I am in agony - is there anything I can do??

[MrsDandOllie]

I am 35 weeks pregnant with DC2. First pregnancy was text book and I sailed through it smiling. This one has been the same - up till now!
For the last few weeks I have been having twinges in my hips/back/pelvis that have been causing some pain. In the last couple of weeks though it has got worse and worse, particularly in my pelvis. It has got to the point now where it is very painful to walk, move or even just move my legs while I am lying/sitting down.
I am thinking it sounds like SPD - I have a few friends who had this and it seems to be fairly common.
I dont have a midwife appt till end of next week (I see her infrequently as I tend to have no problems each time and a straighforward check up). I just tried to call and bring appt forward but all her slots are fully booked till then. Receptionist suggested if its urgent to call her mobile....
Now shall I call her mobile? Or is there not a lot she can do for me at this late stage?? I am guessing I am too late to be referred for physio or anything like that, but is there a support belt or something she could give me that would make it worth making a fuss and calling her out over??
Any advice?? please???

the best thing you can do is rest rest rest and not aggrevate it. TAke the stairs one at a time or go up on your bum, make sure you swing your legs around together getting in and out of the car etc. Probably not worth ringing her mobile there is little she can do. I would suggest ringing around some local osteopaths and asking if they have experience of treating pregnant women for SPD as the treatment I had during 2 pregnancies made a huge difference and I was crippled and on crutches with it.

If it is SPD (and it does sound like it is) then you must concentrate on keeping your pelvis evenly stressed, IYSWIM. Wear trainers, or other such supportive shoes, not heels or flats. Stand with your weight evenly on both feet, feet slightly apart - you'll find where is least uncomfortable by trial and error. Never slump to one side or slouch. Try not to carry your dc1 if at all possible, and definitely not on one hip, but in front and as close as possible to you. Keep your knees together when you sit. Get into the car by reversing into the seat, then lifting both feet and swiveling your whole body into the car.Get out of the car simmilarly, by swiveling both feet out together, then lifting the rest of your body out when both feet are on the ground. Sleep with a cushion between your knees, and try to roll over in bed, rather than twist over in teh same spot.

Consider also how you want to labour. Asymmetric positions may be very uncomfortable now, ditto sitting on a birthing ball. I think you mustn't deliver on your back (unless of course you have no choice) because of splaying your knees and putting extra stress on your pelvis. I had SPD with dd, my second, and delivered lying on my left side, with my knees bent and tucked up together. They were barely 12-18" apart. It was far more comfortable than delivering ds1.

HTH

Oh, and don't cross your legs, not even at the ankle.

you see all those little things I've forgotton! I also recommend a bag of frozen peas on your pubic bone to help calm the pain down.

I had SPD and found that using a mattress topper REALLY helped... some foam or a spare duvet on top of your mattress would work just as well.

The other thing my MW told me to avoid was hoovering, pushing shopping trolleys and things like cleaning the bath. Don't carry too much (well, you shouldn't be anyway). Avoid stairs as much as possible too, and go up them one by one. Very tedious but really helps.

When you're getting out of the car, swing both yor legs out together, rather than one leg at a time. Basically avoid any activity that spreads your legs

Look into positions for the birth, and maybe once you've been checked out make a note in your birth plan that you don't want to give birth on your back, and you need to remain mobile.

I gave birth on my knees while leaning over a chair, which I found really really good and didn't put too much pressure on my hips... every time they got me on my back to examine me I was in total agony (more so than the actual contractions - heh)

Hope that's helpful.

You can get a support belt - I have 2. They are quite comfy and have helped.

What saved my sanity was a gorgeous French osteopath - the osteopathy really helped and I was so blissed out and horny with all those pregnancy hormones that I practically wanted to grab him and shag him on the consulting table. Except of course I was the size of a whale and wearing very big knickers. And he was gay. Ho hum. Anyway a big vote for osteopathy from me, it really did ease the pain (can also make the birth easier too as they make sure everything is aligned properly).

osteopathy was the go for me. 30 pounds a week was well worth the pain relief.