"Getting treatment for pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy"

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant and have been suffering from pelvic girdle pain quite badly since about 20 weeks. I contacted the midwife unit around 11 Dec for advice and was told a referral would be made to the pelvic health physio but a private physio might be helpful. I found a private physio and have spent a considerable amount of money on treatment. 

I saw the midwife for a routine appointment at the beginning of January and asked about the referral to the NHS physio and she said she’d check it had been made. At the beginning of February I called again because my symptoms had got much worse and I was having difficulty walking. I first called my GP to ask about getting access to crutches. I was told they aren’t recommended in pregnancy which I know to be incorrect. I called the midwife unit and the midwife again said she’d make a referral to the physio but offered no other advice. The physio did contact me within a week and I have an appointment next week but she said there had not been any earlier referral. 

I find it really frustrating that there seems such a lack of focus and compassion in relation to pelvic health issues in pregnancy. It seems to just be accepted as ‘normal’ and the treatment is to wait for the baby to be born. For me this has already meant almost 3 months of having to work reduced hours, struggling to look after my toddler and unable to do hardly any physical activity despite being very fit before pregnancy. I am now using crutches which I’ve borrowed from a friend and still have the same length of time to go. 

I feel a considerable amount of resource is going into monitoring my pregnancy because I am over a notional age which means I’m at higher risk while treatment for something which will help me maintain some level of fitness, reduce stress and significantly improve my mental health is not considered important. I am fortunate that I am able to ‘afford’ private treatment, without which I would almost certainly be signed off work completely. It shouldn’t be like this.