Severe Pelvic Muscle Pain in Pregnancy - SPD (Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction)?

Yep, I experienced this with my 4th baby. The pain was unbearable. I felt like I had been riding a horse bareback all day, every day.....and I don't even know what it's like to ride a horse because I never rode a horse. My doctor explained that it was normal and women who have had multiple pregnancies typically experience this. I found that a heating pad helped a little. I had difficulty walking and sitting. Propping a pillow between my legs, such as a body pillow when I slept seemed to help a little too. I did not have a vaginal birth, I've only had c-sections so I cannot say how it will feel to birth with that pain...but I can tell you that intimacy with my husband because of the pain was not pleasant. At all. After I had my baby, the pain went away, though.

I also had this both times. The first time wasn't nearly as bad as the second time! I don't know about delivery, because I had C-sections both times. The first time she wouldn't engage and was in distress. The doctor said she never would have fit. The second was even bigger, so they planned him.

but, with the PSD, I started to waddle early on, and my hips, pelvic, and "mound" or pubic bone would pop or move all the time. It hurt when they moved, but then it felt better. I started sitting a lot more. I agree with keeping the pubic area closed, especially when rolling over. My husband had to start pushing me to get the momentum to roll. This helped a lot!
Use your arms to lift you instead of your legs. Use the electric carts at the store!! This is a must because shopping is just too hard to do at this point with loose and painful ligaments.

I think it went away within a few months after my first, but with my son, it took about 14 months to really be gone. Those bones need time to go back. I have read about women who end up in wheelchairs or bedrest because it is so bad. Try to take care of yourself so that doesn't happen!

As the ligaments start to relax, right around now, you'll notice pelvis imbalances more. Find a good chiropractor that adjusts the pubic bone. It will be night and day. It'll also make labor MUCH better.

I had all 4 babies at home, so I needed everything functioning correctly since there was no epidural to mask the dysfunction. I had wicked PSD with my first, but my chiropractor saved my life.

Chiropractic and stretching helped me somewhat, also try water aerobics b/c it will take the pressure off of your pelvis. Your local YMCA is a good place to check out. After you have the baby, keep up with chiropractic. Stretching and light weight training has helped me get over my hip pain.

Oh my gosh, I know exactly what you are going through. It's the worst. My baby is now 4 months old but I had bad SPD during my 3rd trimester. It ended up that she was 10lbs 2oz at birth and was just really putting a lot of stress on my ligaments and everything else. At the end, it really hurt to walk. Take your body's cues and try to rest as much as possible! Have you found out if your baby is in the right position? I had really bad pain and my midwife had me get on my hands and knees, she stood behind me and bent over me while placing her hands on either side of my belly. She had me relax my belly and she pushed each side, alternating hands. She would go towards the belly button and then back up (I don't know if that makes sense). Anyway, I could feel the baby turn completely and ALL the pressure was gone immediately. I think babies get in weird positions sometimes and put pressure on areas that they shouldn't. That really lightened up the SPD and made it feel more manageable. I did that procedure every night from then on out until baby was born. The worst part of SPD was at night when trying to turn in bed. My suggestion on that... turn with your legs closed tightly and try to grab onto something as you turn. Don't use your muscles to do it.
Also, I didn't feel the pain at all while I was in labor (I had a water birth at home). Somehow it goes away... or the pain of labor is WAY stronger. Not sure which.
Just an FYI... if the pain still persists (which it shouldn't if it's SPD) after baby is born, make sure to get checked out. I had SEVERE pain in the front just like SPD after my baby was born. I assumed it was just the same thing and tried to ignore it. It got to the point where I couldn't walk or even turn in the bed. Turns out, I had a uterine infection and had to get on antibiotics immediately.

I also had this with my first child. I currently am 38 weeks pregnant with my second and it hasn't happened this time, thank God. At the time I did what some of your other responders did - the most helpful thing was laying with a heating pad between my legs at night when it hurt the most and making sure never to turn over in bed without my knees firmly pressed together. I ended up with a C section (unrelated to this problem) so I'm not sure what it would have been like to have given birth but I was as concerned as you appear to be at the time. I am a distance runner and after I had my first I tried to get back to running and found that the pain continued - not nearly as bad as it was when I was pregnant but bad enough that I couldn't run anymore. That was unacceptable to me. So after seemingly endless trips to orthopaedic doctors, acupuncturists, physical therapists, etc I finally stumbled upon a group of "women's health" physical therapists in Torrance. They deal precisely with pregnancy and post pregnancy pain and it's a relatively new field. I suggest that you give them a call and see if you can get in for a couple of appointments before the birth of your child. They were absolutely amazing, had me running again pain free in a couple of months, and totally convinced me that pregnancy does not have to be painful. I remember my OB at the time basically telling me, "You're having a baby. It hurts. Suck it up". When I passed that on to the women's physical therapist I eventually saw for a while she completely scoffed. The group is called Women's Advantage and it's in Torrance. If you can't find them let me know and i"m happy to give you the info.

Chiropractor. Adjusted my pubic bone and pelvis, amazing results! Pubic bone can be done with someone's forearm between your knees from elbow to hand, then squeezing.

Yes, I gave birth just fine, and it was so wonderful when I got up after my baby was born, and I could WALK normally again! it disappeared almost within minutes of a 8lb baby not pushing apart my pubic symphysis!
I had it the whole last 8 weeks of my pregnancy, the only thing that helped was a belly band support thing which I got from the motherhood store, it sort of holds everything together