I have almost completely avoided it this time round by seeing an amazing chiropractor from about 10 weeks. She saw me intensively for the first 3 weeks and suggested that I could have started the treatment before conception/after the 1st birth to 'realign' everything. She has worked such wonders with me that I believe everything she says!

Can't remember who asked but I had chiro when suffering with SPD. It was getting really bad by about 7 months - reckon I'd have ended up on crutches (had a 15 month old as well at this point so no sitting down for me). Went to a chiro who I'd spoken to before appointment and knew about SPD and had done some research and an extra course in ante-natal treatment or somesuch. After one treatment my mum turned around and said "Look, you're walking normally - I hadn't realised how bad you'd got". Carried on having treatment throughout rest of pregnancy and after about 4 sessions had virtually no pain from there on in.

In short, chiro worked for me.

Hi

I've got 2 children ages 8 and 3. I had spd with my first pregnancy and ended up on crutches and unable to go very far. It resolved it's self post birth and i've had a fab 5 years between children but during my second pregnancy it came back sooner and a lot harder. I ended up in a wheelchair and i'm still suffering 3 yrs on and in a wheelchair.

I have found from research that having joint hypermobility seems to be a link in it lasting post pregnancy. I had nautral births both time and breast fed both children.

Good luck with your decision and any forthcoming pregnancy. The key to remember if you decide you wish to go ahead and you get symptoms don't wait get early access to a physio and take it fairly easy (well as much as a mum can).

Hi Coco
I really feel for you. I had severe spd. I developed the first symptoms at just 15 weeks. It started with ligament pain in my groin and I couldn't walk without it really hurting. I got fobbed of by a male doctor who just looked at me and said it's normal cause your ligaments all stretch in pregnancy. Made me feel like I wasted his time. By the time a got to 20 weeks I couldn't even walk around Tescos without nearly crying in pain. Then I started waking in agony at night as I was trying to turn over with a huge clunking from my pelvis. Went back to docs and saw a much nicer lady doctor who refered me for pysio straight away. I can't say that it really helped unfortunately and the support belt they provided did absolutely nothing except dig in and pinch my skin. By 30 weeks I was on crutches and if I needed to be on my feet for more than 5 mins a wheelchair. I become so depressed as it pretty much made me housebound as I was signed of work for the last 3 months of my pregnancy cause I couldn't even walk the distance from my car into the large office building to my desk let along sit upright at my computer every day.
In your question to is it linked to ventouse deliveries, in my case definately not as this was my first pregnancy.
I'm really interested in the replies to your question as I have always wanted more than one baby. I love my Son so much who is now 10 weeks old and would love for him to have a brother or sister in a couple of years but can't bear the thought of ever being pregnant again

I had SPD with my first baby - symptoms began at 10 weeks and by 23 weeks was on crutches. I was induced as a result and during labour, the baby was in difficulty so my legs were put in stirrups which exacerbated my problems completely.

I was in agony for the first 4 months of DS's life.

Unfortunately DS was 6 months old when I accidently (not planned at all) fell pregnant again. I'm now 13 weeks pregnant and struggling like mad.

It is good to hear that others can manage the condition. I've been referred to a pain clinic and have my first appointment this week so hopefully they will be able to give me some pointers!

I had SPD with third, and it started earlier and more painfully with fourth at about 16 wks. I got in to see physio the same day - they put me on crutches as my hip was agonising when I walked. Big improvement on the crutches. Used them religiously for about a month, then slowly started going with them a little more each time I felt comfortable and am now only yusing them for longer walks or when I've had a particularly exhausting day. For me, the big difference was getting treatment right away - In my third pregnancy (1st time with SPD) I struggled through it for awhile before getting treatment.

I had bad SPD from 24 weeks onwards with my first. I had ligamentus (sp?) pain in the ligaments supporting my womb from 8 weeks that was so bad I was offer MORPHINE. BP would get to 150/105 whilst in pain crisis. I fell down the stairs as DD kicked me and the pain was so bad I lost my footing and fell.

I was wearing 2 belts (strechy wide belt to support bump and take pressure off SP joint and firm narrow belt to hold sacro-ilial joints together) crutches and ended up housebound or in wheelchair to leave the house.

After DD1 was born I had chiropractor treatment ands found out by x-ray that my pelvis was wonky and my vertabrae where all higgledy-piggledy. My legs are also different lengths which exaserbated to SPD by throwing my pelvis out.

I had about 6 months of treatment during which I got pg with DD2. I wore a belt with her right from 6 weeks but the pain was really mild if not non exsistant. I ran for a bus at 7 months with pushchair at that. I did give up seeing the chiro when I was told they would cure my DDs asthma for me.... i think you can't do that!

Fast forward to pg. 3 I've had almost no pain and can sit cross legged and alsorts. I wear my belt if I remember but with a 38 month old and an 18 month old I don't remember often!

Oh by the way I was told not to bf by a nursing auxillary as it would make my SPD worse. Didn't heed her advice and am currently tandeming DD1 and DD2 whilst being 19 weeks pg.

I hope you find a way to deal with your SPD and you go on to have as many children and you like!

shy about pushing for treatment

I had it with both of my pregnancies, and it came much sooner with the second. I knew what it was, though, and like everyone else, I wasn't she about pushing for treatment second time around. I went to a fantastic NHS physio, who helped me keep it under control as much as possible. That did involve limiting how much I walked, which meant that poor DD1 didn't get out as much as I would have liked. But DD2 was worth it. How much help would you have with your two other DC if you were pregnant? If you have family or friends who would be happy to step in, then that would remove a lot of the fear for me. Not that the pain is much fun, of course.

Good luck with your decision.

I've been seeing a physio since the birth of DS (wish I'd seen her before for the SPD, the NHS physio was rubbish) and she says that breastfeeding helps keep your ligaments loose - everything tightens up faster if you do not nurse. I still did nurse DS for ages, but she told me that I needed to go on taking very good care of my joints while I was doing it.