pregnancy support band - recommend?

[OhGood]

Hips are killing me, and if anyone can recommend a support band or belt I would be v grateful. Still 2 months to go...

[BabyHMummy]

Tp be honest my hv and physio basically said they are of they are of very little help after 6 months....mothercare do one that is about £12 that someone recommended to me but i didn't find it all that helpful.

Oonly thing that as helped are pelvic exercises on the gym ball to strengthen the muscles

[Ilovestackingcups]

Talk to your GP/MW, get an appointment with a physio and you'll get given one. A physio will also be able to teach you some good exercises to do to strengthen muscles in your hips and lower back.

I got two over the course of my pregnancy, one much more heavy duty than the first which was a sort of tubigrip for the tummy. They are Not Remotely Sexy. I nicknamed my second one the Lady Girdle. It was good throughout my pregnancy last time (sorry to hear that's not always the case BabyHMummy), and I still have it for this one.

I didn't have SPD, just blindingly sore hips.

[pod3030]

i got a sports one as i was running and it really helped, i didn't have pain, just was worried about jigging bump around. it gave me a lot of confidence. i had quite a small bump though.

[OhGood]

Point taken about pelvic floor exercises...

Last time round I was much worse, was referred to physio, did me no good at all. Went to a workshop thing and only useful thing was discussion with other people.

At the moment hips only really painful at night. God it's amazing how sore they can get. Proper SPD must be AGONY.

[BabyHMummy]

I hadn't bothered with any before the physio said. To be didnthey involve sitting on a gym ball and rolling my pelvis fully forward and then fully backward, side to side and then in a full circle. The tried to get us to do the forward/backward thing on a chair and using our hands to force it but i can't manipulate my arm into.position due to an underlying issue with mu shoulder.

She showed us some wad of turning over/getting up out of chairs etc to help with the pain. If you pm me ur email i will can the docs they gave us and mail them to you after the b/hol...would do before but dp is on nights and i have his kids to entertain and as their mother believes in the childminding skills of nintendo ds and some wacked out internet game called minecraft we have banned the kids going nr computers of any type so can't really then open up mine lol Xxx

[atrcts]

I've just had a Physio appointment this last week (for SPD at 30 weeks) and was given a body tubi-grip and a Velcro support belt. Both of these pull the pelvis in tight and help close the 'gap' that is too wide because of the relaxin.

The Physio diagnosed the gap by laying me down and pressing down on either side of my prominent hip bones while I lifted each leg individually (they felt very heavy to lift) and then she placed her hands under my buttocks and pulled the pelvic bones up and in towards my belt button, which was MUCH more comfortable to lift each leg and made them feel much lighter to move.

The Velcro and tubi grip help hold the pelvis in the position of pulling the hips together and since wearing them both have found it doesn't hurt as much to be on my feet, and I could mop the floors without such agony, so was worthwhile getting the referral!

[Audrey2013]

Was reading it with interest, thanks for all recommendations, but how do you choose one online? Is there a place to try them on first?

[cluelessnchaos]

I had one fitted in my fourth pregnancy by the physio and I kicked myself for not getting in previous pregnancies. It made a massive difference and enabled me to continue working until 38 weeks, even though I'd been really struggling at 20 weeks. Best to get the right one fitted if you can rather than just buy online

[BabsAndTheRu]

I got one in Boots, found it really helpful as massive bump and only 5 ft 1. Think it was about £12 pounds as well. Comes in small, medium and large, pretty sure there was a size guide on the box. I had hip pain with third DC'S and with the exercises and support band it really helped. Work in a hospital so on feet all day again band really helped.

[OhGood]

Thanks for recommendations. I think I am going to try and get a ref to the physio as only 31 weeks, so a way to go.

[StiffyByng]

My second tubigrip post in a row! After awful SPD in my first pregnancy, i got a Physio referral at about 14 weeks this time. By 20 weeks they had me in tubigrip from ribs to top of thighs. It was great and I have not developed SPD beyond some slight niggles (was on crutches and codeine last time). You could get some cheaply from the chemist while waiting for your referral.