During my third pregnancy, I began to feel an unusual pain that caught me off guard. It first struck when I spent too much time on my feet or when I was getting in and out of bed. The sensation felt like a powerful kick to the pelvic area—extremely painful, as if someone had taken a shot at my lady bits. For a while, I thought maybe I had bruised my pubic bone, but I couldn’t pinpoint any particular incident that would have caused it.
Having been pregnant twice before, I was no stranger to the various aches and pains that come with the territory. I had endured severe round ligament pain during my second pregnancy, which felt like a stabbing pain in my side, but it was brief. This new pain, however, was different—it ranged from a dull throb to a sharp stab and seemed relentless.
Standing for too long? Pain. Walking too much? Pain. Getting in and out of the car? Pain. Even spreading my legs beyond shoulder-width resulted in agony. In short, moving was a challenge.
I consulted two doctors about my discomfort, and they delivered nearly identical responses: “It’s likely the baby pushing down on your pelvis. Some pressure down there is normal.” I tried to explain that I was well acquainted with pelvic pressure and that this felt distinctly worse—a sharp ache right at the top of my pubic bone. Their response? “Many aches and pains are typical.” I understood that, but something felt off.
Not being a medical professional, but like many modern individuals, I turned to the internet for answers. A quick search for “pregnant and feel like I’ve been kicked in the crotch” introduced me to my mystery ailment: symphysis pubis dysfunction, or SPD for short. It sounds like a condition you’d rather not have, but essentially, excessive levels of relaxin hormone can lead to the loosening of pelvic bones, causing pain in the pubic area. It’s also referred to as pelvic girdle pain.
Unfortunately, the term “pelvic girdle pain” hardly captures the experience. Unless I was careful to limit my walking and standing, I faced excruciating pain that could last for hours. By six months into my pregnancy, grocery shopping required me to use one of those motorized carts. I had always enjoyed being active while expecting, but now I struggled to walk more than five minutes without suffering for the rest of the day.
Even rolling over in bed triggered a sharp pain. Activities that involved any leg movement were similarly painful, including sex—though I found some positions were tolerable. After sharing my findings from Dr. Google with my doctor, he acknowledged, “Yeah, that could be it.” (Why hadn’t he mentioned it before?) He recommended a support belt, which alleviated some discomfort, but I also sought relief through chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture, neither of which provided a complete solution. I even read that in rare cases, the pain persists post-delivery. What?!
Fortunately, my SPD resolved shortly after giving birth, and I was immensely grateful. I wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone. My experience with SPD isn’t particularly unusual. The statistics are murky—some sources say 1 in 300 pregnant women experience it, while others claim it’s closer to 1 in 5. Two of my friends also dealt with it during their pregnancies, and I discovered numerous stories online of women whose discomfort was initially dismissed by their doctors as typical.
Feeling like you’ve had a bowling ball dropped on your pubic bone isn’t normal. The pain may vary from moderate to excruciating. If you’ve experienced grinding or aching in your pubic area during pregnancy, you might have had undiagnosed SPD. If you’re currently pregnant and dealing with a sore pubic bone, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor.
It’s surprising that such a common pregnancy issue remains relatively unknown; after all, who wants to announce, “Hi, my pubic area is really hurting today”? And explaining the term “symphysis pubis dysfunction”? No thanks. If you’re among the SPD sufferers, know that you’re not alone. We’re in this together, SPD sisters.
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Summary
Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) is a painful condition affecting some pregnant women, causing severe discomfort in the pelvic area. Many women, including myself, have experienced this pain but often find it dismissed by healthcare professionals. It’s crucial to be aware of SPD and seek medical advice if you experience similar symptoms during pregnancy.
Keyphrase: Symphysis pubis dysfunction
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