Before i was pregnant with my second son, i didn’t know what Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction or SPD was. I had no idea the kind of pain it could bring. While most of my pregnant friends complained of back aches or their ankles swelling, I was complaining of a deep pain in my groin every time i walked. I couldn’t sleep at night because the pain. No Tylenol or pain medication touched the pain. Worse of all, i had no idea what was causing it.
Finally I talked with my midwife about it. She told me that its a condition called Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction or SPD. She explained to me that the pelvis is made up of 3 bones. The theory is while is normal for your body to produce Relaxin and Progesterone ( both hormones) while pregnant to loosen those ligaments sometimes the body produces too much, causing the bones to rub together when moving. Woman who exhibit symptoms of SPD often have excessive levels of hormones, are more sensitive to hormones, or their pelvis is out of alignment. It has been estimated that 1 in 35 woman have problems with SPD while pregnant.
The pain that is associated with SPD effects the groin and pubic area of pregnant woman. Activities such as walking, rolling over in bed, sitting up and getting in and out of vehicles is particularly painful. Any activity that involves lifting one leg at a time, or parting the legs causes pain. Often times shooting down from the pelvis, down the legs, or in the sciatica area. Another common pain is severe round ligament pain, while round ligament pain is normal with pregnancy, it can be worse or more aggravating when the woman also has SPD.
Sadly there is no for sure reason for SPD. However there are some ideas. Some ethnic groups may be at higher risk of developing SPD. Woman who have had multiple children, large babies, and pre-existing problems with the pelvis or back. High or excessive levels of Relaxin and Progesterone may be causes as well as the pelvis being out of alignment. Although many woman who have their pelvis put in alignment complain later that the pain came back. It is probably a combination of several reasons.
Basic coping measures for the pain include, sitting with the legs together, getting in and out of vehicles bottom first ( IE sitting down, then putting your feet in) and using pillows as support. Warm baths and ice packs may also offer some comfort measures. However SPD rights itself after the birth and within a years time. More extensive measures can be taken, seeing a chiropractor for alignment or an osteopathic when the pain is bad, and wearing a pregnancy belt are often helpful will not cure the pain. Before seeing any chiropractor however you should be sure they know how to treat pregnant woman.
Having SPD while pregnant is defiantly painful and uncomfortable. It makes it difficult to do things with my 3 year old son. It makes getting things accomplished around the house is hard. It means walking is slow going. But its a manageable problem, one that could come back with another pregnancy. But at least this time ill be prepared and understand what is going on.
