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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

SPD in second pregnancy

56 replies

charmargot · 07/02/2009 23:20

Help!
I got pelvic pain in my first pregnancy from 30 weeks and I remember having a really hard time walking, sitting, turning in bed etc. My daughter is now 20 months and I'm 6 weeks pregnant and I can already feel pain.
Am I just being paranoid and imagining it?
Will it get worse than before as it's started that much earlier?
What exercise can I do to make sure I don't pile on the pounds that won't make it worse?
I know all the advice from before about posture, I have a support thing for my waist and a slip sheet for when I may need it so I don't really want to see the hospital physio to simply be told I'll get crutches if it gets worse. Is there anything that I can do though to make it better?
I'm a childminder so do a lot of buggy pushing on the school run and lifting of the little ones into seats etc.
I don't want to tell anyone til I'm past 12 weeks.
Anyone had the same and survived to tell the tale?

OP posts:
mogwai · 07/02/2009 23:37

Same as you

I had SPD in first pg from about 20 weeks. I had a support belt and all the symptoms you describe.

Got a first twinge at 8 weeks thins time round - just a twinge and then after about 13 weeks I could feel it in the background, though perhaps it wasn't earlier, I just knew what it was.

I'm now 22 weeks and up and down with it. It's worse this time around. I'm going to see an osteopath so I'll report back whether it's helpful!

Original poster
charmargot · 07/02/2009 23:54

Thanks!

OP posts:
gratuitousdisguise · 08/02/2009 03:41

I'm on 2nd pregancy too, and same story, had spd later on last time around and this time I felt it coming from before 12 weeks... perhaps felt it so early because this time I knew the signs and what it was...

My DS is just 2, so the crutches aren't much of a practial idea for me either, and there seems little else that they have to offer.

I have done a wee bit of swimming as excercise which was good, no stress on anywhere... I also see an osteopath which does help, but the effects wear off after a few days..

Original poster
charmargot · 08/02/2009 08:16

What does an osteopath do?
I'll have to tell my partner he needs to take his turn at putting to bed a couple of times a week so I can have a swim.

OP posts:
Kinderella · 08/02/2009 10:49

I had spd last pregnancy from around 5 months/ 20 weeks. (It was terrible!) Booked physio appt this time at 12 weeks, after first twinges felt (as I was terrified of going through that again) went along at 19 weeks for 1st appt. However, spd has not flared up as it did last time. Reason being physio has warned me not to vacuum, iron, walk a lot, run or cycle. I haven't and I do notice pain several hours after I do any of these things even for a short time. Last pg continued to do all this stuff and more and was crippled! This time spd has been kept (almost entirely) at bay. I am mobile and so pleased about it! So really try to avoid those things as they do aggravate it. Physio has given me some exercises, but to be honest I haven't really started to do those yet. I have heard that people get very good results from osteopathy and if mine does get bad I'm going to do that too. I am still doing yoga and body pump class, as these seem to be ok - so not feeling fat/unhealthy (but just need to be careful about exercises I do).

So there is hope, but do take it easy on those things I mentioned - I didn't realise they were causing the problem last time and really paid the price, I can't believe the difference this time.

Original poster
charmargot · 08/02/2009 11:32

thanks, happy not to iron as don't anyway and rarely hoover - must live in a pigsty! Walking is the bugger though!

OP posts:
Lotster · 08/02/2009 12:15

Hi there, I had a lot of symptoms again, early on in this second pregnancy. I really think it's from the hormone rush and does not neccessarily mean it will worsen from now..

I'm now 36 weeks and can't believe how much better I am this time. I'm a bit stiff and sore when I get up to start walking but am sooooo much better than before!

What I did was start swimming weekly (back crawl/front crawl only, no breaststroke), took lots of short walks, avoided lifting my 2 year old boy as much as possible (things like putting a chair next to his cot and lifting him over whilst sitting help). But my main tip is to see an osteopath who can check your alignment and basically "reset" you every 2-3 weeks depending on what you can afford; using massage, and rotating your joints, resistance work etc. It's not cheap but I'd have given anything to avoid the pain of last time. Really feel he's saved my life this time! Worth every penny.

