Some human bones are joined together by fibrous cartilage and connective tissue. Such a fibrous ligament (interlobular disc) connects the human pubic bones in front of each other, which are covered with hyaline cartilage at the junction with the disc. This joint is called the pubic symphysis. It is inactive - up to 1 cm wide, 3-5 mm wide wider than behind. Inside it is often a cavity with a fluid in the form of a slot without blood supply. Symphysis is strengthened by two ligaments: the upper pubic and arched. During childbirth, the fetal head passes under the symphysis, and the ligament itself becomes more fibrous and elastic before delivery, and therefore diverges slightly during labor.
What is Symphysitis in Pregnant Women?
Usually the ending "-it" after the name of the organ or tissue in the name of the disease indicates its inflammatory nature. But not only the inflammation of the pubic articulation, but also all its changes, both during pregnancy and after childbirth is called symphysitis : its softening, swelling, stretching, loosening, inflammation, and in the subsequent - the divergence and rupture of the symphysis.
The reasons are not clear to the end, but they are often associated with a shortage of pregnant vitamins and calcium in the body, as well as an excess of hormone relaxin during pregnancy, which stimulates the swelling of the ligament, the appearance in it of additional slots with fluid for mobility of the joint during childbirth.
What are the Symphysitis Symptoms in Pregnancy?
The first signs of symphysitis in a pregnant woman are sharp pains in the pubic region, which are intensified when walking, hip abduction, and sometimes shooting pain with any movement. Pains can be given in the groin, in the hip, intensify when bending forward, climbing or descending the stairs, sharp bends of the body, cause a change in the posture in the pregnant (duck walk), subsidence after a long rest. A woman with difficulty lifts her legs in a prone position. If you press on the pubic symphysis, the pain intensifies, sometimes there are sounds resembling a crunch or crackling.
Diagnosis of symphysitis in pregnancy
Diagnosis of symphysitis during pregnancy by the X-ray method of investigation will not work, since it is contraindicated before the birth of a child. Because the diagnosis is based on complaints of a woman, palpation of the pubic area and ultrasound of the pubic symphysis.
- At 1 degree of divergence of the frontal bones, the distance between them is 5-9 mm.
- At the second degree of divergence - 10-20 mm.
- At 3 degrees - more than 20 mm.
But before diagnosing Symphysitis, the doctor should make sure that the pregnant woman does not have infections of the genitourinary tract, inguinal fungus, thrombosis of the femoral vein, osteomyelitis of pelvic bones or radiculoneuritis.
Symphysitis treatment in pregnancy
Although Symphysitis is not dangerous for a future child, but for the mother its symptoms are not only painful, but with an increase in the discrepancy, a symphysis rupture may occur. How to treat symphysitis - usually the doctor decides, but the bandage with symphysitis should be worn, as well as doing a set of basic simple physical exercises:
- in a prone position with a half-bent legs raise and lower the pelvis;
- in the prone position, the feet are brought closer to the buttocks, while they are bred to the sides and knees are reduced;
- standing in the knee-elbow position, the spine flexes with the head as low as possible and relaxes all the muscles of the back, lifting the head on one line with the spine.
Avoid what causes complications - do not stay in one position for more than an hour, do not make movements that provoke pain, avoid sharp turns and loads, use soft seats and cushions under the buttocks. Pregnant with symphysitis recommended full-fledged nutrition, rich in vitamins and calcium , and control over the addition of weight.
Symphysitis and childbirth - is it real?
If the size of the pubic cleft is not more than 10 mm, the delivery usually takes place naturally, but if the size is larger, and the size and weight of the unborn child are presumably large, and the pelvis is narrow, then the cesarean section is indicated for the symphysitis of the pregnant woman.