In agony with SPD I think

[Cupcakefairy12]

After a bit of advice really I’m 31 weeks pregnant and think I have SPD. All the symptoms point to this but I’m not due to see midwife for another two weeks. Is it worth contacting my doctor or waiting it out? I’m miserable, my midwife doesn’t respond if I message her so no point.

I had PGP (same thing, different names) and I found the NHS rather useless - especially in covid times as all I got was a phone appt with a physio, helpful

If you can afford it I strongly advise you to go private, find a manual therapist with experience in treating PGP / SPD. There is a list here: pelvicpartnership.org.uk/recommended-practitioners/ And you could also ask around locally, on social media, antenatal yoga / Pilates / birth preparation class leaders etc. My osteo wasn't on the pelvic partnership list but was recommended by everyone!

There is good general info and advice on the pelvic partnership too so have good look through it.

Do you have a maternity helpline? I called this rather than a specific midwife and they referred me for phsyio which took a few weeks but there was an online class the next week with tips to help. The tips sound useless when you are in pain but actually they do help make it manageable. I'm behind you 27 weeks.

There's also a Pelvic Partnership website.

I would reccomend a birthing ball to bounce on, maternity pillow, wedge pillow, support belt (to be worn for walks not sitting down) and keeping your legs together getting out of the car/bed/off sofa and a hot bath does helps even though I find it a faff. Oh and rest, rest and some more rest x

You’re baby will be walking and talking by the time you see an NHS physio - and they can get you to stretch the muscles all day long but if the bones are misaligned they need correcting else the pain will not ease.

Private chiropractor. 2/3 sessions and you’ll see so much improvement. I could barely walk without crying before my chiro sorted me out.

Thank you for all your advice will see if I can find a private. Xx

I had physio through the nhs - not manual but she gave me some exercises to do at home which helped. Another thing that really improved it was a slide sheet (e.g. www.thesnoozle.com/) which helped me roll over and get out of bed without friction. We also have a very firm mattress which was aggravating the spd and I put a softer roll-up futon on top of the mattress. The spd did go away for the last few weeks of my pregnancy so one of these things must have done the trick!

Meant to say: referral to physio was via gp and quite quick (though probably depends on your area), so definitely worth asking them even if you are looking at other options.

I had SPD towards the end of my 3rd pregnancy and was told to do a self referral to physio

I used to take paracetamol for when painful. Take shorter steps. When getting out the car i would try keep my legs together and manoeuvre sideways then get out. I was told that the physio referral would take too long so was no point for me doing that. When I was due my mam insisted I take a long walk around with her to get things moving and the next day I was in absolute agony from the spd. Feel your pain. X

"When I was due my mam insisted I take a long walk around with her to get things moving"

Yep absolutely worst thing to do when you have PGP/SPD.

REST and do not push yourself or you will be in even more pain.

@NameChange30 exactly... worst thing possible. She was very apologetic ha

I had this really really badly. Private physio, rest and no hoovering or pushing trolleys. Absolutely ignore any advice to keep active!

Oh just found the list on Pelvic Partnership so thanks for posting that site!