SPD at 15wks - how much trouble am I in?

[Yorky]

Expecting DC4 next May and have noticed the occasional pelvic bone ache while doing school run (half mile each way, twice daily, plus an extra lunch time pick up from nursery 3 times a week, no car)

Haven't had a major problem with SPD previously although towards the end with DC3 I was sore and no fun to be around (but he was 11 days late ) and DH ended up going to DC2 if she woke in the night as he could physically get out of bed faster than I could (so not all bad then!)

But as I've been noticing it already I'm worried that it could get worse than I've known before and really don't know if I could cope with 3DC and the school run (I don't have a car during the day) with crutches etc

Any advice or experience welcome, thank you

Hi Yorky, with DD I was bad for a while at about 18wks. I chk'd with the physio at the hospital and was offered a belt, which was pretty useless. I did like the bump band thingy which made me feel a bit more secure and started pregnancy yoga not long after which was great. It eased up (think mine was just a stage) and I was fine until about 36wks, DD was on my sciatic nerve I think so I had trouble walking.
At this stage I think it's still all stretching and accommodating so would be hopeful that it'll pass.

I have had mine from 15 weeks, I am 23 weeks tomorrow. I have had two physio appts. but not much can be done.
I have stabilised and haven't got worse recently but I am signed off for the rest of my pregnancy as my job is active and I really can't walk far or do that much.
SPD generally is unlikely to improve although may stay the same. Go to your GP and get a referral for physio as they may be able to do more for you than they have me.

I had it from 15weeks with DS2, but 28 weeks with DS1.

Get the belt, a referral from physio, and a bump band- it helps to carry some of the weight. Keep your knee together and try to walk slowly and evenly.

Don't overdo it, worse thing you can do is exercise.

Oh forgot to say- make sure the band goes around your hips- not directly under the bump. it's not to take the weight but to strap your joints close to prevent movement. Wear it as low as hipster jeans.

Ow just the thought of SPD and walking makes me wince. Not sure where you are but can thoroughly recommend trying a pregnancy trained osteopath. I was a non believer but already crying in pain when I turned over in bed at night by 15 weeks and they had me walking (almost) pain free again through the rest of the pregnancy. Physio was pretty useless tbh in comparison. Congrats and good luck!

I had bad SPD from about 15 weeks on DD, with all the classic problems - I couldn't move my legs apart, I couldn't lift one leg at a time off the floor, and I couldn't walk without hideous pain. Around 24 weeks it eased a lot and after that was only bad if I really overdid things. I don't know if it was coincidence, but it eased around the same time that I realised I was hunching over to try and minimise my bump (years of being fat had me programmed to do it!), so I started leaning back and sticking the bump out, and the pain went.

This time I haven't been as bad at all; I'm sticking my belly out proudly and totally ignoring the advice of my obstetrician to get more exercise!

I got SPD this pregnancy at 10 weeks and thought I was in for a horror.

I threw money at the problem and went to a physio.

The advice I got there goes against what the NHS dish out.

Keeping your legs together is bad. Spread your knees. Sit like Waynetta Slob. Walk tall, hold your tummy in. Do not carry your children up and down the stairs - time to teach them if they're still little. Do not engage your inner thigh muscles. Do not carry a bag on one shoulder. Carry shopping in both hands.

I've had very few problems since seeing my physio and she has told me I can ski and ride my horse.

(I'm now 26 weeks btw.)

Yorky it depends a bit on what is causing it for you - and how your body reacts.

Stopping doing stuff totally is almost as bad as overdoing it in some ways. Its about working out for you what you can and can't do - my SPD/PGP came on at 14 weeks. I was lucky enough to afford a chiropractor/ bit of private physio for hands on treatment. Got referred to NHS physio - she gave me some advice on pelvic floor exercises (good idea anyway if pregnant), and sucking in your tummy exercises/ pelvic tilts.

If anything my SPD has got better through this pregnancy - partly I think through my body adapting to and getting stronger in having a bump, partly through me paying attention to what I can and can't do.

So i can't put socks/pants on standing up, I have to either sit down or rest my foot on something. If i want to put a sock on i can bring my foot towards me by letting the knee drop out to the side (though this is an awkward angle for sock putting on at first). I can walk ok - but not too far. I have to sleep exactly on one side or the other with pillows between my knees, i have to turn over in a very slow and careful manner which i managed to work out (when it was worse i had to sit up with my legs out of bed to roll back into bed on the other side).

I can't cross one knee over the other (I can actually squat as long as weight is evenly distributed between both legs), can absolutely not lunge. Have some pregnancy yoga DVD which recommends some crazy leg crossing pose as good for SPD - NOT FOR ME!!

I never got a belt or crutches, cycling enabled me to work my legs and bum muscles in a way which didn't have any impact/ whilst pelvis is supported - but i was a regular cyclist before.

Sometimes I would do something to make it flare up - i.e. run a few steps when late for the train (absolutely can't run), slip on some mud, take an overly large step - and I would think oh no that's it I've buggered it, but it would generally calm down afterwards. Treat yourself as an cautious experiment and keep doing what you can with out aggravating it too much. Good luck!

I had it and saw a chiropracter and its gone! I was considering crutches too so def reccomed onexx

SO it could be a 'phase' or it could be the start of a slippery slope. Will definitely mention it to MW when I see her next week - can she do the physio referral or do I need to see GP for that?

Quite like the idea of treating myself as an experiment! already know I have to take shorter strides as stretching my pace out to keep up with DS was when I first noticed it. Will also have to try and train DD (3) to walk to 'heel' as the buggy board makes the buggy so much harder to push

never put one leg out of the car/bed and stand to get up, always both together, swivel, then get out, so weight evenly distributed.

she showed me how to get up out of a chair too shift bum to very edge, then stand up firmly with both feet on floor.

It all helps.