SPD - anyone else joining me on the birthing ball?

[elgoldenflower]

Hello out there, was looking for a support thread for those of us unlucky enough to have developed SPD and couldn't find a current one.

I'm 19 weeks (EDD 26.10.11) and have been aware of pelvic pain since conception (v mild at first) but it's steadily getting worse. I now can't walk more than about 30 yds without being sofa/birthing ball - bound for the evening.

My physio is fitting me with crutches on Monday as I can't avoid a bit of walking for my work (I run drama workshops all over the place so have to travel to them and I don't drive).

So far cycling's wonderful but I'm not aloud to use my bike like a mobility scooter as far as I know so cycling usually involves a bit of walking too.

Grr just wanted to be able to rant without annoying my v supportive antenatal thread.

cheers button! Having lovely b'day - DH got me a spa voucher at Xmas, I booked it prior to getting up the duff and they said nope, re-book - so lovely mum to be treatment today instead, mmmm.

Luckily DH is not someone who pressurises for his marital rights - he's still freaked out by baby/penis proximity during sex (sweet strange man!), so he's mainly okay with our full sex drought... handy when I don't feel like it but this SPD is a conundrum otherwise!!!

Thank you tulip! I did the diagnostic test which didn't trigger anything, so I'm swaying towards SPD/PGP. Many thanks. Hope you had a nice birthday!

belated happy birthday, msTulip!

We haven't heard from EITYF since Fri.....maybe the pineapple trick worked?! hope that means she'll soon be back to share some good news :)

Had my NHS obs physio this morning - she was really good.

Gave me some really good tips on how to engage the lower tummy muscles (transverse abdominals) properly and a better way of doing pelvis floor exercises - since these are what are essentially holding the pelvis together now the ligaments have gone all stretchy.

She also gave me open appt from now til 6 weeks after due date - so if I do get worse as I get bigger (very mild at the mo) I can book back in.

:)

thanks for birthday wishes, y'all! V tired and sore today, a mark of a good day yesterday unfort... spent today resting due to soreness and knackeredness, oh well!

youremindme - glad to be of help, hope things get no worse for you!

tried the pregnancy relaxation CD from natal hypnotherapy today and actually found it a bit upsetting - all the stuff about your body doing what it is supposed to be doing and how great your body knows what to do to give you a great pregnancy. Nope, it's doing what it ought to (so far) for bump but otherwise pregnancy experience hasn't been a great one and this really stirred that up. anyone been using this cd long term? Distant hope that regular hypnosis might trick bod into behaving?

Woke up this morning and said to DH 'baby feels different'. Got to the scan, saw the most grumpy sonographer you've ever seen, baby is head down, well down in pelvis, LOA.

Was totally

Then went in to see the most lovely registrar who had also had an OP baby and spd so totally understood my 'issues' and am booked in for induction on July 15th. That is 16 days away!

Can't stop

Also, will be seeing anaethetist on arrival for induction to ensure that I can get epi set up immediately even if I never use it.

Yah great news button! Thats you on countdown! My visit was but rybbish in terms of section, as suspected answer was no. No consideration for induction until at least 39 weeks so was quite down earlier. Have accepted nothing i can do and have to go with the flow - hope baby might decide to arrive early of its own accord! Higher cocodamol again too which not overly happy about but going to be stuck in bed otherwise.
Hooe you celebrated today the end is nigh!

Good news button!

Had a good experience with the osteopath yesterday, apparently the left hand side of my pubic bone is jutting forward as the left hip is overly mobile. She did some work on loosening my back muscles and the muscles in my right hip which have tightened to compensate. Was a bit sore afterwards but also feel less stiff so fingers crossed I'll make some progress.

She also recommended I keep cycling and try pregnancy Yoga so I've made some enquiries.

Meanwhile I'm in the middle of the madness that is moving which is crazy with being pregnant and SPD on top, thought about attempting to construct some flatpack furniture yesterday but gave up very quickly- will be very slow compared to my usual - get unpacked within 48hrs, this is going to take weeks!

