PGP/SPD support thread!

[heebiejeebies45]

Hi all, congratulations on your pregnancy!

I thought about making this thread as I'm currently 14+1 with my second pregnancy. I've had AWFUL SPD since around 10 weeks and honestly can't believe it's started so early for me already.

During my first pregnancy I developed SPD around 20 or so weeks. I could hardly walk for longer then 10 minutes (I had a pregnancy belt which helped massively,) I was in extreme pain turning over in bed and walking up stairs was absolute hell.
Now I'm going through all of this again whilst trying to look after a 5 month old🙃

However, this time round I've self referred for physiotherapy and have my first appointment in two weeks. I've also got myself a swim membership as the water helps massively.

I feel like SPD doesn't get talked about much and a lot of health professionals are quite quick to dismiss it as it isn't life threatening or anything along those lines.
If anyone else is going through this, please feel free to vent and maybe offer any advice or exercise that you do that you find helps with the pain x

@Snoopy28x not sure what make mine is, but comes in 2 parts so can wear one, the other, or both together.

One is like a band with velcro to do up under bump. Other is like a girdle looking thing to go over hip area.

Had a call yesterday to say my physio appointment with the ladies team has been cancelled due to staff sickness :-( I was looking forward to my appointment and maybe getting some advice/ relief from the intense hip pain that I can't seem to escape. Still waking up 3/4 times a night with it and paracetamol does nothing to help. I have a consultant appointment on Thursday so will ask them about it then, but will have to wait for a new physio appointment to come through the post. Hope everyone is keeping well x

@HyphenCobra do the fit underneath your clothes ok? And where do you get them from? I've done one day back at work and I'm back to square one. Had seen an improvement after resting for 3 days at home but that's not a long term solution. Still got another 7 weeks to work before I start mat leave!
Wednesdays appointment at the hospital feels like a long time away right now.

@HyphenCobra the cool gel patch seems like a good idea, I think I'll definitely give that a try at some point! I haven't been having any lower stomach muscle pains but I've started wearing my band already and I'm only 17 weeks🙃 really can't take the additional weight of my bump already lol

@MrsT84 ahhh no how annoying. So sorry to hear the pain is still keeping you up at night. I'm just about to buy a snoozle which was linked up thread by @Heathofhares. Maybe that'll help with turning over at least? Hopefully they're able to book you in for an appointment asap X

@Snoopy28x hey hey welcome to the club (unfortunately!) it must be so hard trying to look after two DCs in this condition. I really sympathise☹️ my mum bought my belt in my previous pregnancy which I'm still using but I think I have this one www.amazon.co.uk/SIYWINA-Maternity-Pregnancy-Support-Abdominal/dp/B07DGWKR84/ref=mpsa113?crid=QIEI8BM0BOAI&keywords=pregnancy+belt&qid=1636743427&qsid=262-4078686-1474609&sprefix=pregnancy+belt%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-13&sres=B07V6YQ9M7%2CB07RXWNQP7%2CB08R9GHTTB%2CB08KQ3FNC3%2CB077TP9DYT%2CB094274GWQ%2CB08J4D4M29%2CB08SM986VV%2CB07DGWKR84%2CB009LA4VOG%2CB08F54R1JN%2CB085DS66TF%2CB01GO2KWQO%2CB07GN2F9S4%2CB003KTS1OU%2CB085CGJS53%2CB07Y2X86XC%2CB01M277VLN%2CB09FZFYDJS%2CB07TYS4GHD&srpt=ORTHOPEDIC_BRACE

Sorry for the huge link lol! If you go to Amazon and type in 'Pregnancy Belt' loads of different ones come up including the ones that wrap across your stomach as well as underneath! Really affordable so hope you can find one that works for you.

@zonedoutallnight hope the information at the top helps you too^ mine doesn't fit under my clothes, I wear it on top of my leggings but under my bump so can barely see it tbh. Fingers crossed Wednesday's appointment can provide some sort of solution🤞

@hibye123 thank you so much! That looks like a comfy one. Do you wear it under or over clothes?

