Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)

How is SPD treated?

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)
Many women experience discomforts during pregnancy that they had never experienced before. During pregnancy, your body produces hormones and body parts shift to meet the demands of your growing baby. Your body produces a hormone known as relaxin during pregnancy. Relaxin softens the ligaments in your pelvis to enable your baby to pass through your pelvis. Normally, the two halves of your pelvis do not move very easily because the symphysis pubis is strengthened by ligaments. If one side of your pelvis moves more than the other side, you can experience pain and inflammation. This can happen when you walk or move your legs and the pain can become severe.



The most common symptoms of symphysis pubis dydfunction are pain in the pubic area and groin. If you suffer from SPD, you might also complain of back pain, hip pain, or grinding in your pubic area. Sometimes the pain does radiate down the inside of the thighs or between the legs. Women that experience the symptoms of SPD have a hard time walking, going up stairs and other activities that involve separating their legs. It may be hard to get up in the night to use the restroom and getting sleep may be harder.

SPD generally affects women in the end of the first timester or after delivery. However, you can experience symptoms at any point during the pregnancy. If you have the symptoms of SPD in one pregnany, it is likely that you will experience the same symptoms with recurring pregnancies. During later pregnancies, the symptoms tend to start earlier and progress faster.

If you think that you are suffering from SPD, you should contact your obstetrician or midwife for an evaluation. Your doctor will do a series of tests that look at leg movements, stability and localized pain in your pelvic area. Treatment generally involves wearing a pelvic support belt and doing exercises that improve the stability of your pelvis and back. Water exercises or acupuncture can be helpful and often offer relief. Make sure you ask your doctor any questions you have pertaining to the birth of your baby with SPD.

If you suffer from symphysis pubis dysfunction, you should keep in mind several things that will help with your pain. You should try to move around frequently throughout the day, but in small amounts. When you are sitting, make sure that you sit upright and keep your back well supported. If at all possible, it is best to avoid heavy lifting or pushing. Sit down to put your pants, shoes or socks on. Do not try to step into dresses, skirts or pants. When you are climbing stairs, climb them one step at a time. Stretching your legs to far apart at once can make the pain significantly worse. If you must separate your legs, take it slowly and keep your back arched.

Many women do continue to feel the pain after delivery. Generally, the symptoms do improve after delivery and eventually fade away. If your pain is still bothersome, continue to do the pain relief exercises and seek the advice of your caregiver. Women also may have the same symptoms around the time of their monthly menstrual cycle. This is because a woman's body secretes hormones similar to relaxin during menstruation.



Comments: Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)

Comments 26 to 49 of about 105.
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Tara83 - 163 days ago.
I have my end point in sight!!! my induction date is July 4th at 9am so I am very excited to cross the finish line of pregnancy and cross over to the road of recovery. After having my daughter SPD lasted about 4 months before I felt back to my old self. I am hoping this time it is sooner (which I am sure it won't be).

To all you mommies in pain, hang in there ;o)

Poppy~Ella~Rae - 165 days ago.
i had SPD with my daughter who is now 6 months and i still have it as bad as ever. they let me go 10 days over though when they knew she was big (8lb 9oz) and used stirrups (spelling?) which separated my pelvis more. its still so bad and think it will never get better im in pain everyday still 6 months on. i should have been given an early c-section. instead they let me give birth. im hopefull seeing a consultant soon but dont know what good it will do. i return to work as a hairdresser in 7 weeks on my feet all day luckily only for 2 days a week but im panicking that its going to make it worse. anyone else had it for so long after having a baby and a difficult birth then for it to suddenly get better? xx

2undertwo - 168 days ago.
I had this in my first pregnancy, it actually happened on the tredmill in my fifth month. I could barely walk for a few days after but it did get a little better but never healed. It has been nine months since my daughter was born and it still bothers me to run or push sideways with my legs. My dr. said this is a condition that may never heal. You can ask for a temporary handicap parking permit during pregnancy to help with getting around. I am now 10 weeks pregnant and wondering how this will effect my mobility further along?