Wishing everyone a minimal pain day

oh great button! Lovely to encounter nice (if grumpy) people to be around to do the delivery. Not long to wait now...

witches - sorry to hear you didn't have such a good appointment. Maybe all obs staff should have induced pelvic pain, just so they can actually understand what its like (like button's doctor) rather than the tendency towards dismissing how sucky it is. Hope going with the flow= things working out for the best!

els - hope stiffness eases up soon. personally, I would be at idea of getting on a bike as the joints in my under-carriage are getting sorer, not where I'd like a bike seat to be ta!! But if its comfy for you, brill. Just walked to post office on crutches, its a grand distance of 300m max and I'm suffering now! Esp at how inactive this is making me... Trying to find someone local who does pregnancy pilates.

at flat pack - me too, tho I've not even tried after the grand furniture shifting / tidying fandango last week!

brill news, buttonmoon :)

I went for a lovely swim again this morn and did very little else all day, makes up for the last 2 days' running round like a headless chicken, which left me sore and grumpy.

missustulip I hope you have better luck than me in finding preg pilates class..... none advertised anywhere in my area, neasrest is over an hour's drive away. Asked my physio for suggestions and there is actually someone close by who does it, a trained physio herself, but, guess what, she's off on maternity leave herself at the mo! So I'll stick with the swimming for now.

Hello everyone. I found this thread by accident. I am sitting at my computer because I can't do much else, even though sitting for too long causes pain...I am only 17 weeks pregnant with my second baby and already have SPD. I feel really useless. I had horrendous morning sickness until week fourteen and had a week in which I started planning a big get fit regime for my second trimester, only to be struck by SPD just over a week later! I did not have this until late in my first pregnancy, although it was bad enough for me to start sitting on my gym ball in the office.
I can't drive for long. I can't walk far. I can't get down on the floor to play with my three year old.

My hospital does not have an obstetric physio and my midwife knows of no-one outside the hospital system so I am stuck trying to self-help until I can find an osteopath who has any specialisation (I have tried five by phone, and nothing doing). I'm getting really depressed because if I were still living in London, I would know exactly where to get help, and here, I just can't. I went to a prenatal yoga class but the teacher seemed confused as to why I could not do pigeon pose! The whole class was about opening up the pelvis with lots of squats etc. Weird. And she offered me my money back with a good luck (good riddance written all over her face).
So, after that big moan.... some of you have mentioned cycling. Can I do this, or is it only safe if you have already been cycling a lot before SPD hits? I am doing standing chair pose, downward dog (as bubs is still quite small), supported shoulder stand, and some small twists from kneeling position, but am desperate to get fit, as I am planning another natural birth. My MW has already hinted that if I end up incapacitated with the SPD, I might be ineligible for the birth centre, which sent me into a panic as I cannot imagine birthing without water.
I can walk without pain as long as it is early enough in the day, BUT if I do too much in the morning, by teatime it is impossible for me to stand in the kitchen long enough to prepare dinner, and my DP cannot cook for love nor money.
I am wearing the tubigrip I still have from my last pregnancy but worry that it seems quite tight around the baby. Plus it is fugly, and I feel frumpy enough.
Any self-help suggestions, beyond what I am doing? And yes, I need to spend less time at the computer, I know.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I am doing pelvic floor exercises like a mad thing - timing them by the hour. That is how desperate I am.

kiteflying would a perch-y stool thing help in the kitchen?

I would ask friends to recommend a good physio, osteo or chiro in your area - then ring them up and talk about your problems ie you have SPD/PGP; you understand that is caused by an inbalance or assymetry (be it sacroiliac joint mobility, muscle tightness) - and as such is treatable by hands on manual therapy. ref www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk

I went to a normal chiro who was recommended by a friend (who had a non pregnancy back problem). I talked about what was up, and that I didn't want any massive crackings while pregnant thank you very much.

I have a slight leg length discrepancy (which adds to the whole inbalance thing) - we decided not to use shoe inserts (yet anyway) cos my body has obviously adapted to this over the years. We also found one sacroiliac joint tighter than the other - which he was able to gently mobilize with really impressive results.

I went to NHS physio when it came through - she was good at explaining to me how to do pelvic floor exercises in a more effective way - she also helped me better exercise my transverse abdominals (ie correctly engage them) - but didn't touch me (though did assess me through watching me do certain moves).