I also got my GP to refer me to a hospital physio, you don't get much in the way of hands on relief, more a list of excercises to do yourself, but she referred me to a hospital based physio/pilates/pregnancy class which was good in the second trimester for strengthening too.

If you want a support belt, Serola is a good one.

Good luck.

p.s. check out the Pelvic Partnership's website too.

Kinderella · 08/02/2009 12:42

Oh and don't push shopping trolleys- that is a killer for me! That's a big one to avoid. Even short bursts pretty much immobilise me afterwards! But again I'm fine if i avoid them.

Very interested in Lotster's recommendations re osteopath. I'm definately going to try that if it starts to get bad.

Lotster · 08/02/2009 15:55

Forgot to say, see the osteo as early as poss, don't wait for symptoms to get bad.

BoffinMum · 08/02/2009 16:12

I got it at 19 weeks and I am now 32 weeks. I think seeing a chiropractor or an osteopath is the only thing that makes a difference - I don't know anyone who has benefited from physio. Also resting as much as possible and behaving a bit like a Victorian invalid when possible can help. But SPD is a real bummer.

Original poster
charmargot · 09/02/2009 09:00

I've got my first midwife appt next week so I'll speak with her - can you get referred to an osteopath and get on nhs? I'm not very well off.
Had a fairly lazy week last week as my school pick up was off, but I'll be out pushing a twin and sometimes triple buggy again this week. Will see how I go as I can use the car.
I'll start swimming twice a week too.
I remember being a "victorian invalid" last time and hated it, so anything to stop that happening will be great.
Thank you all!!

OP posts:
stubbyfingers · 09/02/2009 09:03

I had amazing results from seeing a chiropracter. Not cheap, but being pain free is so worth it.

BoffinMum · 09/02/2009 09:14

NHS are happy to spend £££ on crappy physios but balk at the thought of actually curing people via osteopathy and chiropractic.

Health insurers don't though, because they know that this saves them money in the end because people do actually improve.

Original poster
charmargot · 09/02/2009 09:18

bummer! no insurance just NHS. I won't even bother when they refer me to physio unless that'll get me on a chiropracter/osteo list. I know just what the physio will say.
Will look at my household accounts and see what we can afford as i know it'll be worth it.

OP posts:
BoffinMum · 09/02/2009 09:41

It's always worth spending money on your health, tbh. That and education for the kids.

NorktasticNinja · 09/02/2009 09:54

I had SPD in my first pregnancy and now have it again, this time it started at 9 or 10 weeks. I'm seeing a physio who's treating me with Rost therapy, it's really simple exercises that 'reset' and stabilise the pelvis and it works a treat. I can do most of the exercises on my own too and the rest with help from DP.

Here's the official site about it. I think the exercises are on the site somewhere (they are there on the Dutch site anyway, and with links to videos too), if not I can translate my instruction sheet for you if you want.

Lotster · 09/02/2009 10:21

Charmargot - sometimes you can find Osteopath treatment from training schools/colleges/businesses etc which allow you to pay a reduced amount. You're seen by training Osteopaths but only under the watchful eye of an expert.

Don't know where you are but another thing my friend tried was a drop in osteopathy centre where you just pay what you can afford, this was one for children in Clerkenwell but perhaps you culd find similar for adults.

Paying someone who is experienced in SPD is best though. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for, and it's really worth it, you definately won't be referred for it on the NHS though I'm afraid.
I pay £45 every three weeks for 45 mins of treatment. Within two days I feel a big difference and can keep going relatively normally until the next session. I think the breakdown of £15 a week is worth that...

Good luck again!

p.s. remember the short skirt and no knickers rule!! If you act like this is all you are wearing then you will keep your legs together, symmetrical and supporting you evenly. And clench your buttocks and tummy every time you get up to standing/set off walking, and turn over in bed.

BoffinMum · 09/02/2009 10:58

That Rost therapy site is very interesting. I will show my physio this stuff and see what he has to say about it. I was a bit disheartened there are no practitioners in the UK though.