xira071 - 168 days ago.
Dearest Julz and M.e.a., I sympathize with you so much. Actually, with everyone going through SPD. I wrote a few weeks ago about my despair having started pains in my 12th week. So Julz, hang in there. I am writing to give some hope this time. As hamiltonian wrote, there is a HUGE information gap in the USA and other countries outside the Europe. I was told of exercises and a system for carrying the baby weight better (Mackenzie Sys.), by my friend in Holland. I cannot find any information in English. There was also a study done in New Zealand about the effects of certain exercises, but the description of the exercises was not clear enough to try at home. Apparently theses exercises DID help significantly. I have been doing everything I can to keep the pain reasonable. I am currently 18 weeks, and I can’t believe how “good” I feel compared to the last pregnancy. This is a list of things I have been doing. 1. Keeping my legs together as much as possible. (In and out of cars, one stair at a time, etc.) 2. Not lifting anything over ½ pound or kilo. (Especially my 3 y.o.) 3. Walking on and sitting on steady surfaces. No gravel, sand, bouncing balls, etc. 4. Acupuncture!!!! Prior to my weekly treatments, I was suffering from a pinched nerve on my left leg due to the hip shifting. The pain only resurfaces when the muscles are tired (ex: walking too much.) 5. Crutch for any walk over a few seconds. Yes the attention sucks, but it relieves the amount of stress on the muscles. 6. Husbands… use them! Believe it or not, they can do laundry, clean floors, buy groceries and do dishes. They won’t do it as good as you, but if you can’t afford help… make them do it. If they love you, they might grumble, but they are helping you make them another child. Why should only you suffer? These are the biggies. I hope it helps some of you. I still have a long way to go, but compared to the speed my pains advanced in my previous pregnancy, I truly believe the above things are helping. Good luck to all of you.

hamiltonian - 170 days ago.
I am in week 20 and have been experiencing SPD as well as Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) since week 10. It's gradually gotten worse , but is still not interfering with my everyday life. I am shocked from mentioning it to friends, other pregnant women and even my doctor how little knowledge there is about SPD in the US. In Sweden (where I am originally from) there is a common term for it and everybody knows what it is and that it is very common during pregnancy. Is it less common here in the US? Or why would there be such a huge knowledge gap.

m.e.a - 171 days ago.
my spd has on full force =[ second pregnancy and only 9 weeks and i can hardly move =[ whyy whyyy its starting around my hips and tail bone i knew it was gng to happen coz a few weeks ago i started feelin pain between my legs. i seriously thought this pregnancy wil be ok. GUESS NOTTT

julz - 174 days ago.
My pain is mostly in my pubic bone region and sometimes radiates down my thighs. Right now I am 33 weeks, and I just want to cry, I'm not sure what to do to make it feel better, I have been doing stretches since my SPD 1st started, but now I feel like there is no relief, it hurts to sit, stand and even lay down..ahhh I have a doc's apt on Thurs I pray they can tell me how to ease some of this pain. It has been really bad today...almost unbearable.

~Kristy~ - 176 days ago.
Are you ladies getting pain down the outside of your leg at all, and are your hips really hurting? Or is it specifically your pubic region and down the inside of your leg?

~Kristy~ - 176 days ago.
How is it diagnosed? I have a 9 month old, but had bad hip pain in my pregnancy and had a natural birth(attempted home birth) and to be honest my hip pain hurt more than the baby crowning. Now 9 months later I am having a horrible flare up, and could hardly walk the other day. I am still nursing so I would imagine I still have relaxin in my system.

DawnM - 189 days ago.
Hi all. Just thought I'd leave you an update. I have finally had my baby girl - Kathryn Poppy. The SPD was hell towards the end not helped by my midwife not checking my blood test results and therefore not giving me much needed iron tablets for the last 6 wks!. I managed to stay mobile and avoid the dreaded wheelchair but only by resting most days and doing a limited amount each day. The worst part was not being able to play and pick up my little girl (21 months). However the labour finally arrived and I delivered not at home due to low iron but at the hospital, however I was able to set my own pace and avoided all pain relief including gas and air. The birth was completly natural and i again didnt need stiches! The spd pain was gone instantly and I now feel fully recovered and enjoying being a mom to two. This time though I am making sure I have physio to strengthen my core so that I never feel that bad again. oh how I wish I had been offered physio after my 1st pregnancy, my 2nd pregnancy would not have been anywhere near as bad. Thank you for the comments and support you've given me during my low points and I wish you all well with your pregnancy, it is worth it in the end. Take care.

julz - 194 days ago.
Getting out of bed has been really bad lately, I feel like my little man has dropped putting more pain and pressure on my pelvis. 10 more weeks!!!!

