All new singing & dancing, extra comfy, SPD sofa

[xMrsSx]

Some useful links for all you ladies suffering from SPD/PGP or who think they might be...
www.acpwh.org.uk/docs/ACPWH-PGP_HP.pdf
and the pelvic partnership website is really useful.

If you think you might be suffering then get yourself down to the midwife for a physio referral and hopefully they can help: maternity belt/exercises/acupuncture etc etc.

If you are really struggling then... REST... it is the only thing that REALLY works.

And most important of all plonk (very gently) yourself down on this sofa, help yourself to cake, and get some advice/support from some very loverly ladeez! xxx

Hello everyone
I popped up a few weeks back to ask for your advice and havent been on here since.
I am waiting for my NHS physio assessment - next week thank goodness. It hasnt been too bad but has got progressively worse - Im now 28 weeks. I've was meant to have 1/2 day today for mw appointment but was in a lot of pain during the night - just like someone else said, particularly when trying to get out of bed to go to the loo for like the 3rd time! . Woke up this morning and so achy, the pain is properly in my hips now too, not just the pelvic area. Meep. So I just thought I cant commute into London today and get the tube i need to rest.

Has anyone else been doing antenatal yoga? The instructor at mine is very aware of the whole issue & makes sure i dont do any positions that might aggravate the spd. Also was thinking of getting myself a support betl - Just like Lizzombe has said I dont really want to get something uncomfortable. What do you think of this one from the nct shop?

www.nctshop.co.uk/Carriwell-Support-Band-Black/productinfo/1185/

I thought I could do with the lower back support too.

Just popping by! DC3 is 7 weeks old today and my hips are much better, wobbly but basically ok.

lizardqueenie I had that carriwell support and it was good, I wore it all the time,it dries overnight so you can just have one. The carriwell bras are good too. I had a 'bellybra' when i had dc1 and 2 which are good too and actually look quite nice in black, I think they come from either BloomingM or BumpsM. By the way Jojo sell the cariwell band with free delivery (10% off code from MN discounts page).

Hope you are all at least OK and not in too much pain. You've just got to rest rest rest, and rest means lying down. It does get better very quickly after your LO arrives.

Hi LooL00 wow I bet that time has flown by with your little one. Glad to hear that you are feeling better.

Right thats it I am going to order one today.

It made me laugh for a moment when you said it dries over night - obviously you mean for washing - for some reason I immediately thought about some kind of incontinence! Clearly I have a very pregnant brain!

lizardqueenie The NHS Physio I saw had a whole cupboard of support belts. I think there were 3 main types, and it was free. If you haven't ordered your NCT one yet, can you hold off in case you can get the same one for free from your appt next week?

Hi everyone! lizardqueen it's quite right that the physio may give you a belt, mine did. What I meant to say was that I wore the carriwell all day and the one the physio gave me just for standing doing cooking and for walking about(when I couldn't avoid walking). The one the physio gave me was not comfortable to sit down in so I had to keep puttting it on and off on top of my clothes.So at times I was wearing 2 supports.
Also I did antenatal yoga when I had dc1, it wasn't much help and I'd have been better resting. This is not me being cynical about yoga as it was run by the teacher I had been doing 2 sessions a week with for the previous 4 years, just that spd is a wierd one and the only thing that seems to help is rest. Also I found getting on and off the floor very diff.

I have the usual groin and hip pain of spd but have recently also been getting pain from my cocyx (sp?) and my pelvis at the back, it feels like it is bulging outwards.

Is this SPD or something else entirely?

Lizzombie & LooL00 thanks for that but aggh too late! I have ordered! However I did read that some of the support belts from physio/ GP were a bit uncomfortable or they showed under clothes which is why i quite liked the look of that band one - I've still got 5 weeks left at work, after taking time of sick and practically throwing up in my bin in the last few months I want to retain some kind of dignity before i leave if thats possible!

lizardqueenie the Carriwell band is great for wearing all day and then maybe the phys will give you a different type. My physio told me to choose the black as it looks less 'medical' over clothes.Pelvic floor exercises help as much as wearing a support so you need to do loads. My physio gave me a big elastic strip and got me doing pelvic floor exercises on a gym ball. Just sitting on a gym ball 'engages' the pelvic floor she said.

LooLOO you sound like you have had a really good physio, mine gave me a band, told me to sit down as much as possible and to come back if it got worse! Nothing to prevent it getting worse. I even asked whether it was okay to use my gum ball and she just said 'I suppose so'.

If you have any more pearls of wisdom please pass them on. I'm off to get my gym ball now.

Sitting on a gym ball is good as it's easier to get up off,comfy and gets your pelvic floor stronger.
There's lots of wisdom on the old spd sofa thread, but it's summed up as REST REST REST, sitting doesn't count, you've got to lie down, wear satin pyjamas(easier to turn over in bed),take the stairs one at a time, and see a physio. NHS physios vary, mine only does spd cases but getting an appt to see her is always a problem.

Seconding LooLOO - the gym ball is a god send, I wfh at least 2 days a week so I can sit on it and it really helps.

Turning over in bed is getting worse and worse, need my rest days to buy back some pain free time! It's amazing how some proper rest can set you up. (So, sorry DH, I won't be doing the ironing on my day off tomorrow, I'll be lying down!!!)

Hi, Was just going to post a SPD/PGP question but I wondered if its easier to get you all in one go (though loads of you seem to be on my ante-natal thread )

This is my third pregnancy but the first time I have had this.

I saw physio a couple of weeks ago( on a good day) & have a support belt , she said PGP and gave me exercises. I saw consultant yesterday (on a bad day) and he said SPD and talked about crutches. At what point would you normally move on to crutches? I can walk about 10 mins max atm though that depends where and a lot of that will be with a limp as my right knee and hip are the worse affected.

I stopped work last week so am free to lounge around and kids will help enough with essential stuff until they go back to school.

Also baby really hates the belt and I can't last long with it on as they really ram at me until I take it off as that hurts more so any other suggestions are welcome!

Oh and Im 32 weeks and having a section at 38/39 weeks.

I'm at GP tomorrow so if I need referring back to physio I can ask!

Hi nymphadora Sorry you've got SPD. I wore the belt from about 20 to 34 weeks and then it became uncomfortable. I didn't take the crutches when they were first offered (didn't want to admit it had got so bad) and by the time I needed them i wasn't up to going to the physio to get them! I'd get them if i were you and use them when you need them. I really could have used them around the house in the evenings by week 36. Luckily dc3 turned up at 38w. She's 8 weeks old and I'm much better but not 100% yet.

Thanks, going to GP tomorrow so will get re-referred. Last referral took 3 weeks (urgent ) so don't want to wait that long as I won't make it to the car soon without help.

Hi all, just popping on here to post a happy update - my hydrotherapy (coupled with regular massages from DH!) is really starting to work. I feel so much better now and am off painkillers. I know many hospitals don't offer hydro, but to be honest, the important thing is just to do the exercises in water - so i've been using my local pool to exercise in as well (hydro at the hospital is only once a week).

Here's a few exercises, as an example:

Strengthening Moves

Facing the stairs, stand in the shallow end of the pool. Step up the lowest step, and then back down. Repeat for 10 times gradually, leading with your right leg; then 10 times leading with your left leg. Turn sideways and repeat the exercise with both legs.

Using your hands, hold a kick board in front of you in a manner that it's up on one end and immersed halfway in the water. Walk from one side of the pool to the other whilst pushing the kickboard in front of you; focus on keeping the board straight. Turn around and walk back to the original position, zig-zagging the board in front of you.

Hold the rim with your elbows and stand with your back to the side of the pool. Keeping your knees straight, gradually bring both legs up to a 90-degree angle in front of you and hold the position for 10 seconds, while exhaling slowly. Subsequently bend at the knee to bring your legs down, and repeat as many times as you can. However, look out to keep your back straight throughout this exercise.

Hi ladies

Checking in to see how your are doing

bells hydrotherapy sounds lovely, actually getting massages from your DH sounds great too!

nymph any idea how long your referral might take?

Well I was meant to see the physio last week for an assessment after waiting weeks to actually see someone and then I got a call on the morning to say that the physio was off sick! So I am going tomorrow for a rescheduled appointment. Not sure if it is related (I do feel like my body is just hanging together by a thread) but I have got lower back pain on one side now too- particularly when I put weight on that side, so every other step. 30 weeks and counting.....

Hello
It's so nice to see this thread. I;m 28 weeks and had my first physio appointment last week for SPD. I have good and bad days. Yesterday was a very bad one and I've been up since 4am in agony. The consultant prescribed me co-codamol, I took some last night as the pain was so bad, but I really do worry in case it affects the baby. Does anyone else take it? I've been given exercises to do and also been told how to walk and adjust my posture.. I just hope it does help soon, as I'm feeling quite low with the pain and lack of sleep. I'm not finishing work until 22nd October, so I need to get thru' all this somehow!

Hi everyone!! Baby LooL00 is now 9 weeks old and things continue to get better with me. In the context of how crap you pg ladies are feeling, I'm 100% OK, but actually I'm very wobbly round the hips still but no pain.

nymph did you get your crutches?

lizardqueenie I got that onesided pain towards the end, before that the physio seemed to be able to straighten me out. Have you got crutches?

frolie you will get through this, it WILL get better once you give birth. meanwhile you've got to rest lying down a much as possible. Hope you have a better day today.

thebells hydrotherapy sounds great, do they do it for postnatal?

Hey LooL00 wow 9 weeks, does it feel like the time has flown by?

Saw the physio yesterday afternoon, I was having a good day, I actually had more back pain than pelvic pain but he did well to make me feel human.

