What does the beginning of SPD feel like?

[TwoThreeFourSix]

I'm 29 weeks with DC2 and the last couple of days I've been hurting/aching where the leg joins the body (IYSWIM).

It's a kind of ache, something I'd expect if I'd been doing lots of stretching (say yoga or gymnastics) the night before, except that I haven't.

This morning I also had a dull ache sort of in the pubic bone area (vague I know!)

I don't know if it's just ordinary aches and pains of being pregnant or if it could be the beginning of SPD.

[ksrwr]

that's exactly how mine started, i thought i'd pulled a muscle. just keep an eye on it, and maybe try and get hold of some physio/exercises you can do to help, i had physio when i had spd, and it did help. along with a hideous girdle thing.

[swampusdonkus]

Hi Two, thanks for starting this thread as I was wondering the same.

I am 25 weeks and yesterday I was in a lot of pain in and around the groin and hips and, to a less extent, my bum. I could only do mini steps and shuffle about the house. It's a dull ache when I am reasonably stationary but then turns very painful when I move my legs in any way, especially 'parting' my legs.

So, like you, I am wondering (dreading) if this is the start of SPD. It comes and goes though, it is not constant. So today I am sore but it is nowhere near as painful as yesterday. I don't know if the symptoms of SPD fluctuate like this but waiting with interest for anyone out there that can advise!

[ksrwr]

i can only speak from my own experience, but mine didn't fluctuate, it just gradually arrived, got worse, and then literally disappeared after dd was born! but core exercises really worked for me - worth trying.

[KatharineClover]

Mine started in this pregnancy around 8 weeks (18wk in preg no 1). I'm at the fluctuating stage, it's sore when walking, but resting/ not moving is not painful, although I remember last time getting to the point when the pain was constant, then insanely sharp when climbing stairs etc. Ask for a physio referral - mine came through 3 weeks from referral to appointment.

[McBaby]

Mine fluctuates I have good and bad days but it also tends to get progressively worse over the pregnancy as a whole.

You need to try and work out what sets yours off as it doesn't always hurt at the time your doing something but more at the end of the day.

I have had a couple of osteopath treatments reccently and have seen cast improvements in my pain. I have had pains since 7 weeks and now I'm 31 weeks and it's still
manageable compared to dd when I was signed off work from 26 weeks and very immobile.

[sambababy]

Mine started exactly the same, like I'd been kicked in the groin. Try to see someone about it ASAP, if only so they can tell you things you should avoid doing to make it worse. FWIW mine started around 24wks and now at 29 hasn't got much worse really. SPD doesn't always get to the point of being debilitating but it does need to be managed.

[TwoThreeFourSix]

Ah crap. Thanks everyone. I'm really dreading that it develops more as I still have many weeks of pregnancy left, and I'm on mat leave in 4 weeks, where I was hoping to spend some nice time with DS before baby interupts things!

I'll keep an eye on it, look up some exercises and maybe see a Dr is necessary.

I'm in France and have no idea how "accepted" SPD is, in the sense, do they acknowledge it/refer for it etc.

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

It does fluctuate - I'm 18 weeks now in pg no 3, and have had SPD all 3 times, lucky me. It depends a lot on what I've been doing - sadly, a weekend at home with toddler, carrying her about, picking stuff up, hanging washing out, doing dishwasher etc always makes it worse than during the week when I'm sitting at a desk all day.

I need to phone for a referral, actually - you've reminded me! I'm currently going through a good phase so have been putting it off. 2 weeks ago it was terrible but right now it's v mild, so I don't feel entitled to a referral.

I've never got to the crutches stage, but I was signed off for the last 3 weeks before my planned mat leave last time - as the bump got bigger and pressed on my pelvis I just couldn't cope with sitting at a desk, plus I was getting BH continually. When I was signed off and spent a lot of time sleeping/lying in bed/on sofa, the BH disappeared and the pain improved!

[HelenHen]

I had a limp for about a week where it felt my hips weren't aligned properly at about the same point. Mine went after about a week though and hasn't been back. I thought it can also just be your pubic bone opening s bit or something a lot more medical than that lol. By all means get it checked but it may just be straightforward

[SellyMevs]

I have had hip pain for the last 3 weeks, im 14+4. Hip and pelvic pain is very common in pregnancy, it doesn't necessarily mean it's SPD. However, do see your midwife or GP and get a physio referral.

I saw my GP about it and within a week I had a physio appointment with a specialist women's health physio. My muscles and tendons around my back and hip just aren't coping with the pregnancy hormones and are trying too hard to compensate for my more relaxed pelvis. She gave me exercises to do and a support band for walking. The band has been amazing, I can now get through the day without being in crippling pain! It's far better to get on top of it before it gets worse.

[rjcameo]

It's horrid isn't it! Mine came on about 33wks...it can happen at any time as it is a hormonal thing. The hormone is called relaxin...your pelvis relaxes to prepare for birth, but in most women it doesn't kick in til labour.
I had a physio appt and a support belt, but it didn't really help me. I just sort of dealt with it by not doing an awful lot! I remember doing a lot of crawling and having to fall backwards with my legs together to get in the car!

See if you can get a physio appt. I've heard some people found a birthing ball helpful - but not sure what they did with it!

[rjcameo]

It's horrid isn't it! Mine came on about 33wks...it can happen at any time as it is a hormonal thing. The hormone is called relaxin...your pelvis relaxes to prepare for birth, but in most women it doesn't kick in til labour.
I had a physio appt and a support belt, but it didn't really help me. I just sort of dealt with it by not doing an awful lot! I remember doing a lot of crawling and having to fall backwards with my legs together to get in the car!

See if you can get a physio appt. I've heard some people found a birthing ball helpful - but not sure what they did with it!

[princessdave]

Mine started around 15 weeks this time I think, felt really stiff in my groin after a 10 mile run. I tend to apply a heated wheaty bag thing & it eases. It was much later with my first pregnancy, maybe 26ish weeks. I stopped running at 32 weeks as I was too stiff afterwards but heat & exercise ball + the physio girdle belt thing helped massively. Oh and sleeping with a pillow between my legs (when on my side) really helped support it all.

I'm 22 weeks now & still running, will be 6 miles or less from now on. Running didn't cause the SPD so I'll carry on as long as I'm comfortable as last time it was worse if I spent too much time sat down!

So try to keep moving, hot water bottle, pillows etc if you can. Do mention it to your MW- mine remembered me this time (apparently she hasn't dealt with a pg runner since me!) & said it would very likely come back and it has.

Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy & getting a physio referral :)

[princessdave]

Oh & as awful as it was for those last couple of months my SPD was gone as soon as I'd delivered & left no after effects thankfully. I keep reminding myself that it is just temporary when I'm a bit stiff getting out of my desk chair!