SPD - what helps?

[evuscha]

I'm 31 weeks, and after finally coming out of a horrible nausea and sickness (which I still need medication for) I have another fun symptom to deal with It hurts so much, especially getting up and turning around in bed (so my sleep is pretty messed up too). I'm also getting married in less than 2 weeks and I was hoping to somehow enjoy the wedding at least a little bit

Is there anything I can do now to make it better? Or is this it for the rest of the pregnancy?

A support belt will help when it's acting up, and I always found a hot bath helped lessen the aching.

Try and avoid things like standing on one leg to get dressed, and when you get out of bed or the car, swing both your legs round to the floor at once rather than do it leg by leg.

Ask your midwife to refer you to women's health physio, I was seen pretty quickly.

Hope you manage to have a lovely wedding without hip pain

I tried one of these at my NHS physio and it meant I could walk again almost pain free. Doesn't look attractive but I was past that.

As for managing things you need to keep your knees together when getting in and out of bed or rolling over. I found laying on my side, drop my lower half of my legs over the bed (knees together) and as they dropped push yourself up.

If you drive sit on a plastic bag so you can tour your bum in the seat with knees together to get out.

I was offered a group physio appointment who taught us all of this. I also had crutches which helped.

Paracetamol and not walking around very much. Also, all the tips already given. I found the support belt made my bump hurt.

The support belt doesn't go near your bump it goes lower to hold your pelvis together.

Thank you! I will look into all of these.
Do you think electric heating pad might be helpful? I've been using that for my aching back, wondering if it could be helpful here or if it makes things worse..

Oh my goodness, you are living my life to a T! I’m also 31 weeks, still dogged by sickness, getting married in 2 weeks and struggling to control SPD!
I’ve found that by cutting out things like the main supermarket shop (and walking any distance generally), lifting nothing heavier than a sandwich, keeping my legs together when getting in and out of car, delegating the puting on of socks to STBH (he gets all the good jobs) and using a support pillow, I’ve been able to minimise the burn.
I’m by no means an extreme case though, it was just horrible when the pain started and I didn’t know what it was or how to avoid it.
Good luck with everything OP, busy and exciting time for us!

Thank you so much @Youseethethingis - what a joy the pregnancy can be, right? (the attached pic really sums it up for me)
Enjoy your wedding and all the best to you too

That picture was me too! I wanted to be a serene earth mother but was in constant pain instead.

Check out the pelvic partnership website and do the things they suggest. Even down to putting a plastic bag on your car seat to help you swivel easily. They've got loads of experience and advice to offer.

Good luck!

I have a sacroiliac support belt which has helped so far. They are different from maternity belts and provide more support. I also see a chiropractor, he doesn't crack the joints in my pelvis but instead works on stretching the muscles out as the muscles can get really tight as they try and compensate. Really important to see someone that actually knows their stuff though

I bought a heat pad but it didn't do anything for my SPD.

I had awful SPD from 12 weeks, it is horrible. I went to a private physio which was useful, don't waste time waiting for the NHS to sort you out if you can afford it.

I found one of the worst things was pushing a trolley so avoid that. I still can't push a heavy trolley now at 10 months post partum

My midwife kept telling me to walk on it and be active but I honestly found that the worst thing to do, I needed to keep at still as possible so don't push yourself if it doesn't feel right.

Thank you so much everyone (although sorry to hear so many were suffering, especially from as early as 12 weeks!), it's really helpful, I'm checking the Pelvic Partnership website and I will also order the belt. Will consider physio as well (NHS being useless so far, first appointment they could give me is in 3 weeks).
I'm wondering about the level of activity - the website seems to recommend keeping active but then again I feel like it got much worse after I had a really active day yesterday. But then long inactivity (like lying in bed at night) seems to make it worse too

I had it from 5 w and it is miserable. The cat cow stretch was the only thing that helped.
It disappeared really fast after delivery so there’s that to look forward to.

I really hope it will be ok at least after the birth since it's just 9 weeks to go for me. So sorry to hear you suffered from that early on!

Reading all these tips, I'm 13 weeks and struggling already. Trying to get a referral through to physio. It's going to be a long 6 months.

Private women's specialist physio saved me. I'd limp in crippled and (almost) skip out after an hour of prodding and massage. A friend is currently having great success with an osteopath.