SPD and sitting at a desk?

[ViolaCrayola]

My work involves a lot of sitting. I have bad SPD (24 weeks) and am finding that I am getting in a lot of pain after only about 30 mins of sitting. I keep taking little breaks, doing my exercises etc but it just gets worse. I think my posture is good and the chair is comfy. I am taking paracetamol but it's not helping :(

Anyone else had SPD and had to sit a lot? Any experiences or tips gratefully received :)

I find it helpful to keep my knees together when sitting and to take some of the weight onto my arms when standing up from seated. I also have one of those microwavable wheat pack thingies as some gentle warmth can help on my hip area. Also, I started using a pregnancy pillow in bed which has helped ease the pain during the days.
Someone suggested that sitting on a gym ball at work would help too!

I had to finish work at 31 weeks because of this, sitting at my desk for 8 hours a day was killing me, Monday's and Tuesday's were fine, come Friday I could barely even shuffle. My pain improved by 50% once I'd finished, the physio gave me some good advice as well. Try get referred to one,

You're not going to like my advice. Give up work as soon as you can afford. This is the major difference between my PG1 (agony) and PG2 (bearable)- the amount of time spent at a desk. Work from home if you can (laptop in bed), use holiday to go PT, work shorter days etc. Even with the most ergonomic chair in the world, always sitting with two feet planted firmly on the floor, monitor adjusted high so you don't lean forward into it, regular rest breaks... What can I say? The best possible thing is simply to reduce the amount of time sat at a desk. In PG2 I got HR to refer me to occ health who gave me a letter setting out reasonable adjudtments my manager had to take and one was to let me work from bed home as much as the job allowed. Then I started mat leave at 33 weeks.
You have my sympathies- it's rubbish.

You really have my sympathies! I agree with the above though, you should think about giving up work as soon as you can IMHO. I would be in agony sitting at a desk for that long, it will do you nor your SPD any favors to sit in the same position putting pressure on your pelvis for extended amounts of time.

Have you got a H&S person at work? Have you had your chair and screen height checked? Being comfy isn't necessarily the me as being sufficiently supporting.

As you say you do you exercises, I take it you are already under the care of a physio. You need to explain at you next appointment how things are and see if they have specific recommendations for you, including adapted office furniture, or if you need to be signed off work.

I was signed off work by gp at 28wks because of this. Had 4 weeks off then went back for a couple of weeks, but was too much and I was again signed off until baby came. For me it was financially better to be signed off due to paid sick leave.

Do you have a decent support belt and crutches?

Do look after yourself. My baby is nearly 18wks old and I'm still having probs.

I was signed off yesterday (for 10 days initially) at 27 weeks due to very sore pelvis (SPD) from sitting in a chair at work! It just feels so much better to have spent yesterday looking after myself and baby and not ending the day in pain in bed at 6.30pm!

Have you tried an exercise ball for short periods? Keeps your bones moving moving and creates natural good posture.

I am 15wks with DC2 and pain kicked in for me this time at 9wks

Not messnig aroundt his time, got treatment from 12wks and Im now working on a ball, (at home today so easier to try out)

will see how it goes!

Thanks so much for the replies - it's good to know I'm not alone although sorry to hear others have suffered through this too.

I am trying to work at home (from bed) as much as poss but it's not possible all the time. I'm hoping to keep a good enough balance not to have to stop for a while yet - but OTOH am worried about overdoing it and damaging myself. I am taking each day as it comes but just seem to be getting worse and worse.

I had bad SPD with DC1 and have had an early referral to physio this time which has been good but not a 'cure' of course. After a day sitting at my desk I am in so much pain, and just worry that one day will come - as it did with DC1 - where I can't really walk at all :( I took early maternity leave with DC1 and although it didn't help the SPD much overall in terms of mobility I was in a lot less pain and recovered quickly after birth.

I have a support belt but am not on crutches yet - did any of you find that crutches made a big difference?

There isn't a health and safety person I don't think, but I'll look into it. I'm going to go and find my exercise ball too if I can get off the sofa

Crutches made a huge difference to me in my last pregnancy, I wouldn't have been able to leave the house without them I'm 11 weeks now and expecting to be needing them again shortly.
Hope you find something that helps.

This pregnancy isn't as bad SPd wise (so far! Touch wood) now i am part tome. but with first pregnancy working full time I ended up putting my laptop on a box on my desk and working standing up for a time.

i was told that sitting on a gym ball does not help at all because it seperates the pelvis when you sit on it and makes the spd worse