Skip to content

Local Maternity and Neonatal System

View navigation

Perinatal Pelvic Health Services

Real stories HNY PNG (White Centre)

In October 2023, our Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership in Hull talked to women and birthing people about their worries and concerns about their pelvic health. This feedback has been used to help us to develop our Perinatal Pelvic Health Services. 

Impact on daily life 

Pelvic Floor 4 col"When I exercise/ jump/ sneeze I have to be careful that I don't leak urine. I wear pads to help with this."

"On the second sneeze, it all goes south."

"After the birth of my daughter, I could constantly feel something between my legs that felt like it was falling out. Nobody seemed interested in helping. Eventually, I paid and went to a private hospital, where things were sorted out quickly."

Lack of information and support

“My first baby is now 6.5 months old and whilst pregnant, I struggled with pelvic girdle pain. I was disappointed with the lack of information and support offered in my midwife appointments and by the consultants after my scan appointments.

The only thing I was offered was ‘take paracetamol’ and ‘keep your knees together when you get out of the car.'

I did a lot of my own research and found things that helped, like seeing a pregnancy trained osteopath, which was recommended to me by another mum. There is some great information after a lot of searching online, so even being signposted to this would have been helpful.

I really think there is a lot more that can be advised and done throughout pregnancy and postnatally to help.” 

Unclear pathways and delays

"I was in pain afterwards with my stitches. The GP was saying to go to midwife and vice versa. Eventually, I got seen to find out that stitches are completely undone and I've been waiting to see a gynaecologist for over 8 months now.

"After going backwards and forwards to my GP, I was referred to someone, who told me there was nothing wrong ‘down below.’ But my problems persisted, so I asked for another referral. The second time I saw someone different and had a minor procedure to repair what hadn’t healed properly.

2019-07-03 (7)

Your baby is now officially an embryo and is about the size of a poppy seed.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/4-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

2019-07-03 (4)

Your baby is now the size of a kidney bean and weighs 1g. 

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/8-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

2019-07-03 (6)

Welcome to the second trimester!

Your baby is about the size of a small lime and weighs approximately 14g.

You have hopefully seen your midwife for your 'booking in' appointment, if you have not yet seen a midwife please make an appointment quickly, so you can have all of your choices about screening tests explained and offered to you.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/12-weeks-pregnant/ for more information. You can also link to the 'Pregnancy Journey' area here.  

2019-07-03

Your baby is about the size of an avocado and weighs approximately 100g. 

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/16-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

2019-07-03 (2)

Your baby has grown in length and is now the length of a small banana and weighs approximately 300g. Around this time you will be offered your '20 week' scan, also known as the 'anatomy' or 'anomaly' scan.Click here for more information about screening. 

This is a also a good time to talk and sing to your bump as your baby can now hear sounds. This is great way for you and your partner/family to bond with your baby.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/20-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

2019-07-03 (8)

Your baby has grown again to the approximate length of an ear of sweetcorn and weighs about 600g. 

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/24-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

2019-07-03 (1)

Welcome to the third trimester!

Your baby is now approximately the weight of an aubergine; about 1kg and approximately 37cm in length. 

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/28-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

2019-07-03 (3)

Your baby now weighs approximately the same as a coconut; around 1.5kg. 

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/32-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

2019-07-03 (5)

Your baby is now around the same size as a lettuce, approximately 47cm long and weighs around 2.6kg. 

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/36-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

2019-07-03 (9)

Your baby is now the weight of a small watermelon which is approximately 3.3kg and around 50cm in length. 

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/40-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.