 10:47 AM

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I am now in the second trimester of my second pregnancy, and my "pelvic arthropathy" (I only found the name on research from the internet, not from my doctor) is becoming so painful, I'm wondering how I will physically make it through the next few months. Although I agree with you that this is no reason for a c-section, I hope you will not scoff at the incredible pain it can cause in some women.
With my first pregnancy I would consider, as did my doctor, the pain normal.
In being blessed with the wonderful gift of childbirth we must learn to deal with the pains that coincide. This does not mean we should not be finding safe alternatives to the debilitating symptoms. I am no longer able to pick up my toddler and will have to take off from my part-time job if the exercises I've been recommended do not ease some of this pain.

I respect your attitude on defending the natural changes our bodies must go through, but science has helped ease so much of the pain we can go through, let's not forget that we should be doing what we can to make mommy and baby as safe and comfortable as possible.

Posted by: tiny on June 30, 2004 01:15 PM

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I have been quite upset at the ignorance concerning this so called blessing in disguise,"pelvic arthropathy".I myself,who granted doesn't enjoy the best of health at all being a long suffering M.E victim,have had 7months now to "mend" after a long9months crawling around in extreme pain on hands&knees&in the end wheelchair bound due to this "condition".I greatly sympathize with ladies who have been through the same as this "natural aid" can be a very painfull,exhausting&sometimes depressing part of some pregnancies ,robbing of the true joy that one hopes to have.In my case the problem showed up from 11wks!!I cannot express the grief it brought in what was already a very trying time with such ill health already,however M.E or not the problem was a real one and i was never offered surgery despite the efforts of family and friends.My pelvis still is not right and i loose sleep with pain and other problems that stem from it but I live in hope!My case may be extreme i know so i feel that relatively strong and healthy ladies need not fret nor opt for surgery as pelvic arthropthay aids delivery of baby.But please ,be easy on those sufferers it's really not that pleasant.

Posted by: SVLVW on August 2, 2004 09:09 AM

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I really felt that I had to reply to the diary entry above. I couldnt believe that someone who has never suffered from this condition could write such hurtful words. I had no problems with my first pregnancy but no. 2 was a nightmare from the start. At 10 wks I started having pain, but thought it was normal loosening, however pain got worse and by 25 wks was wearing a brace and stuggling to hold down a job and look after a 2 year old. At 32 wks Was on crutches and was induced at 38wks. I didnt once ask for a section, but was told that labour would probaly be very quick, which in the end it was!. I am now thinking about baby no 3, however thats why i visited this site as the thought of going through that incredible pain again scares the hell out of me. So for the really in sensitive person who wrote this, please be thankful that you had a relatively pain free pregnancy, maybe next time you wont be so lucky.

Alison (Northern Ireland)

Posted by: Alison on August 21, 2004 08:31 AM