That symphis pubic disorder thing in pg (can't spell it ) But does anyone have any experience of it?

[sheepgomeep]

I'm really hurting down below and its worse when I get out the car or lift one leg higher than another. I'm only 15 weeks. No pain inside in my tummy but have a really heavy dragging sensation in my lady bits [blush)

I also have varicose veins in my vulva too but I always get these in pregnancy

I had it but not this early in pregnancy.

Do you want to know if that is what you are suffering from, or do you want advice?

I had SPD in my last pregnancy and the pain you described could be a symptom of that. If you're worried then speak to the midwife, mine referred me to physiotherapy. I started getting symptoms fairly early in pregnancy.

I started at 11 or 12 weeks. Felt like groin strain - someone trying to force your pelvic bones apart at the front, with stabbing down into the vagina. If lifting one leg higher than the other is triggering it then stop - it's a condition where you have a lot of control over how bad it gets.

Pelvic Partnership has good info. In my case exercise made it a lot worse - even that with the physio the hospital provided - being sat on my bum helped enormously, as did using lifts and moving very, very slowly, and sitting down to put knickers on etc. etc - as little single leg weight bearing as possible.

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/844155-SPD-Sofa-support-and-advice-offered-at-no-extra-charge

This thread will help you, we all are suffering

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/844155-SPD-Sofa-support-and-advice-offered-at-no-extra-charge

Thank you all, I'll have a look at that thread now.

If its what I have I'm worried about a couple of things. I don't have a lot of help and support at home. My dp has undiagnosed aspergers and just does not understand things like this, very hard to explain and I'm already struggling with the house

Also I'm very worried about work I don't get sick pay or SMP from work as my hours are only 15 (no NI contribution)so I would be left without money.

The pain is managable for the short term but as I work in Asda Living, I'm on my feet for all of my shift doing delivery and working on checkout (too high and wrong position for a chair) And they are less than sympathetic with me. I'm going to see my midwife on Tuesday and ask her advice too.

Perfectstorm your symptoms are like mine and it came on very suddenly today.

Hi, just wanted to add that your work legally have to do a risk assessment on you when you tell them that you are pregnant. They then have to make any necessary adjustments to accomodate you - i.e giving you work to do that doesn't involve being on your feet all day! This is a legal requirement so you should definitely speak to your line manager and HR and explain your situation.

Hi,
I had SPD fairly badly from around 17 weeks and went onto crutches at 21 weeks. I would ask your midwife for a physio referal and then ask the physio for a decent support belt. I had one with boning in the back and 3 big straps round the front, this helped lots. As did doing as little as possible, but having 2 other children under 4 at the time limited the times this happened! Also - and I will probably get into trouble for saying this - say YES to drugs! I took co codamol prescribed by the consultant and they did take the edge off, in the end it was the strong 30/500's that helped.

You're entitled to at least some Maternity Allowance if you've worked 26 out of the 66 weeks prior to giving birth, and earned at least £30 a week in that time. It says you get paid 90% of your average weekly wage, up to a top level of £123 a week.

Was pretty sure anyone working was entitled to some basic level of maternity pay.

Your employer has to safeguard your health, anyway, but they are under extra and specific obligations to pregnant women. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 say they have to identify and safeguard pregnant women, breastfeeding women and those who have given birth in the last 6 months from any identifiable occupational risks. Making a woman with PGP/SPD stand for an extended period of time contravenes that. Maybe post in legal so you know your position, and can then politely ask your manager to provide a breakfast-bar type stool to sit on at a checkout, and to keep you on the checkout for the pregnancy, so you can sit down? That seems a reasonable adjustment in the circs, surely?

If your DH has Aspergers then he should be fine to understand the very practical aspects. Being literal minded is useful when you are explaining that your joints are too loose, the ligaments not supporting them, and the painful rubbing together is made worse by movement and strain. There are diagrams online which are useful. (DH isn't ASD but I swear at times you'd never know it - he does like him a good diagram!).

I think he would understand the practical side of the spd ..good idea about the diagram but he wouldn't connectin his mind that I would need more help round the house, he would just say well why can't you do more?

He struggles to cope doing lots of different things at once too

As for work I've had a risk assessment already and things have been promised like a stool but nothing forthcoming. I'm still bending down to get the delivery off the floor which hurts my back and shifting pallets down to the warehouse.

I had SPD in both pregnancies, but 8 weeks after birth all is well - Hooray!
Stop ironing and hoovering, don't wear things that need ironing and try not to make a mess! Anything one sided is bad so golf is out too - bummer!
Go to a back class offered by hospital for a belt and advice on how to get in and out of the car etc.
See a chiropractor - expensive, but good way to spend your £190 health grant. Do not lift pallets at work, I'm sure someone else can do it.
Wear sensible shoes e.g. closed over flat shoes with a orthopedic insert available from Boots etc.
Good luck, if you manage it well it won't get too much worse, but you must be aware of it all the time.

I feel your pain!!!

I had severe SPD during my first pregnancy. Like 7dayweekend, I ended up bedbound towards the end.

I did have quite a physical job at the time, and I think this made it worse.

Exercise is a big no-no. And anything that involves parting your legs should be avoided (no sniggers please ladies, I meant things like getting out of bed/the car one leg at a time ).

I second the suggestion that an early physio referral can make all the difference. In my second pregnancy, I was referred really early on and SPD got nowhere near as bad as with my first.

I think the key is to find out how to manage the condition as soon as it starts so that it doesnt progress to the stage I was at. I put the uncomfortable twinges and stuff at the beginning just down to pregnancy and didnt mention it to my midwife until it got painful.

I am sure the ladies on the SPD sofa will be able to give you some good advice.

Thanks to everyone that has replied... the links are really informative. I think I had it to some degree towards the end of my last pg and at times found it difficult to walk but my mw put it down to aches and pains which was wrong I think.

Had a better day today but had an exhausting night in work.. that needs to be sorted!