Whether or not you continue to work will depend upon the severity of your PGP and the nature of your job. Some women find that they can adapt their working environment to cope with their PGP symptoms, others find that they need to stop work altogether. If you are pregnant, you are entitled to certain rights, such as paid time off for antenatal appointments (this includes physiotherapy).
We have produced an information sheet for employers providing information about what PGP is and how employers can support and enable you to manage your condition at work. You may find it helpful to print this and give it to your employer:
Continuing to work with the symptoms of long-term PGP can be extremely challenging, and pushing yourself to manage in your role can contribute to the physical and emotional symptoms you may be experiencing.
If you are experiencing long-term PGP, it is never too late to receive effective manual therapy treatment for the condition (please see information about treating PGP on our Treatment page. If you have been unable to find an experienced manual therapist, please visit our Recommended Practitioners page or contact us for more information.
In addition to the suggestions listed above, you may find it helpful to discuss a phased return to work with your employer following your maternity leave, to enable you to seek the correct treatment and allow you time to rest your pelvis and manage your work and family life between treatments.
It is illegal to be discriminated against or made redundant because you are pregnant, but the legislation in this area is complex. If you feel that you are not receiving the right support from your employer, you can seek expert advice from your work trade union, a local Citizens Advice Bureau or Working Families.
Content reviewed and updated in 2016.
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Please note, the Pelvic Partnership consists of volunteers who have had Pelvic Girdle Pain and wish to support other women. We aim to pass on information based on research evidence where available. We are not medical professionals and cannot offer medical advice. The Pelvic Partnership takes no responsibility for any action you do or do not take as a result of reading this information.
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