26 weeks pregnant and hips in agony please help

[Peachee]

I am really suffering with hip and thigh agony at night to the point I shout out in pain in the night when I have to move.
I'm sleeping with two pillows under me to cushion my hips and turning over in the night to relieve each side but it really is so painful.
I ended up sleeping bolt upright this morning from around 4am onwards just to give myself some respite.
I've been to the doctors and they said it's very common and I felt I wasn't really taken seriously. A few women at work said they had it also and was given a support belt and physio however nothing helped.
I've just ordered a full body pillow in the hip that it helps so I can lean slightly back off my hips.
Please help or if you have any tips send them my way I'm dreading going to sleep tonight.
I'm losing hope.

The full body pillow helps take pressure off my hips and a birthing ball to sit on and rotate hips or rock on has also helped

SPD is the worst. The only thing that actually helped at all was to pretend you’re a mermaid - keep your knees together as much as you can (no jokes about how this is several months too late either 😬). Especially when you’re rolling over in bed. I slept with pillows wedged behind my back so I wasn’t sleeping on my side or my back.

The only 'hope' I can give is when I was in your position it didn't get worse and worse further into pregnancy like I assumed it would and bizarrely enough I was striding round at 40 weeks having been sobbing that I couldn't stand up having gone to the toilet in the night at 25. But it sounds really tough.

I feel for you op, it's a dreadful pain isn't it I've used a ridiculously expensive pregnancy pillow in the past called a Dreamgenii and it was great. This time around I'm just using a regular long body pillow and haven't had any hip pain so I imagine it must be helping. It's a lot better than regular pillows between the knees anyway.

Hope you find some relief.

Oh and when getting up, I found that rolling onto my stomach and off the bed on to my feet was always easier and far less painful than trying to sit up and stand.

It's grim. Look for previous threads on PGP and SPD - I've been on them. There are tons of tips.

YY keep knees together. Basically act to keep your hips aligned as much as possible at all times. Eg stairs one at a time. Avoid pushing buggies and trolleys etc.

Pace your activity.

There are stronger painkillers you can be prescribed.

Plus it can be really bad when the baby is moving up out of the pelvis. Is that about now? That was definitely my worst weekend.

I also did pregnancy Pilates videos which helped.

Thankyou all so much for your lovely understanding words.
I'm still up but going to pad myself out with pillows everywhere when I go to bed tonight until the full body one arrives. Also dose myself up with paracetamol and hope it's not so sore. I'm glad I've just had thesemessages before bed it makes me feel less alone Thankyou so much xxx

I find sleeping on a folded duvet helps (much the same as sleeping on pillows I suppose) and pillows between your knees to keep your legs parallel. And take it easy, even if you're having a good day don't over do it.

Blankets under the bed sheet, pillows everywhere just anything to take the weight off. I was turning every half hour the last 7 weeks or so, the pain is unreal! Good luck! X

It's just the worst pain ever isn't it? I feel so sorry for you. I was so happy to have my c-section. The pain from my SPD was far worse than the c-section pain. The SPD pain just melted away.

I also don't think people take it seriously at all. I couldn't walk 2 mins down the road without yelping at each step. It's so debilitating but I really felt people acted as if I was moaning about a few aches and pains.

Definitely get the belt. Also if you can find a physio that specialises In SPD, that can help you. Rest as much as you can and make sure you keep your knees together when moving anywhere.

Hopefully the full body pillow works for you OP, mine was the best thing I have ever bought. Have you spoken to your midwife as well as your GP? My GP didn't really offer any support as they said the wait lists were so long without a referral from a midwife that it wasn't worth it as I would have had the baby by then! My midwife was able to refer to a physio fairly quickly. I had a support belt but didn't find it worked for me, lots of people do though so worth a go if you can. I really empathise, I had SPD and people kept saying oh part of pregnancy isn't it, which yes it is, but it is far more savage then general aches and pains! Look after yourself, rest when you can and although it hurt to start with, I found walking everyday really helped. Only close to home so I could come back if needed, but listen to your body. I stopped driving at 28 weeks as it was so so sore, but no lasting pain, thankfully (had my DS 9 months ago).

Oh, OP. Mine are between 15 and 18 and you have still reminded me of the unspeakable awfulness of SPD. I remember wondering with DC1 how I would actually manage to give birth, given that I couldn't open my legs. Needless to say, I did, because there's not much option. But I still sleep on my back with pillow between my knees. And that's 18 flipping years on!!

I had a physio belt with DC2 and 3, though I can't really say it helped that much, unfortunately.

The only thing I found useful was not being pregnant. And then, as I said, it persists slightly. I hope yours is less persistent.

SPD sucks, I was signed off at about 14 weeks for it until the end of pregnancy. See the doctor again, SPD can worsen if not managed well. Get referred to physio, or even better, hydrotherapy. I saw an osteopath who also really helped, and used sport tape to help support everything which was more comfortable than the belts. Use a walking stick/crutches if needed - I wouldn't have left the house at all I didn't. Roll over in bed gripping pillow between knees. And sleep/sit on a plastic bag - helps with swivelling. Do not stand on one leg for any reason!

I have a fairly mild case but it's agony at night time and I struggle walking for too long.
My midwife referred me to group physio and basically what has been said above.
Pillow between knees overnight, keep then together when getting up (physio suggested rolling to hands and knees and reversing off the bed) try and sit upright and forward especially when driving (use the headrest to align your body) and swivel in and out of the car (sitting on a plastic bag helps).
Limit your walking as often the pain overnight is your body's response to what you've done in the day.
Birthing ball exercises like rocking from side to side lifting your hips and doing hip rotations. Also go on your hands and knees and rest you shoulders and head on the ball. Lift you back and hips up and down.
You can also just watch TV like this as it takes the bump weight off your hips and back so can be more comfortable.

I couldn’t wear the belt at all, caused so much pressure.

I did get some of that physio tape and food lots of photos on google of how to apply it.

SPD hit me hard at 20 weeks in my 2nd pregnancy. Definitely invest in a support belt and full body support pillows. I would also get referred to physiotherapy. My midwife made the referral (not sure if patients can self refer for treatment) and I was put on a 6 week hydrotherapy course where I attended weekly treatment sessions. The treatment really helped with the SPD so I think it's worth looking into.

Op , i went to see a chiropractor who was able to help with very gentle manipulation. I know chiropractors can be polarising but I was desperate! Good luck, it's awful - but only a few more months to go, it will end!