SPD - can it go away?

[Jill72]

I am 33 weeks and over last few days had really dreadful pelvic / bone ache - suspect SPD after reading threads on here. If you develop it can it 'hover' for a whole and then go / get better??? Or are you stuck with it to the end??

During my last pg I managed to keep it pretty much under control with LOTS of pelvic floor exercises.

I had SPD from about 20 weeks. It got really bad at about 32+ weeks, but I got some relief when DSs head engaged at 39 weeks. But it didn't go away completely.

HTH

Go to GP, get physio referral/support belt, insist a fast track referral or you'll have had the baby by the time it comes through. I had a large tubigrip bandage that helped. Paracetalmol and warm baths if you can get in/out will help. If it gets really bad (not getting out of bed bad) you can be prescribed painkillers. I had dihydrocodiene from 34ish weeks and took only when really bad, rather than 1 4x a day. And take it easy, its also a sign of your body telling you to slow down.

Good luck!

I developed SPD in my last pregnancy. Found physio and support belt no help for me.
Tried the Osteopath and had a relief of around 80 - 90%. The positions the Osteo put me in were not very elegant. But they worked. This was despite being told by the Midwife and Physio that nothing else could be done for me.

It probably won't go away, but it can be managed in many cases, with, as discrete said, lots of pelvic floor exercises, plus pelvic tilts and other stuff which a physio specialising in women's health should be able to show you (along with advice on how to go up and down stairs etc to avoid making it worse). You can ask for referral to the physio through your midwife (I did), and you should then also be given postnatal physio to help put everything back together.
Also talk to your midwife about best positions to give birth in, to minimise further damage. You need positions that allow your pelvis to open in all directions, as far as I remember, so lying on back is bad, upright is good.
One thing though. Although the damage doesn't go away magically, the pain mostly does once the baby's been born. Which is such a relief. Doesn't mean you should stop with the physio though.

Sorry to hear you are suffering, Ive had it in my 2nd & 3rd pregnancies the 2nd time it got progressivley worse and I had to use crutches on bad days. Started earlier in my 3rd ( 9 weeks!) but it remained managable throughtout and I didn't have to use crutches the last time.

Wether that was because I knew how to avoid aggrevating it I couldn't say, there is excellent advice on The Pelvic Partnership website, they have a helpline as well.

I am not 8 weeks pregnant with number 4 and already feeling that dull pubic bone ache! Mine actually seperates that much that it makes an audible and sickening cracking noise, quite embarrasing to explan when it happens when I am out and about!

Take care, put a plastic bag on your car seat if you drive it helps getting in and out (legs together) easier, wear silk PJ's helps changing positions in bed easier, get the midwife to refer you to a phisio,and remember it wont last forever! x

If it is SPD, by the way, prepare yourself for a very quick second stage labour! Mine was 5 mins with DD...

Seen seeing my cranial oestopath it has got better.

I can now walk normally.

Still have bad days though.

The biggest tip is to rest rest rest. Not bed rest, but walking shorter distances, avoid carrying heavy things, pushing heavy trollies, using stairs if lifts are available, standing on one leg eg to put pants on, taking big strides. Just rest your poor pelvis and you should see an improvement hopefully. Osteos, physio, belts etc all useful too if course. Get the wheels in motion as it can take an age to get referred.

There are some exercises in the NHS pregnancy book which I assume we all get given in UK? page 30 something, i was looking for similar advice earlier. It's all about the pelvis and pelvic floor. I find if i pull my pelvic floor muscles in the pain goes away.

i got mine around that time in my last pregnancy and was simply in pain until after birth. my physio referral didn't come through until after i'd already given birth. this time it all came back at 14 weeks but i've been able to keep it under bearable control with regular visits to an osteopath and just being generally careful. i'm still waiting on the physio referral i asked for 10 weeks ago.

