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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

can I do anything to prevent SPD?

33 replies

hairymelons · 22/03/2010 21:33

Had SPD during last pregnancy, never crippling but it was really uncomfortable.
Is there anything I can do to prevent it this time? It's starting to niggle already & I'm only 10 weeks.
Thanks.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

fidelma · 22/03/2010 21:48

Keep your legs together,don't cross your legs, support your body weight when getting up,legs together when you get out of the car, roll over in bed etc.take small steps no breast stroke, no running.

Good Luck

differentnameforthis · 22/03/2010 21:48

Nope, can't prevent as far as I know. I had it bad in both pregnancies & it came on earlier with dd2.

Just take it as easy as you can & ask for a referral for physio for a support belt & hydrotherapy!

fidelma · 22/03/2010 22:06

I managed to keep mine relitivly at bay by following the above advice.For pregnancy number 2, 3 and 4 (managed to avoid crutches)

Original poster

hairymelons · 22/03/2010 23:32

Thank you.

I didn't ask for a referral last time as I wasn't as bad as some of the women in my ante-
natal. Might this time though. I'm on my feet for long hours (work as a chef) so that doesn't help I don't think.

Had forgotten about the leg crossing thing, well reminded thanks!

OP posts:

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 22/03/2010 23:36

I would also say:

Keep your weight in check

and

Don't be doing to much lifting (toddler or anything else)

and

Don't push buggies/shopping trollies

and

Don't do any form of exercise that puts a strain on your joints such as jogging or butterfly crawl.

I got it with my 1st pregnancy and although it wasn't crippling, it was very uncomfortable, painful and a nuisance so next time around I'm going to try and do all of the above, although it will be next to impossible not do do some of it with a toddler to run around after.

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 22/03/2010 23:37

Oh, forgot to add - No house work such as hoovering!

YanknCock · 22/03/2010 23:40

hairymelons, you are very good--I am such a blabbermouth I would have told everyone at the meetup even that early on!

Don't think there is much to do to prevent SPD, but if you can afford it, see an osteopath. My experience of the NHS physio was rubbish, but I understand some are very good. My referral netted me a session with 20+ other pregnant, SPD-suffering women, a very boring powerpoint presentation, and not much else.

I went and saw an osteopath, and went from barely moving to walking over to the park for a carnival (admittedly not far at all, but was a miracle at the time). Each session was around £33 I think, but well worth it to keep me mobile for the last few months.

Congratulations!

Original poster

hairymelons · 22/03/2010 23:52

Hello Yank!!

I did blabber to missmarjorie actually, despite trying very hard not to say anything! Scan is in 10 days so will be able to tell everyone soon, yey. Think it's twins this time actually, been feeling so bloody awful.

Anyway, I'll stop hijacking my own thread....have used an osteopath before for back problems and took DS to a cranial osteopath so I'm well up for that. Great idea.

TheBreastmilk, I am very lazy busy so we have a cleaner and DH hoovers inbetween times. Have shown him your post and he has agreed to do all supermarket shops/ buggy pushing for the next 6 1/2 months

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IMoveTheStars · 22/03/2010 23:57

No strenuous housework (no cleaning the bath, doing hoovering, ironing qualifies I think )

One thing my MW said was 'don't stand on one leg when you put your pants/trousers on - sit down'

NO shopping trolleys (Internet shopping is compulsory with SPD - check out the promotional codes sections, there are always free delivery codes)

If you have to lift, avoid twisty lifting (IYKWIM)

Knees together and pelvis straight (esp when slobbing out watching TV at the end of the day)

Get out of the car with your knees together.

Get some kind of matress topper - even just a single duvet on top of your mattress will be good enough.

Having the duvet between my legs helped. Remember that you will need a second duvet to cover you.

Yoga. Core stability. Aqua Natal. Anything to strengthen the core muscles. Pelvic Floor exercises won't hurt either.

HTH

IMoveTheStars · 22/03/2010 23:59

btw - I had SPD so crippling I didn't leave the house from 36 weeks pregnant, and I went 10 days OD

Cannot stress the core stability enough - It's the one thing I didn't do, and since doing this kind of exercise post-DS, the difference it makes to my posture and joint pain in amazing.

Original poster

hairymelons · 23/03/2010 00:06

Thanks, Jareth. Will be starting yoga when I get to 12 weeks. Haven't really been to the gym since before DS was born. I know I'm not physically as fit as I was 1st time round which is why I'm a bit more concerned about it.

