Spd at 10 weeks

[IVEgottheDECAF]

I am 10+4 with baby #5 and quite clearly have spd already, i have had it previously but not as early.

How bad is it likely to get? I assume it is being aggrivated by pushing dc4 who is 2.4 in his pram but it isn't really something i can avoid.

Plan to see the gp on tuesday

I already have a support belt, should i start wearing it?

Has anyone else had it so early and how did it affect you work wise etc

I'm 37 weeks with my first and started getting symptoms at about 11 weeks. It hurt turning over in bed.

I worked part time (2 days a week) but my job involves a lot of walking and carrying (but not heavy things). By 18 weeks I couldn't move for two days after I'd been working. By 28 weeks o was using crutches, which means I couldn't do a shop by myself (couldn't carry a basket or push a trolley while using the crutches. I stopped working at about that time too.

Some days are better than others. I found pregnancy massage helps a little bit for like a day or two.

Wear the belt. Stop pushing the pram. Your dc4 may need to do more walking. Keep moving when you can, but don't push yourself!! Honestly, you need to protect yourself because it can cause long term damage if you don't look after yourself.

I've been prescribed co-codamol, but it doesn't help much and I take it sparingly as the gp said he didn't want my baby to be born an addict... I don't either. It has affected my mood because I'm quite isolated.

My mobility is basically zero - it hurts from the first step in the morning to the last at night.

I'd really see if you can stop pushing the pram. DC is old enough to walk for a little bit.

I started getting symptoms at 11 weeks, and now at 23 weeks it is quite bad. I have to cap my physical activity that I do per day, and by that I mean a 1.5 hour dog walk is now a very slow 30 min stroll - DH picks up the slack with the rest. The walk cannot involve any inclines.
Similarly if I'm going to clean, I can't go out for a walk. I can't do too much bending so DH does the jobs like loading and emptying the dishwasher.
I have physio on the 4th March but am aware that this is only going to get worse as the weeks go on.

I currently commute on foot/by train with dc4 three days a week. This is 40 min of walking twice a day three days a week. He can't walk that far. We don't drive.

My job involves being on my feet most of the day for 9 hours (on top of the commute). I have already reduced hours.

I'd be looking to make some radical changes as it's unlikely you'll be able to sustain this routine for the next 30 weeks. But that's the thing with advice: you can take it or leave it.

I just don't know what changes i can make?

A few ideas:

Get a car (probably unrealistic). I drive an automatic and while going round corners is painful but the rest is ok.

Closer nursery/ childcare - though even this might only last you so long.

Bus instead of walk.

Get your partner to take lo to childcare.

Tell your job. Ration walking. Get a chair or at least rest breaks as part of your risk assessment.

Get your other kids to take on more around the house.

Oh decaf I feel for you!!! I've thankfully not had SPD, but my understanding of it is that it only gets worse. You probably have a pretty limited amount of walking in you over the next 40 weeks. Pushing and carrying is going to use that walking up sooner. So I guess it's a case of figuring out what walking matters most. It sounds likely that you are going to need a risk assessment at work ASAP, and move to less physically demanding tasks. Can someone come with you on your commute (DP? By staggering your start times?) can you find different childcare? Carpool?
Urgh, it sounds like a nightmare!!!!

You need to be realistic. With SPD you aren’t going to be able to walk for 40 minutes even without pushing a pram.

I was signed off work at 33 weeks because I couldn’t walk from the car park to my classroom anymore. I’m on crutches which are a nightmare as I can’t hold the toddlers hand or do anything on them. If I do too much one day then the next day I can be completely sofa bound and not able to even get upstairs. Some days aren’t so bad and I can do a small amount of walking and being on my feet.

Im going to see what my gp advises re work, being on crutches would be a nightmare. Ill start wearing my belt. Can't see work being too understanding with me only being 10 weeks

They are legally obliged to be.

Oh i know that

Its just the faces and i know theyll be bitching

That's the rub, isn't it. Ugh