SPD

[HandbagCrab]

Morning :) I've been having pain in my hips and back and the consultant I saw this week thinks I might have SPD. I've been referred to physio so awaiting that appointment.

Is there anything I should/ shouldn't be doing in the meantime? I've read the NHS advice but it's a bit vague. I'm currently off work with a 4 year old so have lots of time to rest but the pain and the inability to move properly seems to come and go of its own accord.

I think early sweeps vary depending on the NHS trust. The Midwife suggested it and referred me to the consultant, who gave the green light. I also had hypermeisis so this also contributed. I had the steroid injection for the lungs at 30 weeks due to suspected pre term labour. The consultant and midwifes took pity on me and baby was growing well so on balance they gave it a go. The sweeps worked after 6 days and I cried in labour because I knew the spd would go. Baby moved when I was in labour and the pressure changed, it was amazing. Labour pain is easier than spd!
Ive heard of horror stories where spd continues for some women, but it mostly improves after birth. If you breastfeed it can prolong it but for me it is fine.

If you breastfeed it can prolong it but for me it is fine.

There's absolutely no evidence whatsoever that breastfeeding prolongs SPD.

I will say the pain in my pubic bone during my last birth was awful, the worst pain I have ever had in my life. I felt like the bone was just going to shatter under the pressure. sorry for scaring people I didn't have that with DC2 when I had spd too and DC1 I was fine. But I am worried it'll happen again this time.

I tried keeping my knees together last night (20 weeks too late) and sleeping with a pillow between my legs last night and I do feel a bit better today so thanks for the advice.

My anaesthetic didn't work for my emcs last time so I felt everything - when they were making space to pull ds out it was like being jointed like a chicken so I understand fresh. Could you ask for a referral for an anaesthetist to talk through your pain relief options? I'm having one as I'm terrified of a repeat performance of last time.

I won't consider an epidural or anything as I want to be out same day. I'll just have to grit my teeth I suppose!

I've been suffering from mild spd since i was about 13 weeks. I'm now 19 weeks and a walk around the supermarket is sometimes too much for the pain.

Afresh when I had DS2 there was no time for pain relief. It's quite common to have rapid deliveries with SPD. It's, also, not a good idea to have an epidural if you're having a vaginal delivery as you need to know how far you can safely open your legs.

I wanted a water birth, but DS2 was having none of that, so ended up giving birth on my side. My waters went and he came out in the same gush!

thefairy I gave birth to DC3 on my side too, she was also my quickest out of the three in five hours from first twinge to being out. I just hope this one isn't too much faster

Everything Boris said

Also sit on a gym ball, do many pelvic floor exercises, find a maternity physio who can make sure you're aligned properly and fit a support belt

I found acupuncture helped with the pain relief too

I had spd last pregnancy. Twinges from 11 weeks, crutches from 17 weeks. By that stage every step felt like my pelvis would shatter. I found my private chiropractor when my baby was six months. Wish I'd found him sooner. NHS wasn't great. I did some bending exercises, arching my back etc, a belt and got hydrotherapy but they kept cancelling it. If you can then pay for a chiropractor. It's worth every penny. Also it didn't make labour easier. A midwife didn't read my notes and pulled my leg. So tell everyone in the delivery room! Ended up with a c section, which hurt less than the spd! I feel your pain.

Any fellow PGP sufferers on leave from work? Any top tips to make the days go more quickly?

Keep legs together when getting in or out of car (e.g. sit first then swing legs around). Don't get up quickly as you're more likely to separate legs further than if you move slowly, walk slowly.

Have had spd during and post pregnancy (breastfeeding so hormone relaxin still doing it's job too well!). These are my tips:

1. Do core and pelvic strengthening exercises given to you by physio. Go to pilates and tell them your problem.

2 Pain is caused by hips moving about, back of pelvis and front of pelvis causing strain so limit the movements of these areas.

1. Avoid stairs but if you have to go up, go one foot at a time. Looks weird but massively helps. Go up on the good leg, down on the bad leg.
2. Avoid long distance walking. Walk with smaller steps. Rest as soon as pain comes in.
3. Get in car backwards, bum on seat first then swing legs in. Get out by swinging legs out first (keep legs together).
4. Don't suddenly turn/stick out a leg
5. Don't move things with your feet. This is a big one if you feel a lot of pain next day you can often think back and remember 'oh, I pushed the buggy with my foot' etc.
6. Sleep on side with preg pillow between legs, Also, a cushion behind the small of your back.

I've really struggled psychologically as walking is my main form of exercise and a hobby of mine. But, as I've weaned it suddenly improves...it's surprising how quickly it resolves once the relaxin hormone subsides.

Funnily enough, my labour was a bit weird too....I have put it down to the pelvis. Baby kept changing position throughout pregnancy as I reckon baby had a lot more pelvic room. Then half way through labour felt baby move quite a bit and baby had flipped to back to back. I'm sure it was down to the spd but obstetrician and midwives had no idea if there was a correlation. Something that needs more research but it's women's problems so low priority I guess!!

Still have people say to me 'so many people seem to get it these days' like it's a new phenomenon but then have also had older women say 'I had that but it didn't have a name back then. I got no help whatsover and told to get on with it.' So the whole thing needs more research, more advice, quicker help. Midwives sent me to a group physio session but it was clear that most of the women there had slightly different issues and we should all have had individual physio. I didn't get seen individually until baby was at least 3 months old....maybe a bit older. I don't think it helps psychologically that I never had an official diagnosis by anybody, just sent off to see physio when I couldn't cope with it anymore. If they'd have done that right back at the start it wouldn't have got so bad!!

Thanks for all the tips. Unfortunately nhs physio here seems to consist of a one hour workshop explaining the basics and allowing me to try a couple of belts on. Though they did say I could have crutches if I need them - woop!
I think I'm going to look into private physio but I'm very unimpressed as a friend in a different area had regular nhs physio appointments.

Handbag tbh NHS physio is shockingly bad when it comes to treating SPD. The best thing to do is contact the pelvic partnership and they might be able to put you in touch with a chiropractor or osteopath in your area.

Accunpuncture is really helpful. I've been suffering for 20 years now, (sorry) and I have accunpuncture every 2 weeks, I have to go private (fortunately there's a lady in my village) and it really takes the edge off the pain and I get a good nights sleep that night.

Thanks fairy. With great fortune the physiotherapist I was going to contact is on the pelvic partnership list.

I am so sorry you have been suffering for 20 years, you deserve a medal! I've never had acupuncture as it looks a bit uncomfortable but lots of people swear by it :)

Just coming along with another good news story that my SPD (from 30 weeks, debilitating, crying at night when I moved, walking with a crutch) went away more or less completely within 2 weeks of birth - despite exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months. I met with a pelvic consultant who said he very rarely sees women who suffer more than 3 months post birth (fairy you sound like the incredibly unfortunate exception! I can't believe you've had it this long, awful awful).

Everything I could suggest has been ably recommended already. Belts do work but I'm on the fence with physio even though I did have a very nice private physio (I work at a private hospital so could access on the cheap). Definitely make it crystal clear to midwives during labour what your range of movement is and what help you will need (I either needed about 10 minutes to get up from any position or the assistance of two people, I couldn't move quickly unaided).