What You Need To Know About SPD During Pregnancy

Have you ever experienced a painful grinding and clicking sensation in your pubic area? It is probably a Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) that most of the pregnant women experience. 

What Is SPD?

Do you feel some pain at the back of your hips or down the inside of your thighs? Does the pain usually get worse when you try to part your legs while walking up or down the stairs? Or does it disturb your sleep during the night? Well, that is what they call the condition as SPD. Your symphysis pubis is joined by a dense network of tissues called ligament. And according to Baby Centre, during the span of your pregnancy, the joints of your symphysis pubis swell thus causing pain.

Who Am I Going To Blame?

As posted on What to Expect, one in every 300 pregnant women suffered from SPD though some of the incidences are not diagnosed. The "hormone relaxin" is the one to blame for this situation. The hormone is increased 10 times during pregnancy and affects a number of different joints.

Likewise, it is the reason why a pregnant woman is more likely to feel unstable. On the other hand, relaxin helps ease the baby's way out during your delivery because it makes your ligaments too stretchy -- causing you severe pain.

How Will I Handle It?

The pain may still be managed in different ways. To stabilize the joint, you can try to keep your knees together as you roll in your bed or when you get up from a chair. Bundoo suggests taking shorter and smaller steps when you are walking or walk sideways one step at a time when taking the stairs.  

Hence, when you get inside the car, try sitting first before swinging your legs in and take a rest when it really hurts. You may also want to put a pillow between your legs during sleep to keep the joint stabilized. Exercises are also recommended such as abdominal stabilization exercises and pelvic floor exercises.  A pelvic support belt may be unnecessary but could be a great help.

Mostly, after delivery, women usually find relief. Take note that SPD is more likely to occur again during your next pregnancy, so you might want to give yourself a little break before having another baby.