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@Mrs tartan: Get ready for a novel!

I had severe SPD during my pregnancy. It also started in the 2nd trimester (earlier than yours though) with some hip pain, which quickly escalated into very intense pelvic pain. I kept thinking it would go away, or that I was not getting enough activity, so I kept on with my life as normal and exercising 3-ish times a week until it got so serious that I couldn't ignore it.

I can't even describe how bad the pain was, I never would have believed it myself had I not experienced it. I couldn't sleep in bed, I couldn't lift my legs, couldn't put on my own clothes. Couldn't step in and out of the shower/tub. Couldn't get into the car without help.

I slowly cut back at work, abbreviated my workdays, then had to cut down to 3 days per week, and finally had to begin maternity leave a couple weeks before my due date because I couldn't even walk down the hall to the ladies' room without an escort to help me sit, stand and walk. I couldn't even get to the kitchen to heat up my meals. My husband took me into my office to my desk and picked me up every day that I worked. It was mortifying.

The SPD put pressure on my circulatory system. The swelling was probably worse than the pelvic pain, to be honest. I went up over 2 sizes in shoes, couldn't wear anything except tent dresses, and didn't look like myself at all. LO was born appx 5 weeks ago, and I have lost 45 pounds already, that's how much fluid I retained.

My pelvis was so out of alignment. I saw a chiropractor twice a week, got a massage every other week, saw a PT weekly, and got acupuncture. Nothing really helped. Support bands almost made it worse. Diabetic support hose and socks were only a temporary help but by midday, I was just as swollen as if I hadn't worn them. I drank an insane amount of water every day throughout my pregnancy. It was just the way that it turned out for me, and there was nothing to be done.

The last trimester was so intense that it has made me really question whether I can tolerate pregnancy again, even though I am crazy about my daughter and DH really wants a big family. My OB recommended a c-section because LO was transverse and my pelvis was so out of alignment and narrow that there was real concern she would end up distressed. (I was also measuring way ahead of dates, and they projected her to be enormous. She was not. 7 lbs, 10 oz. It must have been the crazy fluid.) I went into labor, and then they performed the c-section. Recovery from surgery has been SO easy compared to the nightmare of SPD. It truly did disappear after delivery, and I am now totally mobile and enjoying life with my amazing child. I wish you the best!

Sorry for the longest reply ever, but I literally just came out on the other side of this. I had not heard much about SPD before I experienced it, and all I can say is that I hope yours doesn't worsen and that you are able to take it easy and cut back at work. I wish I had listened to my body and lightened my activity earlier.