Wow this is epic post - she also gave me these links

www.holditsister.com
about tummy muscles

www.emma-jane.com]]
about the belts she recommends

Hello, I had a baby boy on 29th June! You will be pleased to hear SPD was fine during delivery and, apart from usual aches, pains and stiffness following pushing a (9lb 11oz) baby out, I think I am in the clear! Lower back area is quite stiff and I am a bit limpy but as much to do with being sat down lots and other factors. So, hopefully this will bring you some hope. I do hope you are all surviving ok and staying positive, must admit I haven't read the last page or two! Good luck everyone x

Aw lovely news congrats! And uv made me feel better as i think my baby might be a big one too and u managed to deliver 9,11 well done you! I currently have some frozen carrots ( no ice) on my lady area as its rather tender today - oh the glamour!

Aw lovely news congrats! And uv made me feel better as i think my baby might be a big one too and u managed to deliver 9,11 well done you! I currently have some frozen carrots ( no ice) on my lady area as its rather tender today - oh the glamour!

Aw lovely news congrats! And uv made me feel better as i think my baby might be a big one too and u managed to deliver 9,11 well done you! I currently have some frozen carrots ( no ice) on my lady area as its rather tender today - oh the glamour!

Congrats to else..
And thanks to Woodifer for your helpful suggestions. I think you are right it is probably worth getting past reception and talking to one of the osteopaths about exactly what I need. I only saw a hospital physio last time, who did not manipulate, so not sure whether I can actually guide someone who does not know more than me. But I will certainly use what you have given me in terms of wording them up on the condition.
The pelvic floor exercises I am doing are ones I learnt from Janet Balaskas so hopefully not too much room for improvement on them.
Best of luck everyone that is near to giving birth...

Hurrah - congrats elseill! Hope you and your new son are both doing well. Thanks for sharing your experience of labour n birth with SPD, v v glad for you that it did not cause you any difficulties or extra pain and a selfish thanks from me, in that I found that reassuring! First baby, so nervous enough about the whole birthing experince without this damnable problem!

kite sorry to hear that services in your area are so pants! Even tho its not an obstetric physio, it may be worth persisting and nagging them to fit you with crutches and/or a support belt (esp if tubigrip support helping?) as you said you can't really walk. In that case, yep, crutches are in order!

As wood says, physios are good for helpful exercises and advice on practicalities. Some will do manipulation, but so will a good chiro and manipulation is one of those things that helps some people everytime, some people sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. Frustrating innt!

If you have time, look back through this thread for people's different 'this helped / not' which I've found as big a help as the chance to come on here and whinge about how pants I've felt and get support - and give support the odd time . It definitely helps not to feel alone when you have SPD / PGD and feel crappy.

Hi all. Just wanted to say bye and thanks for all the advice and support. Found out on Friday I've had a missed miscarriage, just an empty sac in there, so SPD symptoms are fading fast now. We are pretty sad, and waiting for physical side to resolve, but feeling OK and hopeful that we can start trying again soon, so maybe I'll be back at some point. Hope you are all doing OK and have beautiful, healthy, joyous babies. :)

Oh sorry Philbee!

Will be thinking about you Philbee x

Hello can i join please?

I'm 18 weeks pg and have stated with SPD. This is my second child and i had spd with the first as well.

I forgot how much it hurts

i have had two tablets but it hasn't even touched the pain

Philbee, i'm sorry for your loss.

Philbee I'm sorry for your loss. I had one in between #1&2. It was not great, but we were able to be similarly pragmatic. Which is not to say that it doesn't hurt a lot mentally. And not to say that it's the only right way to deal with loss.

FWIW, next time, follow the advice on the pelvic partnership website from day one - it seemed to help me stave it off longer.

Hugs and

philbee - so sorry to hear about the miscarriage , hugs to you and your partner and take care of yourself. I hope you don't end up on the SPD thread again for the all very best reasons, not that you wouldn't be welcome, of course, just hope the hormones treat you better next time!

welcome to lighthouseblues, hope the tablets help soon...