Yeah its rough! I find pushing my ds trike makes it bad the paths round here are uneven. But if I let him walk on the school run he goes rogue and I end up chasing him about or carrying him lol cant win! I will defo check that out and get one ordered xx

That is helpful thanks @hibye123 I will have a look.

No problem ladies! Hope you both find one that's helpful.

@Snoopy28x I wear mine over my clothes but it's underneath my bump so you can hardly see it tbf lol. I think it'd be super uncomfortable underneath clothes but there must be some where you can where it like that.
😂🤦‍♀️ there's no winning at all! The belt definitely makes a difference and takes the pressure off of your back too. I have a 6 month old so looking after her on the days that I can't walk is literally hell🙃

@hibye123 I remember those days all to well!! How long have you got left? I had to wrestle my 2yo into his trike earlier and that didnt help!! Ive been getting Dh to hoover for me as that hurts to x

@Snoopy28x ah no bless him (and you!😂)
That's good you have DH around so he's able to give you a hand around the house. I've definitely been milking my condition just so I can stay in bed for longer haha.
I'm only 17 weeks so I have ages left, I already have minimal energy!

Been at the midwife who's putting a physio referral through for me which is positive- hopefully it won't be too long. We shall see. A slow step in the right direction though.

@zonedoutallnight that's great to hear! Hopefully they set up an appointment for you ASAP

I've just left my first pysio appointment at the hospital and it was really beneficial. The physiotherapist that's working with me is so nice and I'll be seeing her every 2/3 weeks.

She's assessed my back and can see where the issue lies. She was able to provide me wifh a much more sturdier pregnancy belt than the one I had and I can see how it'll help as my bump gets bigger. She also reminded me to do pelvic floor exercises (something that I never did in the first pregnancy because I couldn't be bothered😂)

During my original assessment, the physiotherapist that saw me had me downland an app where I was able to access my exercise plan. She uploaded 6 exercises to do in the swimming pool and 2 to do on dry land. The current physiotherapist has now added to this by adding 4 more stretches to do on dry land.
These all target the pain caused by PGP and they're all super helpful!

I'm feeling hopeful that a plan seems to be in place for the rest of the pregnancy🤞

Just wanted to add here that I use a Serola Belt and it really helps but I'm struggling badly now

What painkillers are you using?

Just had a look at that one, that looks really good. The pregnancy belt they gave me seems to be that low too which in theory seems to be better.

I don't take anything:( paracetamol is shit and doesn't even touch the iceberg. I can't take ibuprofen because of my asthma and of course you can't take it when you're pregnant. I just have to put up with it which is ridiculous. Have you found any pain relief that's useful? @cultkid

Hi ladies, sorry to ask, I feel like a bit of a fraud given you've all been getting pain since early on...
I'm 37 weeks and the last week I have been getting shooting pains in my pelvis and very very bottom of my back, and pain down below when I turn over in bed, stand up too quick, walk too quick. Do you think this could be PGP, or just late stages of pregnancy? Is it worth pursuing anything at this stage, or just stick it out and rest given I'm so close to delivery now?
Thanks all

That sounds really positive @videovixen glad to hear it was helpful. That's something to look forward to then!

@Mama427 I don't know enough about it as it's all brand new to me but it's certainly worth asking your midwife. I think it can start at any stage and the pain turning over in bed is what I noticed before anything else.

@Mama427 meant to add you may not get referred for anything at this stage but they can give you advice about how to manage the pain - no more hoovering, climbing stairs 1 at a time, no crossed legs, that sort of thing.

@videovixen

Yes the belt is really good it's a proper robust one, my chiropractor measured me for it
The physio at the hospital also said that it's the bes too. I've got some exercises and also use a ball to open the pelvis but I will have to start using crutches because I'm in shreds
I've been prescribed co codamol 30/500 and it does make a difference to the pain but I am still not coping and have now had to organise a cleaner and get my in laws to do the school run twice this week as well as my husband doing it too 😭 I'm 20 weeks 😭 on Saturday I think so I'm a way off, this is my third baby.

