SPD...does it get worse?

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for the last couple of weeks I've had this shooting pain up my pubic bone when sitting down/standing up/walking...any kind of movements in general plus really painful hips after sitting for a couple of hours at work.

I realise this is likely to be SPD although haven't yet had a chance to see my GP about it.

I'm wondering if I carry on without getting any advice I'll make it worse...or does it get worse anyway?

It can get worse, but also can stay the same or even go away. I'd say the heavier you get, the more pressure in that area the more pain you might get.

This is my second preg with SPD and it is actually much better than last time. Thanks I think to a better mattress.

Just be careful how you move, keep your knees together all the time. Your midwife can order you a pelvic belt which really helps with the pain. Have heard some women refer to physio therapy as a real help too although I've not tried it myself.

I never got any help with my SPD last time but have heard early advice from a physio can really help. My SPD was awful at 6-7 months and got a bit better towards the end, weirdly especially when dd's head engaged at 36 weeks!

This time I clearly have the beginnings of it and intend to get some useful help soon. I'm 18 weeks so it's not really bad yet but I can feel the potential for it to get as bad, if not worse than last time.

I think tbh that generally it gets worse, unless you do as much as possible to prevent the symptoms early on.

I'm 35 weeks and it seems to have settled down but does come and go. I saw a physio who was lovely. Good advice as mentioned above is to keep your knees together! I find getting dressed to be one of the most painful things. I now keep my feet as close to the floor as possible rather than lifting one leg to put pants and socks on etc. getting a balance between rest and activity also seems to help. Physio said it would get worse as I got bigger but it seems to have all but gone away. Now I have pain in my neck and shoulders! Also somewhere isn't it! Good luck and take it easy whenever you can!

I'm afraid I'm the opposite to these ladies. My SPD/PGP got much worse the farther along I got. I went to physio and she told me there was nothing she could do for me, but I could order a maternity belt (which costs £30!). I didn't order the belt.

The physio told me to come back if it got worse, but I didn't bother as she said the next step would be crutches or a wheelchair. I am lucky enough to have the luxury just to stay home and not worry about having to go out.

I do think you should go to the GP and be refered to the physio as it is very helpful for some women and the pain is in different places and doing different things may be painful to you, but not others. For example, I still do not find it painful to open my legs, but other women find it unbearable. So the advice the physio can give you will be specific to your case.

Good luck!

I had the shooting pain you describe every few minutes for about 2 weeks from 15 - 17 weeks- absolute agony. I'm now 24 weeks and I haven't had it since, apart from very mildly, very occasionally and usually after yoga. I guess everyone's different, but it won't necessarily get worse or even last throughout your pregnancy.

I was going to say I actually found keeping my knees together painful. The most comfortable position was with my feet hip width apart, so in bed I had either 2 normal pillows or one thick maternity pillow between my legs. Even sitting here now at 18 weeks pg, I can't cross my legs or put my knees up together like I would usually.

I also found that regular short walks helped keep things under control a bit more. And a regular sit down during longer walks. Although when it was at its worst I cold barely walk anywhere - thank god I have a car!

I have sdp and recently saw a physio, she gave me a whole bunch of stomach and pelvic floor exercises to do to help strengthen everything. Already I feel better. She also showed me ways of holding myself to make stairs, driving etc less painful. I'd say it's def worth going to physio

In my second pregnancy I was struck down at 10 weeks. Saw an excellent Physio whose advice differs from UK (legs apart and activity). It pretty much went away. :)

Throw money at the problem if you have to.

I had it with my second pregnancy and it was bloody awful and got worse and I ended up on crutches. Until the baby's head engaged and it just about disappeared though!

It has returned since though.

I think if it's going to get worse it'll get worse, your not going to want to do anything to intentionally give yourself pain. I have it, I'm 37 wks, defiantly see your physio you can get referred by your midwife. A physio should give you one of those support tubi grip things to go over your bump from your pelvis to just under your bust.
Tips: move slowly (walking & getting up, rolling over in bed)
No hovering Or heavy lifting
Put a carrier bag on your car seat, so it's easier to swivel to get in & out.
Keep your legs together from the knees up, don't cross your legs.
Sit down whilst getting dressed and keep your feet close to floor whilst

getting dressed.
Accept crutches if your offered them, they really help to take the weight

of your bump off your pelvis.
Ask for help when you can.

You can get your midwife to refer you for physio, just give her a call. No need to see the doc or even make a midwife appt.

I saw the physio early on and she realigned my pelvis, gave me some exercises and a belt. It hasn't got any worse in the last 10 weeks but from what I understand that's just luck, for some people it does.

I suffered terribly from 16 weeks also have Hypermobility so not sure how much was made worse by that. Got signed off work two weeks ago and feel a lot better. When I was working I was sat at a desk all day and couldn't walk literally when I got home and spent all night trying to find a pain free position - feel great now and a bit of a fraud!!

Apologies for 'abandoning' this thread...I've had no laptop for the last week!! Thanks all for the great advice and tips...all very much appreciated