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any tips for SPD?

hi ladies - wondering if anyone's had SPD (pelvic pain) during pregnancy and if anyone has any tips for managing it, or has had treatment and if so was it helpful?

i haven't got it *very* bad, but enough to make it painful to get up at night, and hobble a bit like a hip replacement patient if i've been sitting or lying for too long! my house is full of stairs too, which is a pain :OS

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Permalink Reply by Marilynn - Mums on Top Editor on March 11, 2010 at 11:22am: Hi Rebecca - ugh! I remember this pain and it was horrible. For me, two things worked:

- Acupuncture - I saw Deborah Betts who was Wellington based at the time, not sure where she is now. I walked out of her office pain free for the first time in MONTHS. Truly amazing.
- The next time, i was in a small town and ended up being referred to a hospital an hour or so away. The physio gave me a tight band that goes around your hips and 'holds everything in'. I'm sure they wouldn't be too hard to make, if you've got basic sewing skills (of which I do not!) It's a band, and held together with velcro. I did this prior to getting to the really bad stage as with above and it really made a difference.

M; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on March 11, 2010 at 11:58am: the band goes right under your belly, right? just above your pubic bone?

i've had transient and pretty manageable pain ... and i'm nearly 34 weeks now ... do you reckon it would get much worse before the end of the pregnancy or would it be bad by now if it was going to get bad?

thanks for the info - sorry to pump you for more!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nicky P on March 11, 2010 at 12:47pm: Definitely acupuncture! i went to a place in mt eden called Mother Well and saw Janine. it only took 2 sessions to sort it out and i was having some pretty bad days. Also had a Smiley Belt which was ok, but got uncomfortable when i got too big as just ended up folding over from the weight of my belly!! i think there are other brands that do similar.. or do as marilyn said and make one...
I also got referred to maternity physio at greenlane by my midwife and they gave me some tips on how to get up/down etc, and gave me a tube bandage that fit around my hips and belly.
Good luck it's not nice to have!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marilynn - Mums on Top Editor on March 11, 2010 at 1:49pm

Mine went across the hips and the pelvic bone was actually wrapped in it as well. So kinda from the hip down to the bottom of the bum if this makes sense...Vania has some good tips as a physio and Nicky is right, but you can just get a larger one when you get bigger.

And for me yes, it resolved as soon as babe was born for the two that I had it with.

Not sure you can get public funding for an acupuncturist, but if you can afford it, mine was the best thing EVER!!

Please find attached a PDF by Deborah Betts about using accupressure to help with natural labour and birth.

Attachments:

Acupressure.pdf, 798 KB

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on March 11, 2010 at 1:56pm: thanks marilyn!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vania on March 11, 2010 at 2:11pm: yes! debra betts accupressure info is awesome...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marilynn - Mums on Top Editor on March 11, 2010 at 2:41pm: I was so lucky to see her!!! Helps that my husband was teaching her son at the time...:); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on March 11, 2010 at 1:17pm: thanks guys ... thankfully it's not too bad at the moment, just mainly when i get up after being still for a while, and going up and down stairs etc. will def talk to midwife about a possible local referral to acupuncture :O)

just one more question ... did it resolve for you after your bubbas were born?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vania on March 11, 2010 at 2:04pm: for me it didn't resolve immediately post-birth, it took a number of months. After my third pregnancy i started a weekly pilates class (about 9mths post birth) which made a huge difference to me...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vania on March 11, 2010 at 1:33pm: oh yes. all three previous pregnancies and the niggles are there already. also I have experience pre children working as a physio at the womens heath physio dept in greenlane...

here are some tips.
- the more active you are during your day, the more you are likely to aggravate it, so now is not the time to be going for big walks
- avoid stairs as much as you can... you might have to think about that one a bit, cause its a bit difficult if you are in a stair filled house :)
- keep your knees together and even as much as you can eg, getting out of a car, rolling in bed. I heard a great suggestion the other day, get a silk/satin sheet for in bed and wear satin boxers so that you can roll easier! When sleeping, pop a pillow between your knees to keep them even.
- smily belts are the most comfortable of the pelvic belts IMHO
- MOST IMPORTANT THING is to tighten your pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles just before you go to do a movement which is painful - like standing up, or going up the stairs, or rolling over etc. by tightening the muscles you are internally stabilising the pelvis.
- get a referral to physio from your MW if it gets worse or give accupunture a go like the others have suggested. just make sure its from someone qualified and experienced in treating pregnant women :)

AHHHHgh, pelvic pain sucks! hope it doesn't get too much worse for you...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on March 11, 2010 at 1:55pm: thanks so much vania, that's really helpful. the satin sheets / knickers IS a great idea ... shame my budget doesn't stretch to it :O); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angela on March 12, 2010 at 9:15am: Physio helped me. Oh and walking round with my buttocks clenched for months :-) Hope it isn't too bad. Just be careful of your delivery position too as that can increase problems afterwards - good luck.; ▶ Reply to This