AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Relaxin :(

S.,

I feel your pain, so to speak. I had that problem late in my first pregnancy and it continued on after and through the second pregnancy. Good news is that after the birth of #2, it seems to have finally decreased! It sounds like you have pubic symphasis seperation. Is it really painful to pick up your leg to put on pants? There are exercises that you can do to help strengthen your core, and you can take Tylenol as well. Ask your doctor about other types of pain relief, but the best thing to do is rest. Walk as little as possible. There are physicians at the Rehab Center of Illinois that specialize in pelvic disorders (non-gyn) and wonderful physical therapists specializing in women's health that can help. Send me an email back if you are interested in talking more. I know I felt like I was the only person in the world with this disorder, so I know what you are going through!

Chiropractor! Run! Really, he saved my life with my fourth. With all that extra hormone your bones are slipping out of place. I got it with my second and my dr told me there was nothing to do. I went to a chiro with my third and he did nothing to help. I went to another with my fourth in desperation around 3-4 months and really if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have been able to walk up the stairs without crying. You really have to go to one who has worked with pregnant women. The first one I went to didn't even want to adjust me in fear he would put me in labor. I went every week and it was worth every penny. I'm not sure where you're at, I went to Dr Sean Manning in Oak Park and he is a great guy! If it is too far you can call and ask for a referral. I tandem nursed as well and I'm sure that contributed a little bit to the extra hormones but I had it with my 2nd and 3rd and wasn't nursing then. There where still days I was uncomfey but no where near the level of pain I had with my third. I'm ten weeks today and my hips are already starting to ache when I move fast and I'm still nursing this time to. Good Luck!

I think the husband waiting on you hand and foot sounds great... but if that doesn't work out ;) Interestingly I am a nurse-midwifery student and we just talked about this in class the other day. One suggestion is to get an abdominal binder (like the kind people use post-surgery) and wrap it tightly around your hips. This will hold the symphisis in place and help with the pain. I agree with the others that a chiropractor is never a bad idea. I too experienced this with my second child- I sat down feeling great and stood up in pain. The good news is once the baby is born you will be all better. Good luck and congrats and I LOVE your breastfeeding tagline.

I know I felt like that with my second pregnancy because my uterus was tilted so much after the first one. I ended up carrying the second so low that I had serious aches in my groin and legs. I would think any yoga or stretching would help....and yes, I did a lot more sitting and lying down with the second just because it hurt so much. You could probably try tylenol if your dr. says it's ok.

Hope it helps...and congrats!!!

I felt that way much through my first pregnancy and on and off through my second. Does it happen all the time or is it worse after a nights' sleep? You said you woke up feeling like this, which makes me wonder if you sleep with a pillow between your knees? I found that to help immensely b/c my legs stayed hip-width apart throughout the night. I also slept with a pillow in front of me and also supporting my low back while on my side. So basically I was completely immobile, but comfortable while sleeping and that seemed to help the pain since everything was stabilized through the night rather than collapsing in on itself all over the place. Other than that, I popped the Tylenol as much as possible. I also had my SI joint totally loosen which caused me the worst back pain of my entire life for an entire 9 months the first time and 3 months the 2nd time. The chiro basically taped me up so I couldn't bend in my lower back at all, which helped.

I do think, generally, immobilization is the key. I hope this gets better for you!!

Sorry I have no answer for you. Have you tried breastfeeding.com? That was my bible when I was nursing! By the way I LOVE the quote you have on there! Way cool! :-D

I am also 5 months along with my 2nd and I am feeling very much the same way. I feel like an old lady. Anything that puts pressure on my bones...just feels like they are going to give out. It's just your body getting ready for delivery. I have heard that things generally happen earlier and more intensely the second time around, esp those things that make you uncomfortable. I take tylenol occasionally when it gets bad, warm baths, also a heating pad helps me. Mine is mostly in my lower back/hip area.

This sounds similar to what happened to me a week before my first child was born. My OB gave me a prescription for physical therapy. They said my pelvic bone was out of place which is why it hurt so much to move - so the therapy was to teach it to go back in place. I think it helped but it wasn't until after she was born that it got better (after more therapy)...good luck, I feel for you!!!

Well I felt that way during my first pregnancy, but it was 3 days before my water broke. I remember is hurt so bad, like I had been on a horse for days on end. They said the baby had dropped and that she was pushing down on my pelvis.

I can sympathize very much so. I am in my 9th month and due any day and nursed through this whole pregnancy. Because you have a young infant and you are pregnant you are at "risk" for this happening more easily. You are more prone to relaxin kicking in earlier with the 2nd and beyond even without the nursing. But I have also had this way earlier than I ever remember having it with my first. It is VERY painful and very little helps. I don't have the option of my husband waiting on me since he works long hours and the bath will help for very short term afterwards but really just hang in there. It is worth it and it will be okay. I wish I could tell you something worked but I saw all sorts of specialists and it never dissipated. I saw a chiropractor as well and that helped minimally. One thing that does help a bit (for a few hours) is a massage from a massage therapist. I have one who's really good if you need a name. But those are all the ideas that I have. My midwife also gave me ideas and excercises that DID NOT work and I won't waste your time on them either. Try the massage - I think that's your best bet and warm, not hot, baths. Hang in there!!!

I would see a chiropractor about it - being "loose" shouldn't hurt unless something else is up. Personally, (especially for pregnancy-related things) I like Dr. Nella at Bucktown Chiropractic - she fixes everything!