The duvet between the legs thing- so you don't want legs too far apart (wait til I tell DH) as in getting out of car but not too close together, as in crossed?

You lot are very helpful, thank you.

OP posts:

Original poster

hairymelons · 23/03/2010 00:08

Sounds awful, btw. You didn't leave the house for 6 weeks? You must have been crawling the walls.

OP posts:

Irishfairy · 23/03/2010 07:30

All of the above tips are great, I've managed to aleviate most of the pain by following them and can walk around easily again. Also bending with the knees and not from the waist really helped me

ellesabe · 23/03/2010 20:21

What's SPD?
Sorry... first-timer over here

Original poster

hairymelons · 25/03/2010 00:13

It's symphysis pubis dysfunction. Info here

OP posts:

kapars · 26/03/2010 21:03

Read this it is really helpful -

www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/

As the website says many women are fobbed off or are given useless info by some NHS physios who just give you a belt and exercises when it is a treatable condition. (some NHS physios are great though)
I suffered with severe pain from 10 weeks pregnant, was finally referred to a physio at 16 weeks saw her at 20, she did nothing but give me a belt and exercies.
In panic that I was getting much worse I went to see a private chiropractor and after three sessions I feel no pain at all. Have had no pain all week and have much better mobility.
The pelvic partnership will send you a booklet free of charge and it recommends seeing a physio, a chiro or a osteopath who will manually treat pregnant women.

Antenatal yoga is also great.
Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster

hairymelons · 29/03/2010 20:10

Thanks Kapars, that's really helpful.
It's already much worse than it was a week ago. I'm only 11 weeks now and I'm doing my best not to cross my legs etc. but I think it's going to get much worse.
Have signed up for yoga but I seem to remember there was lots I couldn't do last time?
Anyway, will look at that link now

OP posts:

Original poster

hairymelons · 30/03/2010 17:13

Kapars, that website is brilliant. Thank you so much. I'll be passing it on to anyone that asks about SPD in future

OP posts:

NKffffffffee0f8010X1140828dc0e · 30/03/2010 17:53

I've suffered quite badly with SPD in both my pregnancies (and this one is twins) and i would recommend doing your pelvic floor exercises several times a day plus some light pilates if you can.

The mattress topper is a must later on if you find pelvic pain is waking you up and you can't lie down any longer.

use an SPD belt for walking

paracetmol helps during night while pain is still mild but once is gets bad it won't do anything.

I wish i'd seen an osteopath earlier too as i'm stuck on bed rest now at 37 weeks and it is agony just to get up to go to toilet but turning over in bed is the worst pain.

lifeistooshort · 31/03/2010 14:22

Follow the advice below, very good tips:

I would also say:

buys some satin pyjamas and sheets (if you can find some) they make it a lot more comfy to turn in bed;

find a good chiropractor (I have been treated twice a week, now down to once a week since 14 weeks and it is amazing the difference it makes).

Were good supporting shoes and ASBOLUTELY NO ugg boots or similar type of footware, they literally tear your pelvis in bits

ASAPWW · 31/03/2010 14:41

I wouldn't advocate yoga with SPD - I think this was the start of all my problems, stretching an already flexible pelvis has definitley triggered/worsened the condition. Am now in agony. Pilates seems better as this exercises and strengthens the core without risk of overstretching. But am in so much pain, I can't do that now either. Really feel for anyone who has this sh!tty condition.

Anyone have any experiences of how long it takes to go away after delivery?

Original poster

hairymelons · 31/03/2010 19:41

Mine went away straight after delivery last time. I know this isn't always the case but I think it oftens is.
Have you chacked out the Pelvic Partnership website that Kapars mentioned above? It has info on how long it takes to get better etc.

OP posts:

Original poster

hairymelons · 31/03/2010 19:42

Oftens = often

Simples.

OP posts:

lifeistooshort · 31/03/2010 21:38

ASAAP it took me about a year of physio after the birth to get back to normal...not that I want to scare you or anything

worldcupbaby · 31/03/2010 21:53

I didnt find anything helped in my last pregnancy and have suffered terribly in this pregnancy too...

Then I discovered chiropractic treatment (its pricy £25 per 15 mins Im paying)

But Im noticing differences already which is amazing!!

Good luck x

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