SPD at 8 weeks

[Janemummyof2]

Hi, it’s my first time posting on here so apologies if it’s not in the right place.

I am posting as I am desperate for some advice or hearing others stories.

I am now 10 weeks pregnant and I have been told by my GP that I have severe pelvic girdle. This started at 8 weeks. I am awaiting physio treatments and I am being prescribed crutches this week.

I can’t find any information on pelvic girdle starting so soon. I am in extreme pain and I have two children under 5 to look after. Which right now is very hard. I can’t pick them up I can’t help them go to the toilet. My little girl fell off her bike today and I couldn’t pick her up. In bed I’m in agony I lie there sometimes and think is it worse to get up and go to the toilet or to just wet the bed.

My doctor and specialist who I have spoken to have said that it will get worse with the added weight once baby gets bigger and I might need a wheel chair or hired help.

No one can tell me if I am going to permanently damage my pelvis long term with the strain starting so early on.

If anyone has experience with this I would love to hear if everything ended up ok or if this is even going to be manageable as the thought of not being able to look after my current two children for another 8 months is breaking my heart never mind the excruciating pain that I’m in.

Thanks in advance x

Oh that sounds so tough my heart truly breaks for you. I had it too but much later on. The only thing I found the eased it was resting which of course is hard with 2 little children. Is there a partner on scene? If so could he prepare pack lunches in the evening? And could you set up camp on the couch for the day? Have potty in the living room? I managed to get my son to lay across my legs on his tummy to wipe his bum after going to the toilet. Fortunately my husband was available to take him outside once a day and burn off energy. Is there any family at all near you that can take your children to the park or something similar for you once a day? One thing I will say is do not feel guilty about screen time this is survival mode now!!

Oh I had this from 12 weeks with my 4th.

It helped having my legs and hips wrapped up at night. Like a mummy. DH had to do it.

I was on crutches from 14 weeks to birth.

It's awful.

Thanks so much for getting back to me. It’s just nice to hear from someone who’s gone through a similar situation. All the medical advice I have been getting it kind of ends in the same answer that every body is different so they can’t tell me how bad it will get and if there will be long term affects.

Can I ask if your pelvic girdle went soon after birth or if you had any long lasting affects?

I have a partner who is helping so much at the weekends and when he gets home from work but all day through the week I am home alone with 2 and I’m just terrified of relying on a wheel chair or being bed bound (all things that my doctor and specialist have told me are strong possibilities) and trying to look after my kids.

Mine literally went the moment baby was out of me! Nothing long term. I'm sure there are some charities that offer respite in these situations all though I'm not sure what's going on with covid. Is there no one at all near you to bubble with? 😭

That’s a relief to hear! I have my mum on a Monday her day off and she’s been helping me these past 2 weeks with the washing and cooking etc. I’m just at a point where I couldn’t imagine being in any more pain than I currently am and to know it’s going to get worse and last another 8 months I feel so sorry for anyone who has to be around me.

Thanks for commenting your the only person to of started with the spd early.

Do you mind me asking how your birth was and if you had any long lasting affects on your pelvis after birth?

Hi it's good that they've referred you to physio and that you have crutches. You might find it settles or it might continue all through pregnancy unfortunately. They'll talk to you about pacing and ways to do things like getting out of bed keeping knnes together etc. Try a pelvic belt (don't wear it at night). The one below is quite good but you can find other ones. I've also attached an info leaflet. It might affect your birth if you can't open your legs so make sure your midwife is aware if this is a problem. Hope it settles for you. Physio will help with exercises and other advise. Goo
d luck

pogp.csp.org.uk/publications/pregnancy-related-pelvic-girdle-pain-mothers-be-new-mothers

www.promedics.co.uk/products/pelvic-instability-belt

Thank you so much! I will have a read through them tonight. The idea of it settling is so nice to hear.

I had it from 19 weeks in my second pregnancy. Unfortunately I’m still having issues with it now, and my baby is 12 months old. But it improved by about 50-60% once the baby engaged and dropped into my pelvis. Then improved a bit more after the birth and I’d say it’s about 80% improved from how it was at its worst. It can be 90% if I do 20 minutes of Pilates-style and physio exercises every evening.

I had an ELCS - I couldn’t get a sensible answer from anyone about whether a VBAC might exacerbate the issue but I was erring towards an elective anyway.

I was told by my physio that it was likely related to separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) from my first pregnancy. Because it’s to do with the relaxing of ligaments, there is a lot you can do after the birth to strengthen those ligaments. I think it’s unusual to be left with permanent damage.

I would strongly recommend you get a support belt straight away (I have a Serola that I wear whenever I’m walking outside the house) and see if you can get a physio referral. Try to keep your legs together whenever possible - swivel to get out of the car, sit down to put on jeans, etc. Don’t squat to get stuff out of the washing machine, etc!

If you can possibly afford it (mine charges £50 per session in the SE), see a women’s health physio while you wait for your referral to come through. If you can’t find one, look at osteopaths who specialise in this area. I saw an osteopath when pregnant (who was good and provided some relief) and a women’s health physio after when I realised it wasn’t going to just go away. The latter was truly brilliant.

I have every sympathy, my PGP with my first started at 9 weeks, I can't imagine how difficult it is to look after 2 young children with it.

I was on crutches most of the time by 16 weeks, and saw an osteopath privately weekly from 16 weeks to full term. He was one of the local ones recommended by the Pelvic Girdle Partnership and he did manual manipulation of my hips to ease up the pain. He was honestly a miracle worker and I would really recommend seeing someone if you can afford it.

Mine also didn't go away after birth. When DC was 16 months old I was referred by my GP for an MRI scan and was told there was nothing wrong with me structurally, sometimes these things happen. I was still breastfeeding which makes your body release relaxin, so I was advised to stop and I was given a steroid injection.

Now, 3 years PP I don't often feel pain, but I do have to make sure I do regular yoga to keep my core / hip / bum muscles strong.

I just wanted to give you a "bad" scenario story because I was devastated when it didn't immediately disappear after birth like I read so much of at the time. I honestly don't think about it now as long as I don't let the exercise slip, and I'm still capable of carrying my (heavy!) 3 year old.

We're trying for our second now and I'm nervous of it happening again, even though I know the long term outcome can be good.

Ahhh feel your pain, mine started at 12 weeks I was on crutches monthly physio and acupuncture paid for by NH S as pain management, weight belt.

My daughters 3 years and I still have physio and still in pain (not as bad as pregnancy) going upstairs, hoovering, and walking further than a mile 😣

Honestly there is only small amount of people left with pain after x take care x