Managing Pubic Symphysis Disorder:

Advice on coping with Pubic Symphysis Disorder:

 

  1. Listen to your body – if it hurts don’t do it!
  2. Accept assistance – this is not a sign of weakness.
  3. Avoid straddling movements – keep knees and inner thighs ‘glued’ together when changing position such as getting out of a car.
  4. Maintain symmetry when moving, sitting & standing. Avoid crossing your legs and attempt to stand with your weight equally distributed between both feet. Similarly, sit evenly on both buttocks.
  5. Brace your abdominal and pelvic muscles when you bend and lift. You may also find it helpful to hold your lower abdomen whilst walking.
  6. Try to avoid upper body twists, squatting & heavy lifting – i.e. avoid any activity that might put more strain on your pelvis.
  7. Place a pillow between your knees at night.
  8. Be careful not to slip.
  9. Rest regularly.
  10. Take smaller steps – walking sideways can sometime feel easier when acute.
  11. Your baby is not affected by pelvic dysfunction.
  12. Breastfeeding does not interfere with pelvic dysfunction – there are different hormones at play.
  13. Aids are often very helpful, such as crutches, wheel chair, a claw to pick things off the floor, using a perching stool and a bathboard to prevent you stepping in and out of the bath.
  14. Pelvic support: A trochanteric belt, tubigrip (size K or L) or sacro-iliac belt will provide support and ease the pain
  15. Swimming will help strengthen the pelvic muscles but avoid breast stroke.
  16. Ensure that you are always wearing good shoes. Avoid flat shoes without arch support, similarly avoid heels.
  17. Pelvic dysfunction can also be aggravated by synthetic hormonal intervention such as the contraceptive pill and HRT, particularly if they are progesterone based.

How to manage labour with Pubic Symphysis Disorder:

  1. Measure the comfortable range of separating your knees without pain. Let your midwife and obstetrician know so that they can ensure your knees are not parted further even with an epidural.
  2. The best position that places least strain on the pubic symphysis is lying on your side with someone supporting your upper leg or kneeling upright.
    Speak to your obstetrician about the benefits against the possible complications of caesarean delivery.