SPD...any way to pre-empt it in early pregnancy?

[PeppaTwig]

Sorry, I know there is loads on SPD here.... I have just found out that I am pregnant with DC2 and I had pretty bad SPD with DS last time round. I understand its common for the symptoms to arrive earlier in subsequent pregnancies so wondered if there was anything I could do to attemot to delay it or help it before it kicks in. (pretty sure I've already had some twinges and I'm only 4 weeks!)

Dreading the next 36 weeks!!!

Did you have physio the first time around? If so, start doing the exercises you were given now and try and strengthen your core muscles. Also, keep you knees together as much as possible.

It is not inevitable that it will recur though. I had severe SPD with DS and it took a good two years to recover from so I was expecting it to be back with a vengeance. So far (37wks) it has not come back but I have been very careful not to do anything that could trigger it and taken it quite easy.

You might be lucky you know. I had terrible SPD in my first two pregnancies, starting at about 20 weeks and 13 weeks, but this time am 32 weeks and not a twinge. I think, purely anecdotally, what has helped this time is not putting on so much weight (was a good 4-5 stone up by the end of both previous pregnancies, so far an 18lb gain) and also not having a desk job. I really think sitting down for 8+ hours a day is what did me in. I'm now a sahm and walk miles every day. I notice stiffness and pain if we stay in for a few days, especially over Christmas I thought the SPD was starting, but a few days back in routine reversed the problem.
Assuming you DO have problems, my advice would be to get a physio referral as soon as possible. I was so desperate not to be a nuissance to my midwife when I had it before that by the stage it got truly unbearable the wait for a physio would have meant it would be postnatally anyway so I never bothered.