OT-Anyone have SPD when pregnant?

[jennilouwho]

UGH! I am almost 35 weeks pregnant with my second DS. I had SPD ( http://www.ivillage.co.uk/pregnancyandbaby/pregnancy/complicatepreg/articles/0,,15_187741,00.html ) pretty bad at the end of my pregnancy with first DS.
I supressed that though and went and got pregnant again! I've had it this time since 17 weeks, but not the excruciating pain until the last couple of days. I have a c-section scheduled for 39 weeks, but until then, just looking for words of encouragement from others that have had it. If I know you survived and made it through, I know I will too. Anything help anyone? The worst is the stairs and rolling over in bed.

 

[Ellester]

Wow! I've never heard of SPD, it sounds very painful. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with it again. My ligaments do get much looser also, I've had sprained ankles and dislocated knees during my pregnancies (this one is baby #4) and my back aches constantly. I'm sorry I can't offer much other than encouragement, but at least you are getting closer to holding that precious little one in your arms!

 

[NotUrsula]

Me. Both pregnancies that went to term. I had to walk with a cane starting at about 29 weeks, and I also got a disabled parking permit that allowed me to park close-in at work, which helped a lot.

I went to physical therapy starting at 19 weeks to try to stave it off, and it helped for awhile. I found that heat applied directly on the hip joint in back helped a bit, though you have to keep it low and brief.

I tried going to a chiropractor for a belt device. They told me that when it helps it helps immediately, but that if I didn't notice an immediate change then I wasn't a good candidate. Didn't work for me, but apparently some people find it helps immensely.

I also found that sleeping with a pillow between my knees was a bit of relief. Rolling over is agony.

I don't do elective C's, so I had to have my nurses be very careful of how they flexed my legs when I pushed. No damage either time, and I felt fine again within a day or two once that weight was off the joint.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ignore the website's name and see the good info she has: http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/pubicpain.htm

FYI, with having surgery, that pain might not go away for a LONG time. Sure hasn't with me, and it made recovering take extra long. My hips still aren't right, cause near daily pain, and I fully blame being cut open, and believe that squeezing le bebe out would have helped "fix" my hips from the SPD. Somethin' to think about, or if you don't want to think about it, at least be aware that you might have extra pain.

Me. Both pregnancies that went to term. I had to walk with a cane starting at about 29 weeks, and I also got a disabled parking permit that allowed me to park close-in at work, which helped a lot.

What a good idea. I took a train trip at 7 months and could barely walk, which was a problem for the bathroom trips down the hall at night. On my way home, my dad (who had paid for my ticket and sleeper car) finagled my way into an otherwise unused Handicap Accessible room with the bathroom right there. It saved me. When I get pg next, if I have the same debilitating pain, I'll see someone about being officially designated as disabled, just like I would do if I had a horrible leg break or hip surgery or something like that. Thank you for the idea.

 

[NotUrsula]

In most states you just need your doctor to swear out a statement that you are temporarily disabled. My state has a form on the DMV website. I got mine for up to 2 weeks past my due date, and that was fine for me.

 

[Colinsmom]

I had SPD in both pregnancies. It apppeared to resolve after my first was born, and came back during the second pregnancy (earlier than the first, unfortunately). I ended up with a full-blown separation (confirmed via x-ray) following my second DS's otherwise easy delivery, and was hospitalized for a week following his birth, then spent another 2+ weeks in bed at home. Spent a year dealing with muscle spasms and daily pain, then finally found a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic pain in women. OMG, she is the best. I saw her for almost 10 months (weekly for a while, then less often). Things got worse and then started getting better. Now I feel fantastic - better than I felt before I got pregnant with baby #1. My PT used a lot of massage on my sore muscles and gave me simple exercises to do to strengthen my abdominal and other muscles.

We couldn't figure out anything specific to DS2's birth that would have caused the separation, but suspect that I wasn't fully healed from DS1's more traumatic (forceps due to malpositioning) birth.

I highly recommend that you find a PT following your birth (even if you feel much better - make sure that you are *all* better) who can help make sure that everything ends up back where it belongs, especially if this may not be your last pregnancy.

Feel free to PM me if you want further details!!

 

[jennilouwho]

Thanks everyone! It's good to hear from others that had it, although I also feel bad for you. My c-section has nothing to do with the SPD, by the way. My first son didn't fit and I had 28 hours of labor. The doctors feel I would have the same problem again, so I was given an option, but decided not to risk that situation again, it was horrible.

It did go away last time soon after he was born, so I am hopeful it will again this time, although now Colinsmom has scared me. I will PM you if I have more questions later....

And great idea on the disabled pass. That would help me so much right now. I'm also grateful for my hubby who is doing as much of the errands and cleaning as he can on top of working full time.

Thanks again for the links and the support from all of you! Just 30 days to go......

Jen

 

[ChristusG]

I had it very slightly with my first pregnancy, and much worse with my second. Rolling over in bed at night very painful. I didnt even want to do it. And I dreaded getting up at night to walk to the bathroom. And you know when you are pregnant, you end up having to do that several times each night. I literally limped, half bend over, dragging myself to the bathroom. It hurt so much. But once I got up in the mornings and got myself going, I felt fine. It was mainly the nights that were so painful.