good SPD stories please!

[politico]

Hello all - can anyone help? I'm 22 weeks pregnant with my first DC and over the past 3 weeks have developed SPD - I've had a couple of sessions of physio which make things sore and tender for a few days, then there is slight respite, then it seems to get worse on the other side. Pelvis is very loose apparently. The pain is mostly in my lower back and bum, but I have started to get pain in my groin and the lower part of my bump in the last day. Too sore and miserable to sleep :(

Does anyone have any nice anecdotes about this going away around, say, 23 weeks, and not necessarily ending up on crutches? or maybe it'd be best to just tell it to me straight... Thanks!

I got mine this time at 10 weeks and I'm now 32 and most days I'm mostly pain-free(ish). Well, not debilitating iykwim! ;)

I saw a Physio straight away and her ambition was to get me back on my horse, however this hasn't happened partially because of my nerves and partially because riding properly engages your inner thigh muscles which in turn tightens the ligaments which cause the pain of SPD. Sitting in the saddle is pure bliss though, the perfect position! ;)

Ok, on a practical note, my saviours are:

1. sleep in the recovery position on a small pile of pillows, pelvis wakes up as fresh as a daisy!
2. taught my toddler to climb down the stairs on his own. Carrying things ill and down stairs is lethal, I get my husband to carry the washing basket up.
3. non-slip mat in the shower/bath, yes, it's old lady style but gives piece of mind.
4. no basket in supermarket, trolley only!
5. cross body handbag, no balancing a weight on one side, same goes for shopping. In to car boot/husband's hands ASAP!
6. try and walk every day, good strides if you can, swing your arms, walk tall
7. this too shall pass

:)

I was up a ladder this week wallpapering a room, if you'd told be a few months ago it would've been possible I'd have laughed.

Clamping legs together does not help.

Oh thank you! Really appreciate you taking the time to reply, that gives me hope. And cheers for your tips, the only thing I've been told by MW / physio is put a pillow between my legs at night, which helps a bit, and tighten my pelvic floor muscles when I'm standing up. Looks like a new handbag is on the cards. DP has been good about carrying stuff, I'll maybe feel a bit less guilty about that now.

This too shall pass is what I need to focus on, first baby and we have been so excited, had our scan and all is well and we couldn't be more pleased, and I feel like all I've done over the past few weeks is feel rotten.

To me wearing s supportive elastic band under my bump has helped a lot. I was sceptical when MW suggested it but was so desperate that I gave it a go. Also I bought a proper pregnancy pillow (dream genee or something?) and managed to sleep better and better sleep is also helping my SPD.
I do agree to avoid all the things mentioned above. Lifting my left leg is the worst for me!
Good luck!

I'm 40+2 now and been on crutches since around 23 wks I'm afraid! Good news is that my pelvis has been much more stable since baby engaged, it really helps.

Lots of good advice above, but really don't push yourself physically. You will pay for it! My consultant recommended reflexology, but I stuck with my chiro. My physio was rubbish! Serola belts are expensive but amazing.

Wonder if Santa will bring me handbag / pillow / band / serola belt etc! Thanks very much everyone for the advice, it's so helpful and I really appreciate it, I've a few friends who have had babies but no one has experienced this. Gosh, harassedandherbug, I'm so sorry to hear about how you've been, at least things have improved since the baby engaged and it's almost over!

Word of warning - make sure you tell everyone involved during labour that you have SPD. I didn't - had had SPD but not to the point of needing crutches, didn't mention it during labour and wound up giving birth sitting with legs up on MWs' hips, which I later discovered to be the worst possible position for someone with SPD. It took the best part of 8 or 10 weeks to go away post-birth and kept twinging at odd moments thereafter, and I'm sure the delivery aggravated it.

It's come back much earlier this time - started feeling it at 10 weeks, but am now 26 weeks and it's present but not too bad. Was told to always sit like a lady - legs together at all times, when getting out of bed/car/rolling over, and I think it helps.

I am going to write this on my pregnancy /NHS booklet thing now, thanks for the tip TooImmatureTurtleDoves.

Eyewatering stuff everyone, hope you all feel better soon! x

I got SPD at a similar point with my first pregnancy, make sure you don't sit down all day as it's the worst thing you can do.

Also a plastic bag on your car seat will help you swivel in and out.

Honestly, it wasn't that bad. I just made sure I rested up and could still walk by the end, just not very far. The pelvic partnership are great for information about SPD and for recomendations about private physios as well.

If it gives you any hope, I could do a cartwheel six months post birth pain free and I didn't look like a loony (well much).

Just wanted to let you know that mine got better as soon as I started following all of the advice given above, it didnt go completely but it did get better. I was also told I could take paracetomol which I did for about a week and it helped a lot. Remember that paracetomol is an antiinflamatory and is more effective you take the pills consecutively without any gaps (dont take more than the stated dose though)

My SPD disappeared 100% about a week after the birth. Hope yours gets better soon.

Second the plastic bag on a car seat - really helps the swivel to get out, so you don't have to open your legs hardly at all.

Sleep in a nest of pillows (dream genii was fab) - I found that having my pelvis at a sort of 45deg angle to the bed was most comfortable. Neither flat on back - which I couldn't have done anyway - or right on my side.

One of those grabber things to get stuff off the floor etc

Try one of the support belts when really bad. Helped me a bit when it was v painful.

Get a cleaner & a cook in my dreams

Generally speaking it goes almost as soon as you've given birth.