SPD - what help can I ask for or get??

[IlanaK]

I am on my third pregnancy - 28 weeks now. No SPD first pregnancy. Had it quite badly second pregnancy at the end. I remember sitting in the hospital antenatal appointment crying my eyes out to the consultant who just said it was a part of pregnancy and i had to put up with it.

It has started again in the last week. Not too bad yet - just quite uncomfortable. But I can feel it progressively getting worse already. I have an appointment in the hospital (different one this time) on wednesday and was wondering what I could ask for in the way of help.

I've just been given a pelvic support belt by a friend and it is very good

otherwise - physio
exercises
avoid anything that exacerbates it

You might find something via the Pelvic Partnership charity.

Is a pelvic support belt like one of the elasticated strips that go under your bump? I have one of those, but haven't used it yet.

it's a very strong elastic and velcro type affair - it pulls everything together, literally squeezes your pelvis back where it should be, temporarily
feels dreadful when you take it off and everything spreads apart again!
I'll see if I can link

Thanks for the link to the pelvic partnership. I have just been reading and it was very useful.

something like this

there are many types
mine has a very strong and stretchy elastic part and 3 velcro straps where you hoist it all together
looks ruddy awful

oh dear sorry

try this or search for pelvic support belt and you will see many types

looking at the pictures I wear mine a lot lower - right round my pubis
it has helped me so far and I didn't need it today

I had it with last pregnancy and was referred to physio. The support belt helped immensely!

Can't get the link to work - sorry

Ah - got it now. Mine does not look like that - it is a single strip of elastic, not three. Did you get yours from the hospital or did you have to buy it?

a friend lent it to me
mine doesn't look quite like that either, but it is more involved than just a single strip of elastic
I think it is definitely worth getting one, even if you have to pay for it
someone did tell me you can get on the NHS but I was not offered one

they have quite a choice here and not pricey
I would say mine is most like the fourth one down
but look at the bottom one! much nicer to wear over your clothes and it says specifically for symphisis area

It's worth finding out if you're local physio department has a specialist womens health physio. Your midwife should be able to refer you directly into that service. They have the specialist knowledge and skills to assess and treat you and hopefully would keep you on their books until after the baby's born so they can check everything's okay then (this varies depending on where you live I should think)

Hope you get the help you need . I would hope a midwife would be more sympathetic than the consultant you had last time.

Thanks for the link again. The one at the bottom only comes in a small and I am a big plus size lady! However, it is good to see they do next day delivery. We are going on holiday on Saturday for a week and I am suddenly thinking I should have one before i go. I will see what the hospital says on Wednesday and if they are no use, I will order one. I have to say I like the look (for comfort reasons - not fashion!) of the first link.

Can you all tell me - do you wear it over your clothes or under? And can you sit down with them on? I can't imagine waering it over cloths - it would look hideous - especially on a lady as large as me!

Mine was like the fourth one down on FrannyandZooey's link. I still have it put aside in case I need it for this pregnancy (wishful thinking I suppose that I might not need it!)

I can wear mine under something like tracksuit trousers but not under jeans
it is an ugly thing and I think I look lumpy in it! but was very much a relief when I had to go to work and do lots of physical stuff

a friend suggested getting a pretty scarf and draping it over the top
if you search you will find other more discreet looking ones, I will also look

quite discreet

wow a kind of glamour version

I wear mine under my clothes and got it from the obstetric physio at the hospital. She applies gentle pressure on my pubic bone every time I need levelling out and it's a real help, the belt supports me when I walk and in between appointments. The size would fit a larger lady as the velcro staps are widely adjustable, mine is a medium but believe me, I'm all woman and am spreading like a forest fire! Good luck, get it seen to as it can get nasty even after you give birth, as I'm sure you know thanks to the horror stories on MN!!

I was lucky last time and did not have any further problems once I gave birth.

This is what I have already (and have not tried). Do you think it will do the trick or should i get one of the ones linked to?

I think that is going to give you support for your bump and your lower back only Ilana
I think what you need is a pelvic belt that literally pulls your pelvis back into place - it is going to be around your hips and pubis more than around the bottom of your bump like the one shown in the picture

I have to agree with FrannyandZooey, you need something with proper support for your pelvis as well. I was really lucky and the pain just went away almost immediately after I gave birth, but I firmly believe that it was because I was careful to make sure I had proper support during the pregnancy.

I suspected as much. I may try that one out tomorow anyway when I go out to the doctor and run errands (I walk everywhere - central london). But I think I may also order one from the links you gave me. So, is the £31 one worth it (first link) or will the £9.99 ones suffice?

I suggest cutting down on the walking and weight bearing. I didn't cut down enough even though I thought I had. Now I can see that I could have had an easier time.