NorktasticNinja · 09/02/2009 12:30

I didn't realise there were no UK practitioners, I really should have checked. Sorry.

It really is very simple and I'm sure it could be practiced safely without a physio. That said I'm sure my physio would be happy to speak to you on the phone (I've not actually spoken English with her, but I assume her English is fine).

Oh, and as far as I understand it, keeping your legs clamped together is one of the very worst things you can do when you've got SPD...

Lotster · 09/02/2009 13:00

Why's that Nork? Can you explain a bit more?

The obstetric physio told me about the legs together thing to ensure I supported myself well when I got out of the car, got to my feet etc, and advised me not to stand on one leg as it puts strain on the pelvis.
So it's not about being stiff, but even and supported. I have a tendency to be very loose limbed and fling myself about without thinking, so bearing this in mind this pregnancy has definitely helped me I think...

KERALA1 · 09/02/2009 13:02

It doesnt necessarily follow that you will always get it. I was housebound and on crutches in my first pregnancy and didnt get it all in the second.

oneyummymummy · 09/02/2009 13:04

I've just come to this topic to post a very similar posts to yours OP! Except I am not actually PG with DC#2 yet! I just wanted to know roughly what you are asking, whether people that got it once definalty got it second time too. And things that people have done to 'help' it!

Also does anyone know if weight was an issue for you? I was slim before DD but got SPD at 32/33 weeks and put on about 2 stone in the last 2months because of not being able to walk/move/excersice etc.. and I havnt lost all of the extra weight, but would it help or make any difference if I tried to get back to size 8 befor TTC again?!

Sorry for Hijack OP, but no point in making another thread, seeing as youve answered a lot of my questions already

Does it always come on earlier in second PG??

oneyummymummy · 09/02/2009 13:07

Oh kerala1 x-posted!

Did you do anything differently the second time? Weight different? Boy or girl? Sorry so many questions, but the 'pros' dont tend to tell you RL stories, just whats in thier book, that your bound to get it again!

MrsMattie · 09/02/2009 13:14

Hi there.

I had crippling SPD in my first pregnancy, Started at 20 weeks and was so bad that by 34 weeks I couldn't walk at all .

With my second pregnancy I started to feel the familiar pains by about 12-14 weeks. Got a referral to a women's health physio at my local hospital. She gave my a set of exercises to do religiously three times a day. They were pretty much pilates-based, really - lots of pelvic floor / core stability stuff, very simple to do. It didn't stop the SPD developing, but it was nowhere near as bad as first time around. In fact, I'd say from about 26 weeks-ish onwards the SPD got very slightly better.

I also put on less weight with this pregnancy (4 stone in first pregnancy , only two stone this time) and I think that did make a lot of difference, too, to be honest.

My physio also advised me that keeping a fine balance between not overdoing it and not just lying around all day was the key. So - no heavy lifting, no long shopping trips etc, no prolonged periods of physical activity. However, several bursts of short walking each day were encouraged, as sitting down a lot can really exacerbate SPD.

Ice packs down your pants can really help, too, if the pain is at the front of your pelvis

Original poster
charmargot · 09/02/2009 13:48

Hi oneyummymummy! You hijacker!! I don't know if everyone gets it second time around, but I'm 7 weeks now and am feeling twinges.
Lotster - I'm in Newcastle so will see if the local hospitals do drop ins or training sessions. Like the short skirt no knickers rule!
norkninja - checked the rost site but can't find exercises.
I've got a wii fit, anyone know if I do the balancing ones will that help or be worse? I'm crap at just doing exercises so need something like a wii to stick at it (if only we hadn't felt rich at christmas I could've saved the wii money for osteopathy/chiropracter!!!)
Unfortunately long shopping trips, long walks to school and back pushing a heavy buggy and lifting small but feeling heavier children is what I mainly do all day!
I thought I was so clever selling my drama in education business and registering as a childminder so I could look after my little girl, but I may have to look to see if I can at least drop my school pick up child.
It's not painful yet, I am just conscious of it and can feel it starting. Anyway, children are asleep so i should have a little rest!

OP posts: