third tirmester first baby help! : pubis symphasis

[bigeyes]

Hello I'm a new member and have read some of your great tips mums but I think I'm suffering from mild pubis symphasis, feels like I've been kicked in privates when I stand up or turn over in bed like a bruised feeling. Any tips? Its been getting me down a little the last two days.

I get this too bigeyes. Horrid! I'm forever having warm baths to ease it! I find a pillow between my knees helps when I'm in bed

See your gp/mw about getting referred for physio.

This is so that they can give you advice on lifting/turning in bed etc etc and fit you up with proper support belts to ease the discomfort and help you walk. If you try and muddle on or ignore IT GETS WORSE - trust me.

One thing that helped me was not staying in the same position too long. To turn in bed i had a pillow at either end of the bed so to change from one side to another i rolled legs out of bed, swung to an upright position and then rolled down to the other end of the bed to my other pillow IYSWIM.

Also avoid sitting on hard chairs - i found this made mine worse.

HTH, goodluck.

Oh thankyou both. I have been having a hotbath when I get in from work (3weeks left to M leave!). Last time I mentioned it to MW she said it would be very painful so it must be sciatica, however it has got worse but I can't say its really painful just uncomfortable, and I dread it getting worse so I'll ask about those things vick cheers

Actually viktmum it aches when i get up from sitting position most. If I straighten up properly, kind of taking weight back off bump its eases. Is this correct? I will of course ask about the things you suggested.

I had this too bigeyes, both times. I think I've blanked it from my mind, cos I'm thinking hard, but I can't remember what I did to make it better. But big sympathy. The not being able to turn over in bed and hurting when you stand up are the worst, aren't they!

I remember now one thing - I was told just to take paracetomal like a prescription drug. And I had a belt to wear, but it wasn't sexy or comfy!

It goes. That's the good news!

Fisil, is it likely to stay with me til labour, i'm 28wks and can you remember if it affected how you gave birth: pain/positions?

didn't affect the birth at all. I had two lovely births (well, they did hurt, obviously, but as these things go, they were good).

I had this too, so I totally sympathise, bigeyes. Def go to a physio. I was sceptical, but mine stopped it getting worse (it was pretty bad). The unsexy support belt will feel like BLISS, so get one if you can asap!!

Oh, and I was terrified it would be permanent, but it went away within days of giving birth. As my birth plan went out the window (long story, not relevant here) I can't say it affected the birth, but do make sure it's in your notes so the MWs know about it.

Thats great guys I'm adding to my list of Q's for MW all the time![smiley]

Hi Bigeyes. I had this too so I know how you feel. The physio said to keep legs together as much as possible (!), use a pillow as rodeo says, take small steps when walking, use a support belt if it helps. Mine came and went but was quite bad towards the end of pregnancy. the good news is that it shouldn't affect the birth although you should mention it on the day. You will need to be careful if you need as assisted delivery. I had no more spd as soon as baby was born. Good luck!

I had thins terribly and was referred to physio. they gave me a body bandage to wear that tried to keep me together more. as for maternity leave - I went sick 3 weeks before it was due t start as I just could not walk. My doctor signed me off. Ask him about that s you need to rest as much as possible. Sickness absence due to pregnancy dhould not affect your absence record with your employer so don't worry.

Bigeyes - THE biggest sypmtom of symphasis pubis dysfunction (SPD) is that you have great difficulty/pain standing on one leg or shifting weight from one side to another such as in walking. For me this meant something simple such as putting my knickers and shoes/socks etc on was extremely difficult and painful.

Also separating your legs you would get a burning pain in you pubic bone area at the front.

The SPD means that the pubic joint at the front of the pelvis is too loose and therefore your whole pelvis is unstable hence the standing on one leg thing etc. You can get pain in your sacro iliac joint too because of this instability.

Nag your GP/MW for help as it shouldnt be treated as "just a part of being pg". Some MW refuse to believe it exists too.

And you do need to be careful during labour - avoid stirrups if possible, preferable not to have epidural so you can feel if there is too much strain on the joint, there are more comfortable/less harmful delivery positions for example. If you get referred fro physio they should go through all the delivery/birthing stuff with you though.

Mine didnt go very quickly and i still had problems 6 mnths on so i went back to gp who referred me to a rheumatologist. It turns out i had a slight birth defect in my sacro iliac joint but my point is that it doesnt always go within a few days although the sudden weight loss certainly helps!

Make sure you get physio, a belt (highly attractive but great) .Keep legs together as much as possible. I ended up not being able to have baths cos of this. Mine didn't go straight away, but definate improvement still get the odd twinge (must get it sorted!) as for the birth fine until surgeon put me in stirrups really painful and lets say he knew about it! Hope all goes well, just don't do nothing about it.

There's another thread on the board at the moment about successful labours with SPD here

Also get out of the car like you're a demure lady in a miniskirt and not wanting to flash your knicks! And be very careful about putting any cross pressure on your pelvis e.g. putting one leg in car whilst strapping in other children

Good link sue!

hi bigeyes.
pillow under/between legs and feet helps with sleeping. Also the v shaped pillows can help you to get comfy.
When you go to sit up you are supposed to swing your legs together over the side of the bed and then sit up.
Avoid sitting in one position/standing for too long. Dont lift/push/pull or basically do anything as my physio said..easier said than done with a 2yr old..lol

Ask to be refered to physio mine gave ma support belt and tubigrip for a evening..blissful..but v. unsexy..lol...also offered crutches but I refused as it wasnt possible for me with having a toddler permanently attached..lol

see you on the dec thread

You lot are great, lots of things to keep me going I'll certainly review sleeping position tonight. Funny thing is DH has just put his back out and can hardly walk ,so we are a right pair! I hope my SPD doesn't get any worse. Sounds like some of you have really been through it respect!

VTM I dont get your big sympton just when I'm getting up and turning over its very sore and make me want to clutch my privates .

SUE Thanks 4link and I'll get out the car as ladylike as possible from now on! This is also v important due to comfy preg knicks I am currently adorning!

oo thats the other thing
physio said to put a plastic bag on seat of car as it makes it easier to turn and get out.

That has double purpose nemo!

pmsl...literally..lol

Careful nemo - you dont want to overstretch yourself

Hee Hee Nemo - nice one though I'm off to scrat around kitchen for a tesco carrier bag!