symphysis pubis disorder help and support please!

[MrsRose2018]

Hi ladies,

For about a day and a half I had been experiencing really bad pain and pressure in my pelvis/cervix and in my vagina. It was so bad I could hardly walk and felt like I had something “sitting” inside me.

In at high risk of preterm labour so we went to our hospital and after lots of monitoring and tests I was diagnosed with SPD.

I was just wondering if any another mammas have suffered with this and if they have any tips to help? I was told by the doctor to take paracetamol and try a hot water bottle - I can’t have warm baths because my waters broke at 25 weeks and I am an infection risk.

It’s really getting me down already, simply moving my leg and rolling over is agony and walking alone is damn near impossible!

TIA

Xx

I really feel for you - I had this in both of my pregnancies and it was horrific.
When rolling over in bed keep your knees together - I ended up having a bed rail so that I could pull on it to help me. Also use a cushion to support your bump or put between your knees.
You can take stronger pain relief but obviously speak to your doctor or midwife. I ended up on a whole concoction and in my second pregnancy on morphine.
You can get a 'belt' that you fasten around and under your bump - it may help. It's about keeping your symphysis pubis bone together as you move.
If you get in and out of a car then put your bum in first and sit down then swing your legs round together. And vice versa for getting out.
Don't push a shopping trolley. And no lifting or carrying on your hip.
It can be really debilitating and excruciatingly painful so you have my total sympathy!

Oh I feel for you I had this when I was pregnant to the point I slept on the sofa bed as I couldn't walk up the stairs, but a pregnancy pillow helped at night and also what PP said keeping legs closed moving or turning over in bed, also speak with your GP for pain killers if you need them.

You have my sympathies, I had this too, it is excruciating. I ended up on crutches and taking tramadol for the pain. I was signed off work and went on maternity early partly due to the pain.

You might benefit from wearing a support belt, my physio gave me a massive 3 strap velcro belt to wear to support my bump. Also large tubigrips, which although weren't as supportive, were more comfortable than the velcro belt.

I sleep on my side so I had various wedge shaped pillows to support my bump when in bed, and a pillow between my knees - that helped immensely.

I had physio sessions to discuss birthing positions (trying to minimise the pain and keep my knees together!) but in the end I had an emergency c section which worked out better for me.

I also had this with both DS1 & 2. It's horrible and you have my sympathy. I was referred to the physiotherapy midwives. In my area you can self refer to them but if you can't then ring your midwives and they should be able to help. The most helpful thing I remember about the physio was she told me to actively think about pulling my stomach muscles in towards my spine as I walked - constantly. Honestly it made such a difference because it really strengthened my core. Also buy a maternity support belt, they take a lot of the pressure off.

Thank you so much ladies!

In a weird way it's nice to know you were all in so much pain as well because it makes me feel like I'm not actually being a wimp/drama queen! It's relentless isn't it! Even when you're lying/say down! My husband has to pretty much propel/push me up the stairs off the sofa lol

I explained it to him that is like sciatica of the vagina and he just went "ohhhh my goood noooo" so at least he's understanding 😂

I'm going to try the support belt and the tubigrip thing you've suggested! Because I lost all my amnio my bump isn't even that big so this feels very unfair!

I'm just glad I'm working from home 24/7 otherwise I would have to have gone off sick for months x

I had it terribly with my first.

Bad enough I needed a wheelchair as I couldn’t walk far..plus I went into threatened preterm labour at 28 weeks. She stayed put luckily after several days in hospital and plenty of steroids and injections to stop.

Paracetamol will help, but if it gets too bad you can ask for codeine. That’s what I had even whilst pregnant.

Rest where you can and agree with a belly band to help raise your bump.

And yeah I ended up on maternity leave from about 16 weeks (I had hypermesis too) so was on sick leave from about 8 weeks. It was a nightmare pregnancy. Yet I did it again

Yes I had this really badly I found it an absolute nightmare. I do remember reading advice from other women suffering and some of it didn't help me in some of it did so I think you have to do a little bit of trial and error. I found putting cold compresses at the front such as a bag of peas, and hot on my lower back was quite nice for me the pain surrounded my entire pelvic region and down my legs it was a nightmare.

I don't want to say this to scare you because this doesn't happen to lots of women but I am 15 months post birth and I am still struggling with pelvic pain if I can give you some advice go and see a postnatal physio specialist as soon as you can and make sure that you do the exercises they give you might think it feels a little bit better but then a year down the line you realise you're still not recovered.

Good luck

No tips I'm afraid but oh my god the pain!!!! My sympathies. If it's any consolation mine was relieved the second I gave birth xx

@doadeer - good point. I carried on seeing the physio midwives each time until my boys were 6 months old. Post natal support is vital to get you back to normal.