booandaidansmommy - 194 days ago.
I'm having a bad SPD. It feels like everything is going to fall out of me. My MIL doesn't make it easier, she comes to help clean and doesn't understand why I don't go in the basement any longer. The trip down the stairs is fine, I just can't get back up the stairs. *sigh*

xira071 - 197 days ago.
I could go off on a small tangent about how unhappy I am that I have SPD, and now in my second pregnancy its started at 12 weeks... but I have a practicle question. I keep reading about women who choose a C-section to avoid more damage. If you have severe SPD are there really risks in natural birth that warent a C-section? A natural birth is my last hope for tolerating this pregnancy... I'd really, really, really like to avoid another C-section. (Comments very welcome.)

slong - 201 days ago.
Wow! I am amazed that I found this web site, and would have loved it 3 years ago. Those suffering with SPD, there is help. Unfortunately I have had to go through 3 years of pain and suffering due to a rupture during child birth, and I now know that there are answers. Maybe some of them will help you... I have had prolotherapy over the last several months and it is painful (but not anymore than you feel now.) but it is short lived and it works! don't know if it would have during pregnancy, but would have loved the option. If you have access to accupunture....wonderful! Most importantly, if you can get a PT or DO that does 'gental' manipulation it can ease a lot of the pain to get you to the end. Be sure to get your Dr. on board, because I went undiagnosed and a c-section would have saved me 10 months in a wheel chair and 12 months with the walker. And many more months after that of recovery. Fortunately, I am a rare case, but would love to prevent anyone else from going through that. My son will be 3 in one month, and I still have issues, but have come a long way. Hope this helps someone!

julz - 203 days ago.
My SPD is terrible today, I am now 28 almost 29 weeks, it hurts to sit and stand and everything else..ahhhh I have been doing my stretches, butit seems like nothing is helping, I have a very active family including a 2 year old and I feel like I can't do much anymore...argh!

m.e.a - 203 days ago.
how come so many doctors havent heard of this before?? my hospital knew about it but the docs dnt theyd ask me did u have a bad pregnancy id say yes theyd go what happend i go i had spd n theyd just say oh.. whats that like it was some sort of auto immune disease

cheyni - 206 days ago.
I am 19w 5d and already having SPD symptoms...and they're getting so painful... I suffered with SPD when expecting my last 2 daughters but never this early on.. Am waiting to hear back from the hospital physio but wondering if anyone can give me any advice on easing the pain till i gert an app?? Im not sleeping and am even feeling my bones rub off each other when i walk... Have read the bowen tecnique helps but have any of you tried this? I have a friend who specialises in it but she is so busy im thinking of looking for another one if i'll help the pain.

karona313 - 206 days ago.
I have been suffering the same symptoms for 5 plus weeks and am 24 weeks pregnant. I was very skeptical of any treatment but decided I had to do something. I researched chiropractors in my area and found one who speacializes in pre-natal. She was terrific. She explained my pain and related to me so well. After the first adjustment, I felt a difference immediately. I went in again the day after and I can honestly say I haven't felt this good in a very long time. My husband said I even slept better and didn't wake him up with all the rolling and painful sounds I was making on a nightly basis. I actually woke up before the alarm clock I got so much sleep! My chiropractor said no women should suffer through pregnancy since our bodies are built to handle it. I thoroughly agree and am sad that I didn't discover the wonders of maternal chiropractors until my third pregnancy! Some people do have bad experiences I'm sure, but I'd like to be one to help one lady suffering have some hope....

AnnabelleH - 219 days ago.
Try prolotherapy! Go to prolotherapy.org for more info. I am currently experimenting with this type of treatment. I'll report back if I have success. I have experienced chronic SPD now for 2 and a half years. It brings tears to my eyes to hear that I'm not alone in this journey. I've been treated so poorly by so many doctors. People just don't believe how serious these symptoms can be! The best part is, for those of you who are still pregnant, you can have this treatment done while pregnant.