When I actually thought about it and talked it through with him the days it is worse is when I have probably been overdoing it. Other days I have no pain at all so thankfully no need for crutches but just advice to look after myself a bit more. Posted on another thread recently that in addition to the pelvic and back pain I have been feeling really run down - I am actually wondering if my iron is a bit low - i have had heavy cold and cough for 2 weeks now. Also - sorry this is going on a bit, but we had a bit of a shaky start to the pregnancy and I think i have never really allowed myself to get excited just in case something goes wrong. I realised yesterday that I need to look after myself, enjoy the pregnancy where I can but just take care of myself. Physio said pretty much the same and told me to pace myself too. Sorry for such a long post but feel I have a turning point. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. x

Hi ladies haven't posted on here for a bit. Hope you are all doing well. I've been admitted to hospital after two horrendous days, where my legs kept giving way. As I am due tomorrow!! I had finally got to the end of my tether , after being housebound for last 12 weeks and GP refusing to prescribe anything more than paracetamol . I went to the day assessment unit again. Finally they took me seriously ( DH exploding in frustration might have helped!) so am getting co drydomol and probably being induced on Monday.

I just wanted to say- make a fuss, make sure your midwife and consultant, if you have one know about your pain. I think if we had spoken up more earlier I wouldn't have to have put up with this so long. Having said that, the midwife I spoke to last night was outraged that I hadn't got to see a consultant and that I had been in pain and ignored for so long.
This isn't the way I wanted to have my baby but it's the best option for me. I'm looking forward to being like Looloo!
Will update with hopefully as inspiring and hopeful thoughts soon. Rest rest rest and eat cake

Hello everyone!

Been lurking on this one for a wee while. Have been in denial about it, but finally have to admit how bad it is after physio took one look at me hobbling my wee body into her cubicle and fitted me for crutches:(

Currently 30+5 with dc2. Miserable as sin. Have a lovely 23 month old running around all day who can't understand why I am so useless. Pretty sure everyone here is fed up my whinging about it and am fed up of others going "not long to go" when they can just pop in and out when they feel like it.

Plus the crutches make me feel like an absolute fanny when out with them. I don't feel qualified to use them!!

Dc2 is measuring 2 weeks bigger than he should be (last bubba was 10lb 9oz) and there has been talk of an ELCS for a wee while now, but hopefully getting it confirmed in 3 weeks with consultant.

So tired and upset and sore and just had enough already! Plus it's wedding season and everyone I know in the world it seems has decided to get hitched this summer. Have had to wear the same bloody maternity dress for them all. And the hen nights.
Except this next one I will have to get some bloody grey accessories to match the bloody crutches.

Sorry, I am a moan.

At least the weather has been marginally nicer, right?

Hi just wanted to update. After having the Induction agreed to, although very reluctantly, the Dr gave me a sweep said my cervix was closed and unfavourable and she would get back to me about Induction after speaking to the senior consultant.
However that evening my waters broke at 11.45pm, by 3 am I had regular contractions and by 3.45pm on Sunday afternoon I had delivered my little girl( total surprise we had convinced ourselves it was a boy!!) So true to anecdotal evidence I also had a relatively short labour, 2nd stage was about 30 mins!

Gave birth in water with gas and air, just as I hoped. Spent part of my labour in the bath too which really helped. Apart from one midwife who wasn't going to let me in the pool if I couldn't walk unaided( quickly told by DH that he would carry me and lift me in and out and he wasn't taking no for an answer!!) the midwives were great at keeping to my limits and supporting me.
I was able to walk across the room unaided after the birth, it was the first time in 3 months I have been able to do so.
So 4 days on and I no longer need my wheelchair. I can walk around the house without my crutches, sit up and down, get in and out of the bath. I still look like a little old lady shuffling about! But I cannot believe how quickly and how much my mobility has improved.
I am going to get physio soon and am able to do some strengthening exercises I was given early on. So hang in there, it does get better. It is horrid, debilitating and often soul destroying but I know I always worried it wouldn't get better, it can.
Get as much help as you can, as early as you can. I really want another- yes already! And next time I'm going in prepared!

Oh mrscjolg that's lovely!! I've gone all weepy.

Hi everyone, just wondering whether this thread should be ressurected??

I have a question, posted elsewhere, but not answered so thought I would try you ladies to see whether you could help as it relates to SPD.

I have it, now 36 weeks with DC2, and have been taking co-dydramol since around 25 weeks of preg. Now I'm getting closer to term, I am getting a bit concerned about the potential for withdrawal symptoms in my newborn.

Can anyone who has been on similar meds reassure me? I am generally just taking 2x tablets (500 mg paracetamol, 10 dihydrocodeine) twice a night, just to take away pain enough to help me sleep - none in the day. I think this is fairly low dose but nevertheless I am thinking I need to stop taking them as I get nearer to term.

Any advice or thoughts greatly appreciated.