Intense pubic bone pain at 12 weeks

[RAE511]

I have had this pain since week 6 and was told it was my body changing and was normal. But this week it has gotten so much worse. I can't walk without pain, the sharp stabbing sensation wakes me up all night when I move. No pillow between the knees makes any difference.
It is actually on my pubic bone, has anyone else experienced this? Surely it's too early for this sort of pain?
I've looked into round ligament pain but it's not in the same place.

This pain is how I knew I was pregnant for my second and third pregnancies. Have you been pregnant before? Did you have SPD then?

I've had 2 previous miscarriages but they were at 6 and 10 weeks. My last one I had the same pain at 6 weeks but it never got this bad.
Should it be this painful at only 12 weeks?
I'm worried how much worse it will get over the next 6 months!

Read up about SPD / Pelvic Gridle Pain
to understand how to control it. Talk to your midwife / GP about getting referred to a physio - a specialist one if possible. Until then avoid carrying anything on one side, stop vacuuming and any exercise that puts pressure on one leg at a time.

Thank you, I will do.

My SPD started just like this at 12 weeks in my first pregnancy.

There is a lot of info out there so do reach out online, have a good google!

My SPD continued after labour and I was eventually diagnosed with ‘osteitis pubis’, a term for injury/inflammation in the pubic bone area. I found an incredible physio online who offers a program to help you learn to move differently, and stop injuring yourself. (It’s called the O.P Clinic if you want to look it up ) It worked for me, and stopped the pain :)

However that might not be your experience; for most people it goes away after the baby is born.

After what I’ve been through I feel like an expert though!! Currently 25 weeks in my second pregnancy and using exercises to keep the SPD pain to a minimum

My advice -

• think of trying to help your pelvis keep stable. So wear flat well fitted shoes Only, no heels or sloppy slippers.
• keep your knees together as much as possible. Walk with small steps
• when standing, stay even on both feet and push down into the earth through your arches, never through your heels. Stand tall.
• sit only on good firm chairs, stay straight, no leg crossing. Try to have knees lower than pelvis.

• buy a Serola belt; I wear mine low and tight under my bump, it literally holds me together!
• sit on a plastic bag in the car, it can help you swivel round when you get out, with both knees together
• long pillow between knees and ankles at night in bed. Keep knees together holding the pillow when you have to turn over!!

My greatest relief from pain is from careful stretching. This video on YouTube is great; all the stretches are on the floor so you can take it slowly. (I would not recommend number 6 for SPD) Exercise 7 is my current favourite!

My SPD started just like this at 12 weeks in my first pregnancy.

There is a lot of info out there so do reach out

My SPD continued after labour and I was eventually diagnosed with ‘osteitis pubis’, a term for injury/inflammation in the pubic bone area. I found an incredible physio online who offers a program to help you learn to move differently, and stop injuring yourself. (It’s called the O.P Clinic if you want to look it up ) It worked for me, and stopped the pain

However that might not be your experience; for most people it goes away after the baby is born.

After what I’ve been through I feel like an expert though!! Currently 25 weeks in my second pregnancy and using exercises to keep the SPD pain to a minimum

My advice -

• think of trying to help your pelvis keep stable. So wear flat well fitted shoes Only, no heels or sloppy slippers.
• keep your knees together as much as possible. Walk with small steps
• when standing, stay even on both feet and push down into the earth through your arches. Stand tall.
• sit only on good firm chairs, stay straight, no leg crossing. Try to have knees lower than pelvis

• buy a Serola belt; I wear mine low and tight under my bump, it literally holds me together!
• sit on a plastic bag in the car, it can help you swivel round when you get out, with both knees together
• long pillow between knees and ankles at night in bed

My greatest relief from pain is from careful stretching. This video on YouTube is great; all the stretches are on the floor so you can take it slowly. (I would not recommend number 6 for SPD) Exercise 7 is my current favourite!

I really hope some of this helps - I had a rough ride with it but like I say, I learned a lot and I’m not frightened of it like I was the first pregnancy.

Last time I had a quick natural birth in the water, so I’m hoping for the same this time X

Gerdticker thank you so much that's fantastically helpful!

This too is where I feel spd pain. I have had it from about 12 weeks this pregnancy (3rd) after quite a tough time in pregnancy 2. I really was in such a lot of pain with 2nd pregnancy and struggled to walk far towards the end. It continued to bother me for a good year after. Nothing horrendous but enough to concern me that I wasn’t mending. But then it just went away, except for around time of month when relaxin can cause I minor flare. The advice from PP is outstanding and I will be looking into the for sure. I have been careful this time to buy a mattress topper to aid side sleeping and pressure on hips; invested in a bbhugme pillow which has been a god send for sleeping and resting; legs together and pull knees up to swing to seated from laying down; kept driving to a minimum (lockdown helps!) as this flares mine badly; try keep core strong and keep mobile with daily walks; no pushing trolleys in supermarket (online delivery). Osteopaths can help, I didn’t have much luck with a chiropractor last time but these things are so practitioner dependent. Wish you all the best