SPD

[Maggieny]

hi

i'm 27 weeks with my first baby and have jsut been told I have SPD - my pelvis has kind of opened up, something to do with hormones and tendons - i stopped listening once they told me that i would be on crutches until i have the baby and that things woudl probably not get much better as the baby grows

although i am hugely grateful baby is well and seems happy, i feel like this will ruin the rest of my pregnancy and am worried about how i will actually have the baby

feeling sad and isolated stuck at home

anyone out there have experience with this, helpful advice or some kind words to cheer me up??

thanks

Maggieny,

Do a search on MN there are loads of threads about SPD.

I would also say that they have given you the worst case scenario! I had SPD, didn't need crutches and was fine after the birth of DD2.

There are things that you should do differently to stop it getting worse. Basically you shouldn't open your legs too much! So, get out of bed/car with knees together, swing legs to the side and stand up slowly. You can also get a big tubigrip or support belt that can help. Has your GP referred you to the physio? If not push for a referral asap.

Good luck and try not to get down about this.

More info here

Hi

I had SPD badly while pg and ended up on crutches- which although sounds bad helped tremendously.

There are lots of support belts, I found these useful but as LL says definately see a physio that deals with it regularly. Ask your GP to arrange it or via your hospital. I only saw one at around 28 weeks by which time things were quite bad already.

The pelvic partnership www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk
is a good source of information and you can discuss worries on a helpline- although they may have to get back to you as staffed by volunteers.

I had a C section partly because of it but there are ways to reduce worsening it during labour that most midwives are aware of like avoiding the lithotomy position.

All the best

Maggie - firstly, my sympathies. It's very painful, I know.

Secondly, in my first pregnancy when I developed SPD I was also given a doom and gloom scenario. In fact I was advised I'd probably spend the last month of my pregnancy in a wheelchair and completely unable to go upstairs!!

It wasn't nearly even a quarter as bad as they said. I didn't even have crutches and I didn't have a problem giving birth.

Read the various threads for advice, get a physio appointment and a support band. Take all the advice seriously and you can really make a difference to how you get on.

Am now in second pregnancy and having been told that it would be MUCH MUCH WORSE in subsequent pregnancies, again I'm managing. Sure, it's sore and I am a bit limited in what I can do, but I am taking things easy and doing okay. Am even still walking into town albeit very very slowly.

Hi BS,

Glad 2nd pg is going well re spd. Was told I could be worse if I had another so is good to hear that it's not always the case

Am TTC #2 and was one of my concerns.

So Maggieny- It didnt put me off trying for another!

Funny thing was I wasnt told much about the condition, any prognosis etc. Had to look up most on the net and boy are there some doom and gloom stories out there. Met quite a few mums postnatally who had it though and they coped pretty well so not everyone gets v bad.

This is supposed to be encouraging by the way

Thanks ladies - have sorted a physio out and am managing on my crutches...

Guess i am more disappointed than anything else, I had visions in my head once I started my mat leave I would be going for walks around the park in the sun and having lovely relaxing days shopping in town - guess I still can - will be even more slow and on crutches though!

I'm from NZ and have settled here with my husband, missing my mum and feeling a long way from home - not been this homesick since I went to boarding school when I was 12!

Anyway, need to start thinking more positively, many thanks for your thoughts

Maggie

maggie you may find you can still walk about though maybe not so far, once you have a good support belt. (wiltshire is the favourite amongst women's health physios) you physio will advise. In the meantime avoid crossing your legs, when standing up keep weight equal through both feet and try and squeeze your bum when walking. When siting have equal weight through both bum cheeks- you get the picture. (am physio)

I just remembered that I had a bad back that developed when DD2 was a few months old...went to a chiropracter and he reckoned my pelvis still hadn't sorted itself out. Anyway one session and some scary clunks sorted it out and it has been fine ever since.....might be worth a visit after you settle down from the birth?

Suey2 - are there some slidy cushions that you can put on your car seat too to make getting out of the car easier??? May have dreamt this!!

yes, though frankly sitting on a plastic bag is pretty effective- slide both legs together and twist on your bum to get out of the door