SPD advise please!!

[pinklady82]

I am pregnant with my second baby and again think I am suffering with SPD I had physio last time which didnt really help and I have a support for my bump which is really uncomfortable to wear!! When I had DS it did not go away completely but pushed it aside and never went to docs for any treatment. AT 26 weeks pregnant it seems to be worse than last time and really getting me down especially with a 2 year old to try and run around after! Does anyone have any advise on coping with SPD? any ways you have found that can improve it? I dont know anyone who has had it so am feeling quite lost with it!

I has SD when carrying dts also with a 2 year old, and I worked full time, so know how you feel, are you sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees? I found that helped a bit.

Hi thanks for your reply was really thinking there wasnt anyone else out there. i have been sleeping with a pillow in my knees on my side it does help for a bit. do you know if there is anything we can do to stop it at all? after quite along day today am suffering alot it really is painfull.

Have lots of cushions/pillows to wedge between knees/under bump/wherever it helps for night time. Oh, and if you go swimming - DO NOT DO BREAST STROKE!!! I did and could barely walk for several days.
I didn't get on well with belts, tubigrip or crutches. Good supportive shoes help.
Good luck!

I found a long bath every night helped a little. Agree the physio and support belt are totally useless. Just try to take it easy and don't feel bad if your 2yo watches a bit more telly than normal.

I had pelvic pain too and the physio recommended a water birth which, purely by chance, I was lucky enough to get. If there's any chance, do try to arrange one - the water supports your limbs, taking the strain off your pelvis.

Agree that the support belt was useless.

Never, and I mean never cross your legs!

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction

SPD ? During Pregnancy

? Wear a support ? if you cant get hold of a pregnancy support, then you can wear a maternity swimsuit or tie some old sheeting around you pelvis, you can also use a sarong.
? Ironing and Hoovering will worsen the pain ? try not to do these.
? Take stairs one at a time
? Don?t overreach or stretch if possible
? Paracetamol generally don?t help ? try a hot wheat pack instead
? Use a pillow in between your knees when you sleep or get a pregnancy support pillow which you can curl around ? try to keep the pelvis in line
? See a physiotherapist or chiropractor
? Keep your legs together
? Try not to lift anything too heavy ? especially if you are not wearing a support

SPD ? In Labour

? Don?t let anyone put your legs in stirrups ? you could end up with a split pelvis
? Don?t let anyone hold your leg back to push ? you could end up with a split pelvis
? Try to stay upright or in water ? as this alleviates some of the pressure
? Wiggle your hips if your labour pains are in your back, but don?t over sway
? Put ?SPD Sufferer? in you birth plan so your mw?s are aware

SPD ? After Birth

? You may feel immediate relief from the pain ? however this doesn?t always last. Your pelvis is still ?loose? and this can cause problems months/yrs after. To try and minimise this from happening wear a support for a few days/weeks and see a physio/chiro after if possible.
? All of the ?during pregnancy? notes still apply for the first few weeks.
? There are homeopathic remedies (such as calc phos) which may help the healing process. See a homeopath.

Take a look at www.thepelvispartnership.org.uk for more information

I had it awfully in my first pregnancy - the hospital told me I would probably end up in a wheelchair, and there was nothing they could do apart from a couple of useless pysio appointments, which did absolutly bugger all - and was lucky enough to go private for my second pregnancy. The difference in attitude was astonishing. They sent me to an oestopath with huge experience in SPD, who cracked me back into shape every couple of weeks, and I had virtually no pain or discomfort at all - even after going to Glastonbury eight months pregnant, and wandering around all day. Since the birth, I've been doing lots of pilates, and it has REVOLUTIONISED my body. It's all about core stability and, when you have SPD, you don't have any. Pilates gives you core stability. I can't recommend it enough. If yr in or near london, the oestopath is Nadine Hobson, she's £50 a pop, and in Camden and St John's Wood. She's a witchy genius.

I'm due very soon with my second baby and I've been seeing an osteopath since 20 weeks with what was apparantly very mild (but nonetheless agonising) spd. She's been working on deep and quite painful ligament massage rather than scary manipulation and it's really helped me a lot. I've been seeing her every 2-3 weeks and I really feel the difference. Luckily she gives half price treatment in pregnancy because it's not cheap, but you may find someone near you with a similar scheme.