A Painful Pregnancy Stretch

If you are having difficulty rolling in bed, getting in and out of your car, climbing stairs, or walking due to pelvic pain, you may be suffering from a common pregnancy condition called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). Melissa Jane Cook investigates...

- Melissa Jane Cook

The pubic symphysis is a stiff joint that connects the two halves of your pelvis and is located at the front of the pelvis. This is typically a fairly stable joint which is strengthened by a dense network of tough, flexible tissues called ligaments. During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone called relaxin, which softens these ligaments in order to help your baby pass through your pelvis. This can result in the misalignment of your pelvic bones and, more importantly, pain. It is said that one in four women suffer from this strange pregnancy condition and it can range in severity from mild discomfort during daily activities, to inability to bear weight on the legs. While your legs won’t actually fall off, it may seem like they’re going in opposite directions from each other and the rest of your body. Walking, standing, or rolling over in bed can be quite a painful process as one side of the joint shifts more than the other, throwing everything off balance.

SYMPTOMS OF SPD

Specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist in Bryanston, Dr Wynand Van Tonder says that pain in the pubic area and groin are the most common symptoms, although you may also have the following signs:

Back pain, pelvic girdle pain or hip pain.

A grinding or clicking sensation in your pubic area.

Pain down the inside of your thighs or between your legs. It can be made worse by parting your legs, walking, going up or down stairs or moving around in bed.

Worse pain at night. SPD can prevent you from sleeping well. Getting up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night can be especially painful.

MEDICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS

There is no way to prevent SPD from occurring; however, once the hormones cease production after pregnancy, the condition will gradually subside. According to Dr Van Tonder, SPD is often managed in the same way as pelvic girdle pain. Treatment includes: