Pelvic girdle pain / symphysis pubis dysfunction

[baby2due]

Anyone else suffer with this during pregnancy?

I'm 20 weeks pregnant - I think this started somewhere in the second trimester. It's so painful! I'm taking early maternity because of it.

I have mentioned it to my midwife and she wasn't helpful at all. She just said "oh I'm not sure if physiotherapists are seeing people face to face at the moment due to covid" and that was it! She didn't even pay attention to it or ask anything, just agreed with the things I said I should avoid as advised by the nhs website.

Should I contact my doctor? I'm not sure if there's a lot that can be done about it? I'm still working at the moment, I'm an office so not too bad but still painful anytime I need to get up from my desk.

Do I avoid going for walks? I'm not sure if I should stay out or try some light exercise like walking. I've read things that have given me the fear about people who've had to get crutches or ended up with a split pelvis

Is there any belts you would recommend that might ease the pain? I didn't have this with my first pregnancy so this is new to me

Meant to say I'm not sure if I should stay out and 'relax' or try some gentle exercise like walking**

Stay put!! ** omg this autocorrect just changes words when I'm not looking

I would speak to GP (if they try to bounce you back to the midwife, explain about the unhelpful response) and ask for a referral to the physio. At the very least you will then get up to date advice, even if it's over the phone.

When I had it, 9 years ago, I attended a 3 hour session with the physio who gave lots of tips and tricks for pain relief. She gave us each a tubigrip body bandage (like the bandages you get for a wrist or ankle sprain), she carefully measured us to make sure we had the right size. It was worn around our hips and over our bump, it didn't stop the pain but it did alleviate it slightly.

The other game changer for me, relief-wise, was buying an exercise ball. I would kneel in front of it and then drape my upper body over it and allow the ball to take my weight - ah the relief, I can still remember it all these years later! Also just to sit on was quite nice.

A relative of mine was much worse than me and required crutches to get around. Don't be pushed away, you're in pain and you need help.

@BeQuietBrenda - thank you for the advise. I actually do have an exercise ball so I'll try that! I'll try speaking to the doctor on Monday and see if they are more helpful. The pelvic pain is the only thing making me uncomfortable at the moment otherwise I'd be absolutely fine. I didn't even know it existed before now

I self referred to a physio. I got put on a zoom call with other women to do a clinic and didn't find it beneficial at all. After that I gave it 4 weeks and I was still in agony. I asked to be seen face to face which I did. Was so much better! I am on crutches though as can hardly walk!

I can have good days amd bad days. I had it with my first baby as well but not as bad.

I had it with my 3rd and 4th pregnancies and needed crutches during my 4th. I still have a weakness there 20 years later! Not to worry you, and it is only occasionally that I feel it, but just so you understand how serious it can be and not to be fobbed off by the health professionals.

If you dont get anywhere though, my top tip if you end up having trouble moving in bed at night, given to me by the physio, was to wear slinky night wear and either have a slinky sheet under you, or place under your sheet a plastic sheet. The trick is to create as little friction as possible so it is easier for your body to slide when you turn over. You may find a plastic bag under your bottom when you sit in a chair helpful too. It's not glamorous and you may not have spd as severely as I did, but the tip is there for you.

Also, lie on your side and put a small pillow between your knees.

I cant remember if walking was recommended or not. It was a moot point for me anyway.

I would recommend looking at the following websites for advice & exercises to support you pelvis:
pelvicpartnership.org.uk
thepogp.co.uk
I can never understand why midwives are so dismissive of PGP, it can be so debilitating while your pregnant & isn't guaranteed to go away after.
You might be able to self refer for physio in your area, google 'your area' NHS physiotherapy self referral to see if anything comes up & definitely recommend speaking to you GP to request referral, be firm & advocate for yourself.
It should be written into your maternity notes that you have PGP as certain positions in birth can aggravate it and cause long term damage so the delivery midwives need to be aware so it can be taken into consideration in your birth plan.
My NHS physio was really helpful & recommended several specific exercises, I had a session of treatment in person after a phone consultation & she also suggested a serola belt, which sits across your hips & pelvis as opposed to regular maternity belt that supports the bump & lower back.
She said it's absolutely not something you can walk off, so lots of rest & taking care of how you move to not aggravate it is best, alongside the specific recommended exercises for pelvic support on the websites above. I'm actually supposed to use a stick when walking to take the weight off my pelvis.
If you can afford a private chiropractor/osteopath/ physio I would really recommend.
Whilst the NHS physio was helpful & lovely, it was determined that my PGP wasn't bad enough to limit my birth options & I was too close to my due date by the time I saw her so I don't qualify for treatment on the NHS, unless it doesn't resolve after birth.
So I've continued seeing my chiropractor which has helped manage the pain until I give birth.
The earlier you can get referred, the better.

@wifeyxx - sounds like you have it pretty bad! I'm hoping I don't need to use crutches but I can hardly walk some days, it's a struggle. Do you know if you can get a temporary blue badge for parking? Just curious, as walking isn't great!

When are you due?

@AnotherPoster - That is great advice, thanks! I will mention it to my husband and see if we can find a silky sheet for the bed. I've been sleeping with a pillow between my knees aswell, I don't find it really helps tbh but will keep doing it as it's probably a better position for my pelvis to be in.

Can't believe you're still suffering. I read that it's meant to go away once you give birth so will definitely need to speak to the doctor if there's a possibility it will stick around afterwards.

Do we know what actually causes it? Is it to do with the baby's position or placenta or is it just the relaxin hormone loosening everything?

@jolota - Thanks l, I'll have a look at that site and speak to my GP. I think I'm actually seeing a different midwife at my next appointment so I'm hoping she will be a bit more supportive. Fingers crossed! I'll also look at prices for going private as well then. Just really want to ease the pain a bit. It's terrible even just going to the loo I feel about 90 years old lol

[quote baby2due]@wifeyxx - sounds like you have it pretty bad! I'm hoping I don't need to use crutches but I can hardly walk some days, it's a struggle. Do you know if you can get a temporary blue badge for parking? Just curious, as walking isn't great!

When are you due? [/quote]
I'm due in March. I'm no sure to be honest about the blue badge. I doubt it. Some days I can manage but others are brutal ask I also have a 16 month old. It's terrible at night when I'm in bed. Can hardly flip over.

In my last pregnancy I paid private for a physio and it really helped. If you can afford it I'd say go to one or a chiropractor

I dont know what exactly ive got...some pain between legs cant move my leg when i sit still for a while..or do too much during the day... and was so afraid from reading posts that i will end up in crutches etc... but actually after 30 weeks it has become better, suprisingly! As was from the start of the pregnancy...so to gove you hope, maybe it will get better?
Continue with light exercises and walking, just when it starts hurting stop and rest yea x

I had a midwife referral to a physio at the hospital for this, so they are definitely doing them! You can usually self refer to the hospital physio department as well if you call and ask

Swiss ball; osteopath; massage; lots of stretching out hamstrings and calf muscles; pilates; supportive shoes.

It’s grim. I had it, not as terribly as some, but my pelvis separated during birth (rushed induction, fart birth, bad position because enormous baby) and I was unable to walk for months. It’s still not right and won’t ever be but I can do most things now. Core strength helps but obviously that’s hard to wrap your head around while pregnant.

Another good tip is a bin bag on the car seat for sliding in and out. Make sure your hips are higher than your knees when you sit. I had piles of pillows everywhere.

I am so angry that women get fobbed off with this and so many other issues.

I went to a chiropractor and that helped massively, much better than physiotherapy. I had to go once a week and it wasn't 7 years ago available on the NHS.

I had it with all 3 of my pregnancy's. Unfortunately there is no getting rid of it just managing it. I self referred to physio for 2 of the pregnancy's for some exercises and tips.

I was informed that walking causes the pain as it's the movement in the pelvis. I also brought a Serola maternity belt which I found really useful when needing to walk places, resting when possible and taking pain relief on bad days.

Hope it improves for you and good luck with the baby

@baby2due I just found this thread, am also suffering with PGP/SPD. It started around 20 weeks and am now at 32 weeks and has been getting progressively worse. I also find midwives not very helpful, they just sort of do a sad face and say oh yes pelvic pain can be difficult. I moved in November and had managed to get my previous midwife to refer me to a physio but only received an appointment to attend an online group class in Jan. They sent a list of exercises and the recording after, some of which are helpful but is very general to all pelvic pain and a lot I can't do.

I was in so much pain towards the end of December I could no longer get to work and have ended up paying for a private physio for the last few weeks because I felt nobody else would listen or actually examine me. She said I have an asymmetry where the pelvis has expanded and does manual therapy to right it which helps but is fairly transient. The pain has spread from the front to all around that side of the pelvis and associated muscle pain in my back is terrible and now affects me when sitting too. This week she has said that we can only try to manage it for the rest of the pregnancy as it is not improving and I have been given crutches. I have also been given a tubigrip thing for bump support and bought a serola belt as mentioned previously, this is the one the physio recommended.

Things that have helped (mentally and physically):

Walking everywhere extremely slowly to try not to aggravate the problem. Even if I could move faster I have to do everything way under the limit because if I approach it I won't be able to walk after. Now I have the crutches presumably this will take the weight off
Engage the pelvic floor before attempting to make movements to turn over in bed (turning in bed I find extremely painful). Roll onto back and lift one leg at a time while engaging muscles so knees are bent up, then plant both feet and use hands to support weight and rotate in one swift movement. Recently I have been struggling with this too and now hear a loud cracking in my pelvis. There is another technique getting onto all fours and turning.
I have struggled with not being able to walk and do no exercise as prior to pregnancy I was running, cycling, swimming and climbing. I've managed to go to the pool and swim only with my arms holding a float between my legs. I joined a pregnancy yoga class, although I can actually only do very few of the positions, some stretches (cat curls/childs pose) were also recommended by my physio. I at least feel some benefit from getting out and doing something.
When getting out of the car keep both legs together and turn in one movement to the side to plant your legs on the floor and stand up.

Sorry this is a really long post...I'm so sad there is so little help for this and they seem to make you feel like you are making a fuss when it is completely disabling. I have been really struggling with my limited ability to do anything around the house and with constant pain, it is so hard to not be able to do things for yourself too. I hope that at least some of these things are useful! Try to get referred to a physio ASAP if you can and get someone to actually look at you.

I am going to reiterate what a PP said about a chiropractor. I was getting to the point where I couldn't sleep, so demoralised and it really affected how I felt about the whole pregnancy and birth.

I started going privately to the chiropractor, not as expensive as I expected at all. It's been life-changing. I'm not cured but it's managable and I've lots of exercises and massages I do at home so I feel in control again.