SPD - Help! how long did it take for yours to clear up...

[manamana]

Ds2 is now 3 months, am SO much better than when pg BUT still can't walk for longer than about 30mins without aching, after a day looking after both DSs (DS1 is nearly 3) I am really achey after chasing after and hauling Ds1 into car seat etc etc Am still seeing physio and doing pilates exercises daily to strengthen core muscles but she has told me to continue to be careful with activities - no attempting to run, kick a ball etc (frustrating with a ds).

Am breastfeeding and I know this will have an impact but not sure how much it would help if I stopped - am hoping to carry on till i go back to work - 6mo ish - but if I knew it would have a big impact would stop straight away as its getting me down.

Just wanted to see if anyone had any good tips - should I try osteopathy or will that only work once my ligaments are less springy - ie finished breastfeeding...

As far as I am aware BFing is not implicated in ongoing SPD because the levels of circulating relaxin are so miniscule.

I felt loads better by the time DS was 3 months and went off to a very vigorous exercise class only to totally bugger myself again and I'm still struggling sometimes. On the whole it's fine though, but I think I'll probably always have to be careful about climbing/slipping on floors. DS is now 9 months.

My physio said 3 months was still very early though, so there's time for it all to settle down yet for you

6-9 months, with the best chiropractor in the world, progressing to his pilates studio when he deemed treatment as "finnihsed".

Try breastfeeding lying down. I had SPD with my second and it took about 3m to clear up enough that I felt normal, but many months longer before I was able to eg sit cross-legged. I think one reason it appears to be connected to bfing is the positions you find yourself in for longish periods of time while bfing in a sitting position - they can be very 'irritating' to the pelvic joints. Feeding lying down with a cushion between your legs does not irritate the pelvis.

thank you, have been stressing about giving up breastfeeding so v good to hear that it may not be a factor, asked GP who said 'hmmm, I'll try and find out", asked physio "ah well you're encouraged to breatfeed until 6 months now aren't you so I'd carry on..." brilliant.
obviously need to be a bit more patient just that can't run around my ds and [frustrated emoticon] that shenanigans with my dh are still pretty tricky and not mch fun

I used to breastfeed laying on my side, or sitting in bed using both a breastfeeding cushion and lots of other pillows for support. When eventually I managed to go down the staircause, I would brestfeed sitting on the sofa, with ds plumped up on numerous cushions so he was high enough without me straining anything. (I also kept a coolpack on my pubic bone.... )

Try getting him to lie on his side with his legs curled up in front, while you lie on your back with your legs over his - knees together - so that you are sort of sitting on his lap but you are both lying on his bed. (Do I make sense?) That way he can {ahem] effect entry without stressing your pelvic joints at all. Though, if I'm honest, for me that was a better-than-nothing position, rather than a wonderful one.

From a leaflet on the Pelvic Partnership website:

" Breast-feeding
There is no evidence-based
research to suggest that breastfeeding
increases the recovery
time for women with SPD. Some
midwives and doctors believe it
does, but having spoken to many
women with SPD who have fed,
often for extended periods, there
appears to be no link between
giving up breast-feeding and
recovery."

pretty candles, I thought you were still talking about breastfeeding! will give it a go though

thanks conley eater - will carry on bfeeding and stop stressing, want to make most of it as am NEVER doing this to my body again!!!!