Is this SPD or is it "normal" discomfort?

[InvaderZim]

Hello,

I'm 35 weeks PG with 1st. In the last couple of days, I've had some discomfort between my legs when moving about, for example if I try to cross my legs while sitting on the couch, it hurts a little bit while I'm lifting my leg over. It doesn't seem to be affecting me too badly at the moment, but I don't want to make it worse by pushing myself.

BTW, I've had the same discomfort if trying to swim the breast stroke or putting on pants for two or three months now, it's just in the past couple of days that it seems to have ramped up a lot.

So, SPD beginning, or normal stretching of ligaments in the pelvis (especially since I'm at a late stage)?

I wondered this as Im having some pain during sex, getting up from a seated/laying position and general stiffness when Ive been sat for a while.

Midwife said to go to physio which shocked me as I thought this happened to everyone!

Id be interested to know too!

I am 29 weeks and I get terrible pain in my pelvis everytime I get out of bed, I am starting to hurt when I roll over also but I know from my first pregnancy that it will go straight away after baby comes. I am sure I had it this early last time and I know it'll get worse as I get bigger. My pains only come when I have been lying or sitting for a while and then stand, it's better when I use my arms to push myself up. I never mentioned it much last time and I got through it ok (I did used to shriek getting out of bed though and wince at the thought of it so maybe I should've but I too thought it was normal.) I know a few people who have been wheelchair bound in pregnancy so I guess I thought as I'm not needing that (in fact I think it'd be worse if I sat constantly) I didn't want to make a fuss. I'd ask, I think I will do now because it sounds as though it shouldn't be such a strain. I am a size 10 with a very large bump so i've been told it may be because the bump is a lot bigger than my frame but that's just my friends speculating. Let me know if you do find out. Also my hands go stiff after I have been lying down for a while-my midwife said she had never heard of it bu last time it happened it stopped as soon as I gave birth. Have you found this at all?

It does sound like SPD, but that doesn't mean it'll be a problem for you. It's pretty normal to develop some SPD symptoms in the run-up to birth as your pelvis loosens.

At 35 weeks, you probably won't have time for physio to do any good, as it's the repetitions of exercises that helps, so it would take a few weeks after seeing a physio to see any difference. I'd just avoid crossing your legs (should be avoided in pregnancy anyway), doing breast-stroke legs when swimming or opening your legs more than essential when getting in/out of cars/bed.

Earlier on, physio is definitely a good idea.

I think it generally sounds like SPD and there's no harm in starting physio at any stage. It's surely not going to do you any harm and they might just be able to give you some tips for coping with it if nothing else.
As you're 35 weeks, having the sudden extra discomfort between your legs could be the baby engaging. I'm 37+2 and have had this feeling for about 10 days so it wasn't surprising when I found out at my MW appt 3 days ago that the baby had gone from being completely free to 2/5.
I'd speak to your MW anyway and take up any offers of physio.

It's actually a lot better today. I've been doing a lot of bending over/tidying in the last couple of days, and I realised that that could be making everything worse!

Oddly, I don't get pain when sitting or laying with my legs apart, I was getting pain when lifting my leg in front of me, which makes me think it's partially muscular.