Do you have the pain coming up in your abdomen? I'm worried it's also my kidney now playing up
I've honestly thought I would need to ring 999 a few times this week

G xxx

@Mama427 hey! That sounds so awful and does sound really similar to PGP. It can also come at any time during pregnancy even during the later stages.

I'd say mention it to the midwife when you next see them but in the meanwhile try and look at things that may help you until you have the baby.
Little things such as realising how long you're able to walk for before the pain kicks in, can you use the bed frame to help you try and turn around during the night. Even standing up but not walking straight away until the stiffness ceases a little.

If you're able to make it to the swimming pool, I can't stress how much doing stretches in the pool really makes a difference! I'd seriously recommend it. I leave feeling like a new woman lol

@zonedoutallnight ah yes definitely! I'm very grateful that the physiotherapists are taking this seriously and they specialise in the pelvic area for pregnant women so fingers crossed they can make things easier for me🤞
Keep us updated with your physio appointment and I hope you're taking things as easy as you can currently X

@cultkid it does look so so sturdy tbh. I can see how helpful that would be too. If the physiotherapist didn't just give me one then I definitely would have bought that one! Glad you have a belt that's working for you too.

Does the ball really help? I was thinking to get one just because I can't see it doing any harm tbh.

Ah no I can't believe you'll have to be on crutches so early on too, that's really a bummer (and you have two kids to look after, thank God you have external support otherwise how would you manage?!)

Happy to hear you have some medication that works but it doesn't even sounds like it's scratching the surface!☹️

Luckily I haven't had any travelling pain, my pain tends to only be in one area and occasionally I may have shooting/sharp pains going down my lower back towards my bum!
If you're still having physio are you able to mention it to them to see if there's anything more they can do to help? The pain sounds so agonising I'm sure you can't just be expected to deal with it even when being on the verge of calling 999 x

Sorry for taking so long to reply!! The belt i have is a babygro i think. Don't buy the nude one as it's basically pink 🙈

It's soft on bump part so i can wear under or over clothes.

Last night i managed to get comfortable in bed 🎉 2 duvets doubled over under me, then laid semi on back but propped at an angle with pillows behind back, plus usual pillows between legs and under bump. Stopped any pain on my hip, hooray!!

My osteopath is slowly working miracles - after 3rd visit i could drive without crippling groin pain.

To the people that are doing physio excercises but still deteriorating - honestly, if your pelvis etc is misaligned then the excercises aren't going to help you strengthen the muscles correctly. The best thing for me has been a very knowledgeable osteopath. I've stopped the excercises bar a couple, and i am better now at 25 weeks than before when i was doing all the excercises 😶 Still in pain etc but sooo much better.

With first pregnancy i took co-codamol every day. Didn't fully take pain away, made me constipated so had to take fibre gel too, and apparently there are potential links to longer labours 😱 Honestly, proper treatment is far better, including heat and cool pads, warm baths, epsom salt in the bath, sports massages are AMAZING, can 100% recommend acupuncture in glutes and lower back to help release tight muscles (free on nhs through physio).

Hope everyone finds some relief xx

I feel like I'm in the same boat so thank you for this thread.
Currently 23 weeks on my first, started getting pelvic pains around 10 weeks, stopped and now it's come back with a vengence !
I was doing pilates/resistance training/ HIIT 5 days a week before I got pregnant and have moved to just pilates and I foolishly thought I'd be grand but it's just rough
Moving around can be intermittently hard, sleeping so far is grand and trying to do the pelvic floor excercises (admittedly only when I think of thme !)
It is always brushed aside and it does sour the experience of being pregnant and "enjoying pregnancy"
Sending you all gentle hugs and going to take advice that is on this :)

F

I've been in agony this week and taken a couple of days off work but the lack of sleep has fully wiped me out. Ended up seeing out of hours yesterday and have got some cocodamol to take when it's really bad so that I can actually get some rest. Hope this physio appointment comes through soon.