I have been in agony for the last few days and had suspected SPD. Got that horrible clicking sound too. Although I am not the OP, Thank you ladies for all your insight and advice. OP hope you start feeling better soon x

there is a support thread, so come join us on the birth ball! Can't promise to relieve SPD / PGD but it is v v good to access the support and advice there, it had helped me a lot.

discrete - lucky you, have been doing pelvic floor exercises like mad, to no avail

Thanks to all for help and advice! Really fed up that this is occurring as everything has gone so well - was hoping for a water birth - will this be in or out ???

Thanks to all for help and advice! Really fed up that this is occurring as everything has gone so well - was hoping for a water birth - will this be in or out ???

Mine really improved with acupuncture first time around. Hoping for the same this time around!

I had it from about 26 weeks, got worse until about 36 weeks when DD's head engaged, and it was like a switch had been flicked and it suddenly got lots better (like overnight). Didn't go away completely but was much more manageable.

Agree with PF exercises though, and I got a band which also really helped. A proper one though from the hospital, the 'bump support' bands are not meant for SPD as they are much too high. I was surprised how low the physio at hospital told me to wear it.

I had a water birth with DD, although my SPD did not completely incapacitate me (it did stop me walking more than about 20m at a time though). Talk to your MW about options.

D

Mine comes and goes depending on how good I'm being at doing my exercises (both PF and bouncing on a gym ball as recommended by the obstetric physio) and lying properly when I sleep. It's never gone entirely but today I woke up and didn't feel like my legs were falling off I'm currently sleeping on a doubled up duvet with a pillow between my knees and one behind my back. Has helped no end!

I was actually recommended swimming and aqua natal as they support the bump and body so can't see why a water birth would automatically be out.

I had water births. Spd didn't affect that at all.

I think I'm starting to suffer with it now too - am 34 wks. Really achy left hip and buttock, lower back pain and the very tops of the inside of my thighs too. Had a few rubbish nights of sleep.
I put an extra duvet on my bed to sleep on, aswell as my mattress topper, have been more vigilant about my pelvic floor muscles and been generally careful. I've now had 2 days of improvement - much better sleep, less aching.
Am hoping that this is as bad as it gets - I've got an osteopaths number at the ready in case it kicks in more!
Feel old and knackered!!!!!!

Started to get SPD at 8wks (due to an already bad back and hips), and as I was seeing a physio anyway, got to see a 'lady specialist' straight away. Was given all the advice that wompoo has detailed, plus the folded duvet trick in bed, and support cushions. Managed quite happily until 26wks, when it started to get really bad again; finally succumbed to seeing the physio again at 28wks and got a maternity belt. This has helped no end, and hopefully I wont end up on crutches. At 8wks the physio said that it quite often gets bad during periods of hormone surges, and I did note that at 26wks was feeling more emotional than before, so there might have been a link (?). I hope you're feeling better soon :)

Trying to rest up and seeing midwife in couple of days time. Told work I would be starting maternity at end of next week - teach - I am hobbling about on our training week this week. Novelty of it has worn off and just want to get on with birth now!!

Iv seen both the doctor and the MW in the last few days and had it confirmed as Pelvis girdle Pain. The doc gave me cocodamol which the mw wasnt happy with as it makes baby drowsy. Got Maternity Physio booked for Tuesday next week. Phew! Im 22 weeks.

It doesn't really go away til after delivery but maybe the baby is trying to tell you not to rush around and do more prenatal bonding. There is much inner wisdom to be gained from not rushing around

ClarityMa - lol! perhaps you are right! I went into town yesterday and realised that I just can't do it! Hobbling round like an old woman and was knackered when I got home!! Time to slow down and chill out! gONNA DO ONE MORE WEEK AT SCHOOL AND THEN FINISH - FEET UP!!!

Brings back memories to me....know the scene well. Try some birthlight style pregnancy yoga....it was the main thing that support mobility for me. An sitting on a birthing ball at home instead of the low sofa was helpful