amandaskog - 221 days ago.
I don't want to scare anyone but my son is now 20 months old and I still have this condition! A chiropractic adjustment made it even worse so I strongly urge women to not make the same mistake I did. It is an unstable joint and the chiropractor is also a business person. My pubic area still hurt for months but after the adjustment it began to pop again over 100 times a day and it is even worse than when I was pregnant (if you can imagine it)! Physiotherapists, an osteopath, orthopedic surgeon, and now the obstetrician all say they don't recommend a second pregnancy. I find it encouraging that several women had it for the first and second pregnancy but are getting through it. The thought of having a toddler and being on bedrest or in a wheelchair is extrememly scary. I have two dogs that need walking as well. My husband commutes and is gone 12 hours a day. Mine condition is atypical and hopefully some doctor (I am waiting to get into Womens hospital in Vancouver, BC) will have more answers. The orhopedic surgeon want to put a metal plate to hold me together which will mean absolutely no more babies. I am not ready to accept this as an answer. Escpecially after reading your comments. Thanks

borsht - 222 days ago.
I am so sorry to hear that there are so many of us out there. I was about 12 or 13 weeks and started experiencing major pain in my pubic bone. At 15 weeks I went for a checkup and my Dr. recommended a Physical Therapist. I saw her and we tried to do exercises to stabilize my pelvis. After a week I was back in and in the same amount of pain if not more. It has been gradually getting worse as the weeks go on. She fitted me with a support belt which helped a lot for a couple of days and then I must have done something because I am in a lot of pain again - but the belt does keep the pain down a little. I would suggest trying it. It's not the most comfortable thing, but if you are in as much pain as me - it's worth the uncomfortableness. When I do go into the therapist she is able to re-align my pubic bone area - it keeps getting out of line because it is so loose and that is what I believe is causing most of my pain. Just this week when I roll over in bed my pelvis started to pop and that hurts. I have asked my husband to help me roll over and that has helped a little. I feel for all of you, being pregnant should be enjoyable and it is fairly difficult to enjoy it when you are in a lot of pain.

PregnantMommy2 - 229 days ago.
Ok...here's a little history on me. I'm 25 and just gave birth to my first child last Sept. 2008. I am now already 22 weeks pregnant with my second child...I know...it was too soon. But at the end of my pregnancy I was having this popping in my pelvis at night when I'd go to flip over in bed. It was pretty painful...but I dealt with it...since I told my doc. of the pains and he said that it was normal. Well, this was my first child...so I went along with it. MISERABLE!! After my son was born...the problem didn't bother me for a while. Then I got pregnant again...Recently...we're talking the last month or so...When I'm in bed in my most comfortable position...(on my left side) I go to flip over...very slowly I might add...and my pelvis feels almost stuck..or glued....I can't move. Until I continue to try and flip my pelvis POPS!! LOUD!!! And it is sooooo terribly painful. I've tried mentioning it to my doctor again. But he says he's never heard of Symphisis Pubis Dysfunction...which makes me nervous...cause I know that's what I have. And I'm worried that when I go to deliver my baby girl that I might damage something worse. I don't know what to do. And in the mean time...I need some sorta relief....I can't sleep cause i'm so uncomfortable...and I have a 6 month old to take care of. Anyone got any suggestions?

KatieB - 230 days ago.
Good Afternoon everyone! I am so happy this week is here...I have a dr's apt on Wed and I'm going to bring this page in to show her. Somedays are good and some are bad. Today my vagina is killing me...to sit, walk, laydown, drive...etc. Sleeping is hard b/c I only like to lay on my back and I don't think that is good for the baby at 25 weeks. And my pregnancy pillow is not helping anymore. I hope my Dr will recomend a Physical Therapist to help me get through this....I don't know if I can take 15+ weeks!

MommyForThe1stTime - 235 days ago.
hey ladies, i think i may have this???? im not sure... im 12 weeks and the other day this pain started.. im trying to figure it out.. i dont want to call the doctor and it be nothing.. what does it feel like??? i have the pain from the from of my pubic bone, all the way to the middle of it or so??? its more so on the right side.. does this sound like it could be it???? plz let me know? i thought maybe it was a yeast infection but it doesnt sting if i pee and its not so much on the inside of it ??? sorry i know its a little tmi.... :/

Tara83 - 235 days ago.
Julz- I know how you feel my daughter is 14 months and I am 23 weeks along and had SPD with her pregnancy and now with this one. It is so hard not being able to just pick her up and run around like I used too so I know how you feel.

DawnM- that story about your daughter being kicked by the baby was so sweet!!!!

bab.E.Blue- You dont have to go on maternity leave now, you go on disability, your OB should provide you with some paper work for your employer. It is a seriously uncomfortable condition and you shouldn't be putting your body through any unneeded stress so your boss should be more understanding. I wish you the best of luck. As for finding comfort its basically impossible but your OB can give you strong pain killers, you can try a maternity pillow for support in bed and a maternity belt for support while on your feet.

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