Pregnancy 1 - hit at 28 weeks, was soon in pain 24 hours per day. Was sent to physio who advised me to wear special belt and ice. Neither of those made a difference because I was already in too much pain for the belt to work and was only icing sporadically. EVERYONE told me it would go away soon after the birth so I didn't make a big deal of it because I was so delighted to be having a baby.

Labour from hell and did everything 'wrong'. Pushed for almost three hours with knees bent up against my shoulders, ended in forceps. Still in lots of pain afterwards. Was wheeling myself around the house in an office chair. Six months later the physio told me to only walk for five minutes every other day, no more. Huge impact on my life because I am/was a non-driver. Couldn't get down to play on the floor with my daughter for 12 months. Lifting a 2 litre bottle of milk was still painful months later. Relationship with partner became very strained.

The length of recovery meant that we put off TTC #2 (NOT advisable at our ages). I just couldn't face going through that much pain again and the impact it had on my life.

Between pregnancy #1 and #2 started doing clinical pilates once a week to strengthen core muscles in preparation for another pregnancy.

Pregnancy #2 - hit at 6 weeks. Was told by my physio at 7 weeks that I would soon be in a wheelchair. Frantically started icing around the clock and using the belt. Had to give up work at 14 weeks because the 45 min walk to/from train stations over the course of a day would have meant a wheelchair for sure and sitting at your desk with an icepack between your legs ain't a good look. Have been housebound since then (don't drive). Faced awful dilemma of being more active and being in a lot of pain or resting the pelvis and going mentally bonkers at not being able to leave the house - in a small house with a very active toddler. Chose the latter. No family, no babysitters, partner who works shifts and often works nine days straight plus weekends. Have to use wheelchair for anything over about 50 metres. Despite all that, have managed the pain much better this time by doing everything 'right' - icing between 1-3 times per day, wearing the belt ALL day - sometimes in bed too, going to clinical pilates, keeping knees together at all times. I'm now in less pain at 34 weeks pregnant than I was 12 months postnatally last time. Have also moved house - largely because of the pelvic stuff. So, I've survived but I can't overstate the impact this has had on my life in the last three years.